Category: Seamanship

  • Eric Tabarly drowned on his way to the Fife Regatta – in 1998

    Eric Tabarly drowned on his way to the Fife Regatta – in 1998

    A wild night and a kicking gaff caused the loss of France’s greatest sailor, on his way to the first Fife Regatta It’s 20 years ago since France’s greatest sailor Eric Tabarly was lost overboard… […]

  • Leading Lights

    Leading Lights

    Navigation Basics     Many harbours have entrances which are difficult to find at night and leading lights are used as a way of helping sailors to find a clear channel into port. Leading lights, like their… […]

  • Night sailing – a few tips

    Night sailing – a few tips

    As the skipper of a boat it’s up to you to decide on safety matters for yourself and your crew. Thus many skippers insist on everyone on deck wearing harnesses, but some eschew them, saying… […]

  • Shooting a bridge – Boating Skills

    Shooting a bridge – Boating Skills

    [fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”] Shooting – dropping the mast without stopping – is the smart… […]

  • Sailing skills: launching and recovering the Jib

    Sailing skills: launching and recovering the Jib

    In our experience of teaching folks to sail, both on our own Traditional Boat Skills courses aboard Amelie Rose and through the RYA YachtmasterTM scheme we’ve come across many “methods” for doing everything from making… […]

  • Using Wykeham Martin furling gear

    Using Wykeham Martin furling gear

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  • Making and throwing a heaving line

    Making and throwing a heaving line

    Dan Houston shows how to use a heaving line – and relays how to make a Monkey’s Fist or a quick knot to go on the end of it A typical heaving line is a… […]

  • Navigation Basics: Course to Steer

    Navigation Basics: Course to Steer

    You know what point to aim for, the wind is free so you can go straight there. Except that you need to take into account the speed and direction of the tide to determine your… […]

  • Rule of Tenths

    Rule of Tenths

    Rule of twelths? It’s a bit tricky with metric charts… so use the Rule of Tenths: As your on deck ready reckoner for the state of tide Working out tidal heights using the traditional rule… […]