Every year in the UK more than 8,000 rescues are made by the RNLI, with more than 50% of these being responses to leisure sailors like us. While many of these are real accidents that no-one could have forseen, a great proportion are rescues or incidents that could have been avoided by better preparation [...]
Category Archives: How to
How to Tie a Clove Hitch (Regular & One Handed)
A hitch is any knot tied to a fixed object, and the clove hitch is very useful for all sorts of uses on board a boat. I would typically use everyday for tying the fenders to the guard-wire/rail.
It’s a very versatile knot with a number of different variations. Here are a couple of videos [...]
Quick Release Knot
This is a really useful knot that we could all do with learning – the Quick Release Knot. When rigging up a slip for easy exiting from a berth you could try this one instead.
The Flying Bowline
I promised you in the article on how to tie a bowline with only one hand that I’d show you one with a difficulty rating of 12/10.
It’s so quick that if you want to master it you’ll need to watch it over and over and over and…. again. You will also need a good light-weight [...]
ISAF : The Racing Rules of Sailing for 2009-2012 – Amendments Effective 1 January 2010
We have looked at the interpretation of rule 18 in previous posts. Here the ISAF are making changes to avoid dangerous tactics that were resulting from the new rule.
Rule 18.2(c) will be changed to prohibit a newly discovered and potentially dangerous tactic that was an unintended consequence of the current wording of this rule. The [...]
Want to Race on a VOR70?
You have to be slightly mad. I mean to spend 8 months with no women around, sharing a pillow with 11 other men, sleeping in 4 hour shifts and having to ‘dump’ on a gimbled toilet. Madness! Oh yes, and you are permanently wet from spray or sweat, you’re dirty and the food is pretty [...]
How to tie a Bowline – Part 2 (normal way)
OK so the rope is pink, but that makes it easy to see it. The butch American accent and the bright pink of the rope make me laugh. But my issues aside, this is a good lesson for anyone wanting to learn to tie a bowline (the normal, non-one-handed way).
Also, if you have an iPhone, [...]
How to Charter a Yacht
If you are a regular charterer, you’ll know that the number of charter companies is vast, and the sailing areas range from the Caribbean to the Whitsunday’s. You’ll also know that going on a charter holiday is the essence of freedom. A different port each night, a fabulous sail (or high speed blast in a [...]
How to tie a Bowline – Part 1 (one-handed)
A bowline is such an important knot for sailors and scouts alike. You shouldn’t set out without knowing how to tie one, and there are literally dozens of ways to tie one. This is perhaps an 8 out of 10 for difficulty.
Try it out – you may need to do it one-handed some day if [...]
5 Great Boat Maintenance Tips
If you have a sailing yacht or are a regular sailor, you’ll know how important it is to maintain your pride and joy, keeping all the various items on it ship-shape so that you can enjoy getting out on the water without having to worry about a thing.
You’ll want your boat to look good [...]
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Harbour Exchange & BestBoatNe.ws now available free on iPhone
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