Sailing News
All the latest news from the world of sailing and stories from experienced sailors.
While uber fast state of the art catamarans were winning the Fastnet Race last week, an interesting catamaran was being lifted out of the water in Shamrock Quay for some routine maintenance and the odd modification. A rather prettily named Wharram Cat, TK 26 called LyoLyok built by current owner Steve Duke three years ago… Read more
Local Knowledge can be Vital for a Sailor by FCS instructor Darryl Hughes
As Maybird left Malin Head to port on her track westwards I often think you then sail into an area where, the GPS is more accurate than the digital charts on which it plots your position and the notion of Local Knowledge has to be plucked out of the Navigator’s toolbox along with the old… Read more
Tracking Challenger 3 during the Rolex Fastnet Race
Since April the Challenger 3 crew have been training, taking courses and bonding into a tight unit ready to take on next week’s adventure in the Rolex Fastnet Race. For the sailing followers and armchair admirals once the start is over the race continues online as each boat can be tracked on an interactive map… Read more
The Sailing Question: Dealing with Diesel Engines – with FCS instructor Darryl Hughes
Maybird was recently in Derry/Londonderry – City of Culture for 2013. She was there for crew changes and so I took the opportunity to do some maintenance. I tend to change oil and fuel filters every 200 hours and keep as many spare parts on board as is practical especially spare oil and fuel filters,… Read more
The Sailing Question: Trusting Charts – with FCS instructor Darryl Hughes
Last Sunday I was sailing Maybird from Rathlin Island to the city of Derry on Lough Foyle. Rather than do the dog leg entrance to the River Foyle recommended in the pilot books which necessitates sailing out to the Tuns PHM and then proceeding down the river Foyle some of the pilot books mention the… Read more
First time competitor – Challenger 3 crew member Caroline Padbury’s sailing story
Although I’ve grown-up on sailing boats I have never competed, trained or qualified for anything. In recent years, I haven’t had the opportunity to do as much as I would like, so I have signed-up for the Challenger 3 crew in the 2013 Rolex Fastnet to reintroduce into my life the freedom, adrenaline and challenge… Read more
Hands on a Boat Handling Course
Last weekend was part work and part pleasure for one of First Class Sailings’ crew as Louise Petropoulos was an observer and pupil on board one of our new courses – the Boat Handling Course! Here is Louise’s report… When it comes to sailing the vast expanses of the open sea is what we yearn for… Read more
How you go about getting a VHF Radio Licence (SRC) is all about to change!
It turns out that at the moment if you live anywhere in Europe except in the UK and you want to get a VHF Radio Licence (SRC) you have to attend a two day course. In the UK, at the moment, you only have to attend a one day course. We have clearly had it… Read more
The Sailing Question: Signals in Fog – with FCS instructor Darryl Hughes
As he sails around the Irish Sea, First Class Sailing instructor Darryl Hughes is reporting back on his experiences and posing readers a nautical question. Today he is navigating through fog… Last week I was making the 40 mile passage from Campbeltown to Rathlin Island. There was very little wind so we were motor sailing… Read more
From Bathtub to Fastnet – Challenger 3 crew member Rod Brassington’s sailing story
‘I’ve always loved the sea, water and things that float. I remember having wind-up motorboats in the bath as a boy and sailing the tiny wooden yachts (the little wooden hull with two small sails) across the boating/paddling pools on holidays. Learning to sail dinghies on various activity holidays was always more enjoyable than lying… Read more
