From Martin Bartholomew – one of our instructors.
Rule of the Road for Day Skippers and Yachtmasters.
(for vessels in sight of one another)Â Â
                             Â
Keep a look out at all times;
See a ship, and do your rhymes.
If the bearing does not change,
Then action’s needed (at long range). (more…)
Leave Comment » Rule 23 – Lights and Shapes for Power driven vessels underway. This rule is in Part C Lights and Shapes.
Power-driven vessels underway
(a) A power-driven vessel underway shall exhibit:
(i) a masthead light forward;
(ii) a second masthead light abaft of and higher than the forward one; except that a vessel of less than 50 metres in length shall not be obliged to exhibit such light but may do so;
(iii) sidelights;
(iv) a sternlight. (more…)
Leave Comment » References to a ships bell are often made in modern day parlance. The ship’s bell was primarily used for telling time on board a ship.  These days yachts have all sorts of watch systems. 2 hours on, 6 hours off. 3 hours on 3 hours off for example.  Probably the most common watch system is 4 on, 4 off. A ship’s bell, struck every half hour, used to indicate by the number of strokes the number of half-hours of the watch that had elapsed. The striking of eight bells indicated midnight. After midnight, one bell was struck at 0030am, two bells at 0100, three bells at 0130 and so forth until eight bells were struck again at 0400, at which point the above progression was repeated until eight bells were again struck at 0800. In this way eight bells ring rang four hours around the clock.
Leave Comment » Rule 7
Risk of Collision. This is in section 1 of Part B the Steering and Sailing Rules.  It therefore applies to the conduct of vessels in an y condition of visibility.
(a) Every vessel shall use all available means appropriate to the prevailing circumstances and conditions to determine if risk of collision exists. If there is any doubt such risk shall be deemed to exist. (more…)
1 Comment » First Class Sailing are selling 2 yachts! We are using Sea Ventures at Hamble Point. The first boat, Minerva, was decommissioned a couple of weeks ago. We took everything off and gave below a thoroughly good deep clean. She was then lifted out and chocked off.Â
Over the last couple of weeks we have further spruced her up by cleaning, cutting and polishing the hull and deck. Glen used Y10 on the deck which is a magic goo that gets rid of 90% of stains and grime. We also antifouled the hull.
So we’ve made it nice and easy for a new owner. There is minimal work him/her to do!
The next boat Shinay will come out of the water in 10 days time.
The new yachts, Jenneau 36i’s arrive, in January!
To read more about our new boats visit First Class Sailing
Do you know your Beaufort Scale and what the corresponding sea state looks like?Â
The Beaufort Scale was devised in 1805 by Sir Francis Beaufort in order to standardise an otherwise very subjective topic.Â
Initially the scale, which ran from zero to twelve, did not reference wind speed but rather related qualitative wind conditions to the effect on sails of a Man of War ship. At 0 all the sails would be up. At 6 only half the sails would be up and at Force 12 all the sails would be stowed.
In the 1850’s the scale started corresponding to the wind speed and in 1906, to accommodate the growth of steam power, descriptions were changed from how the sails behaved to how the sea behaved. (more…)
Leave Comment » Spaces Available on RYA Practical Courses
VHF Course London 26 September         £95
Day Skipper or Competent Crew
26/27 September & 2/3/4 October        2 places
3 / 4 October & 9/10/11 October           3 places (more…)
Leave Comment » Day Skipper Intensive Theory Course
12/13, 19/20 and 26 September – The Strand, Â London 10am-5pm
We have a few places remaining on this course £350
 Phone 0203 006 3717          or book online today
 (more…)
Leave Comment » Day Skipper or Competent Crew Weekend Courses  £525
4/5/6 and 12/13 September             1 place left          Â
12/13 and 18/19/20 September       2 places       Â
19/20 and 25/26/27 September      1 place
                      Monday to Friday Courses                  £440Â
7-11 September                                   2 places
14-18 September                                4 places
14-18 September - Coastal Course 5 days             £440
Phone Anne on 0203 006 3717 to discuss or email info@firstclasssailing.com   Â
Leave Comment » Rule 15 Crossing Situation
This rule is in Section 2 of the ColRegs and therefore applies to vessels in sight of one another.
When two power driven vessels are crossing so as to involve risk of collision, the vessel which has the other on her own starboard side shall keep out of the way and shall, if the circumstances of the case admit, avoid crossing ahead of the other vessel. (more…)
Leave Comment »