Sailing News
All the latest news from the world of sailing and stories from experienced sailors.
This race is a real sailing race that has plenty of history behind it and is also a qualifier for the Rolex Fastnet which First Class Sailing always has at least one 16 strong crew participating in. The Race Is All About Tides The first leg of the Myth of Malham follows the… Read more
Navigation Skills and Their Power
Shelley Jory-Leigh & Sir Robin Knox-Johnston The art of navigation has been given a massive boost in 2019 thanks to 73-year-old French sailor Jean-Luc van den Heede who completed the Golden Globe Race 2018. In 211 days and 23 hours he sailed single-handedly around the world by using just a sextant, a chronometer and… Read more
First Class Sailing Expands Into Yacht Chartering
L to R Charlie Tulloch (Principal First Class Sailing) Sally and Eric Whitelaw (Firstaway Yacht Charters) Southampton sailing school First Class Sailing has purchased the business of Firstaway Yacht Charters to expand its business and provide an additional service for its customers. This means that Firstaway owners, Sally and Eric Whitelaw, will be able to… Read more
Radar: A Clearer Picture for Your Yachtmaster Exam
This year the RYA has made radar knowledge a key component of all Yachtmaster exams. To find out why they have done this and how you need to prepare for your exam read on below. Why do we still use radar? Radar may seem a bit outdated as a technology with modern GPS navigation systems… Read more
A Sailing Course For Beginners
So, you’ve decided you want to learn to sail. Maybe it’s because you love the idea of getting around using nothing but wind power. Or, you know someone who’s just completed their ‘Day Skipper’ and they seem like a whole new person. Or, maybe someone dragged you along for a day sail on the… Read more
Naming Ceremony for Our Two New Beneteau 381
Our big news is that in February 2019 we replaced our Jeanneau 379s Batida and Manhattan with two brand new Beneteau 381s. We have continued with the cocktail theme and named them Palomar and Sazerac. These new yachts are fractionally bigger in length than the Jeanneau 379’s. However they carry their chine almost all… Read more
Antigua To Portsmouth Day 19: Leopard Print Pants In The Chain Locker?
We have not received much in the way of blogs due to the heavy weather over the past 24 hours. It’s not that easy to type out there as you will see below. What we do have is the noon Skipper’s Log. The good news is they have only 100nm to go. The crew should arrive… Read more
Antigua To Portsmouth Day 17 & 18: Sights, Sounds and Storms
Antigua To Portsmouth Day 17 & 18: Sights, Sounds and Storms In today’s blog, the crew take us through the sights and sounds of Challenger 4, and the first real test of heavy weather arrives. Blog 27th Jan Sights Blackness Despite the heading of this section, at 0100,… Read more
Antigua To Portsmouth Day 15 & 16: Life On A Port Tack After Horta
The Crew of Challenger 4 are finally making way again, but have to cope with life on the opposite tack for the first time in 2850 miles. But first, we’re brought up to speed on the festivities that took place in Horta. 25/01/19 What happens in Horta stays in… Read more
Antigua To Portsmouth Day 14: Once More Unto The Breach
And they’re off!… again Note from Skipper Sue After a very pleasant interlude in Horta it is time to get this motley crew out of here. Lines slipped at 1245 UT, heading for Falmouth. ETA 7 days time. It looks like we will have 20 – 25kts from the south for the first couple… Read more
