Simon Jollands

Fixing position at sea using traditional methods

by Simon Jollands | Communications, Crewing skills, Navigation, Preparation

Following on from previous posts concerning traditional navigation methods, this post looks at some traditional methods used for fixing a vessel’s position at sea, within sight of land. Electronic fixes using chart plotters are very straightforward to record,...

Keel design – options to consider when choosing a yacht

by Simon Jollands | Boat Maintenance, Yacht ownership

Keel design is constantly evolving and nowhere is this more apparent than in modern racing yachts such as the Imoca Open 60 class. These fast offshore monohulls use highly sophisticated canting keels to help them stay upright when sailing upwind. The boats are...

How to read nautical charts

by Simon Jollands | Crewing skills, Navigation, Preparation

Most sailors today rely on GPS to find their way at sea. While GPS has helped to make finding your way at sea far easier than in the past, sailors still need to study charts before they embark on a passage and to use them en route to check and record their progress....

Pre-start engine checks

by Simon Jollands | Boat Maintenance, Preparation, Yacht ownership

According to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) almost one third of emergency call outs at sea are caused by mechanical failure. Many engine breakdowns are avoidable. The best way to avoid a breakdown is to carry out pre-start checks before heading out to...

Understanding tide tables and tidal curves

by Simon Jollands | Communications, Crewing skills, Navigation, Preparation

No two coastal places have exactly the same tidal pattern. There are many factors that influence this, from the shape of the coastline, the funnelling effect of channels and estuaries, the depth of the sea and the proximity of oceans. The times and heights of tides...