Sailing News
All the latest news from the world of sailing and stories from experienced sailors.
I am just finishing the winter refit work on a Jeanneau 40 . She is from 2002 so it’s important to check things carefully each winter so that there are no unpleasant hiccups in the summer sailing period. Time spent in the winter really pays dividends. Some of it starts when you take the boat… Read more
Winter Sailing Gear – Top tips from First Class Sailing
As well as a warm hat, pack sun glasses for when the sun is low. A peaked cap is great under an oilskin hood when its raining. It keeps the hood out of your eyes. Staying warm means staying dry, invest in a good set of oilskins. We supply, free of charge, high spec ‘Musto… Read more
5 Reasons Why You Should Take the RYA Day Skipper Shore-based Course Now….
Taking a shore-based RYA Day Skipper course makes sense for many reasons, five of which are listed below: It will make you a better and safer sailor whether you intend to be crew or skipper as you will learn, amongst other things: How to work out tidal heights and tidal flow How to get from… Read more
RYA Ocean Yachtmaster Course in London
Is navigating using a sextant a dying art? In this modern age of GPS do we still need to know how to navigate by the stars? The RYA Ocean Yachtmaster Course (such as the one being run in Canary Wharf, London at the end of January) builds upon sailors’ basic navigational knowledge so those present… Read more
Now the Olympics is Behind Us…
Didn’t Team GB do well in the Olympics? Highlights for me – Ben Ainslie’s penultimate race before he went on to win Gold. It was totally gripping. Besides watching the Olympics, during the summer we ran a competition based on the games. Those taking part had to answer three questions and then their names went into a hat.… Read more
One of the first steps in Learning to Sail a Yacht is to take a Competent Crew Course
For anyone looking to learn how to sail an RYA Competent Crew course would be a good place to start. The course syllabus is set by the RYA (Royal Yachting Association) but run by sailing schools. The Competent Crew course forms part of a whole series of RYA courses that take you from total beginner to… Read more
Learning to Sailing in the wake of the Olympics
Perhaps the sailing Olympians inspire you to give sailing a go. Perhaps you have been meaning to try sailing for ages but have never got round to it. Well learning to sail is easy and if you are completely new to sailing this is the page for you! Years ago the Royal Yachting Association (RYA)… Read more
What’s the difference between a Buoyancy Aid and a Lifejacket?
A buoyancy aid supports the wearer in the water but is not designed like a lifejacket to turn the wearer face up. Falling or being knocked into the sea causes shock and disorientation so a lifejacket, either permanent foam or gas inflated, will turn an unconscious or incapable person face up. A lifejacket must have 100… Read more
Round the Island Race – a race for everyone
Each year amateurs and professionals compete against each other in the Round the Island Race. It is one of the few races where amateurs and complete novices can race alongside Olympic gold medallists like Ben Ainslie and around the world racers like Alex Thomson. The Round the Island Race attracts worldwide interest and is covered… Read more
Nannini Overcomes the Financial Crisis and Takes Second in the Global Ocean Race
We have arrived in Les Sables D’Olonne taking second place Just a brief message to say we are in Les Sables D’Olonne, even the last few hours of this Global Ocean Race have been quite intense with a front sweeping over our heads giving us winds gusting 45 knots this morning, rather unusual for june.… Read more
