Simon Jollands

The give-way hierarchy at sea – who gives way to whom?

by Simon Jollands | Boat Handling, Crewing skills, Navigation

Whatever their size or type, all skippers have a responsibility to avoid collisions with other boats at sea. It is important for all boat skippers to know the give-way hierarchy at sea to help avoid accidents. But how similar are the rules of the road on land and at...

Passage planning and pilotage

by Simon Jollands | Boat Handling, Crewing skills, Navigation, Preparation

Passage planning and pilotage help skippers navigate safely from one port to another. A passage plan takes into account all the various steps and eventualities involved in a voyage, from the welfare and safety of the crew to planning the route itself. Pilotage is a...

Essential Knots: Figure of eight

by Simon Jollands | Boat Handling, Crewing skills

Essential Knots: Figure of eight Use: Stopper knot, prevents a rope from being pulled through a hole e.g. through a block or ring. Step 1. Make a bight. Pass the working end over the standing part to make a loop. Step 2. Pass the working end under and up through the...

Essential Knots: Reef knot

by Simon Jollands | Boat Handling, Crewing skills

Essential Knots: Reef knot Use: Tying two ends of rope together, often used for tying up a bundle of loose sail around the boom. Step 1. Take two ends of a rope. Use one as the working end. Step 2. Right over left. Then under. Step 3. Then left over right and under....

Essential Knots: Bowline

by Simon Jollands | Boat Handling, Crewing skills

Essential Knots: Bowline Use: Making a secure eye or loop in the end of a rope. Bowlines have many uses on a boat, for example to make a loop in a mooring line to go over a bollard, or to secure a jib sheet to a head sail. This is one of those very useful knots to go...