I think I might actually be organised for our sailing holiday

Insurance

Taxi

Cash

Kit

Cameras + storage system

Big question now…

Do I need salopettes for Croatia in April?

pmrsailing.blogspot.com/2026/04/have...

#Sailing #Planning #Preparation #RiskManagement #pmrsailing

Setting an anchor looks easy — until it isn’t.

There is a bit more to it than dropping it over the side and hoping for the best.

pmrsailing.blogspot.com/2026/03/sett...

#Sailing #Boating #Seamanship #AnchorHandling #LearnToSail #pmrsailing

The 5-Minute Boat Check That Saves Your Sailing Day The 5-Minute Boat Check That Saves Your Sailing Day There’s a special kind of frustration in sailing… You finally get on the water, the ...

Regular boat maintenance makes all the difference

Before every sail I now do a quick 5-minute check:

✔ Sheets

✔ Halyards

✔ Knots

✔ Fittings

pmrsailing.blogspot.com/2026/03/the-...

#SailingLife #BoatMaintenance #RiverSailing #LearnToSail #pmrsailing

Can you sail in <5mph wind on the Thames with a strong current?

Yes… but if your boat speed is less than the current, you’re going backwards

pmrsailing.blogspot.com/2026/03/can-...

#Sailing #Leadership #SkillDevelopment #Learning #PMRSailing

What camera do you take sailing?

GoPro – capture everything

360 – never miss a moment

DSLR – create something special

Real answer? Take two, or all of them

pmrsailing.blogspot.com/2026/03/holi...

#SailingAdventure #BoatLife #GoPro #Insta360 #PhotographyLife #PMRSailing

Sailing Term of the Week: The Transom
The transom is the flat panel at the back of a boat, often where the rudder is attached.
It might look simple, but its shape affects everything
Learn more here: pmrsailing.uk/sailing-less...
#Sailing #DinghySailing #LearnToSail #pmrsailing

Knot of the Week The Bowline.
Often called the King of Knots, the bowline creates a secure loop that won’t slip but can still be untied easily after heavy load.
pmrsailing.blogspot.com/2026/03/knot...
#Sailing #NauticalKnots #KnotOfTheWeek #LearnSailing #DinghySailing #SailingLife #PMRSailing

Knot of the Week: Sheet Bend The knot that joins two ropes (even if they’re different thicknesses) without starting an argument.
pmrsailing.blogspot.com/2026/02/knot...
#Sailing #Seamanship #Knots #DinghySailing #RYA #pmrsailing

Sailing term of the day: Heeling That’s when the boat leans over because the wind is giving your sails a bit too much enthusiasm. pmrsailing.uk/sailing-less...
#Sailing #Learning #DinghySailing #ContinuousImprovement #pmrsailing

Nearly every dinghy today uses a Bermuda rig.
But rivers aren’t the sea — shifty wind, trees, bridges, dead patches.
Is the “best” rig really best for river sailing?
pmrsailing.blogspot.com/2026/02/near...
#Sailing #RiverThames #DesignThinking #LearningToSail #PMRSailing

Sailing term of the day: The Forestay
It doesn’t get trimmed. It doesn’t get adjusted much. But without it… your mast won’t stay where you expect it to.
What is a forestay and why does it matter?
pmrsailing.blogspot.com/2026/01/the-...
#SailingEducation #LearningToSail #pmrsailing

Keelboat or daggerboard dinghy — which is actually better for racing on the Thames?
Shallow water, short legs, constant tacks, shifty winds… the river changes everything.
pmrsailing.blogspot.com/2026/01/keel...
#Sailing #RiverThames #DinghySailing #Keelboats #ClubRacing #LearnToSail #pmrsailing

Sailing Term: Painter
Not a decorator but the rope attached to the bow of a dinghy.
Used for: • Tying up • Towing • Keeping control on shore
Simple term. Essential knowledge. pmrsailing.uk/sailing-less...
#LearnToSail #SailingEducation #DinghySailing #RiverThames #pmrsailing

Want more speed or control?
Check your outhaul.
Tight = flat = fast in wind.
Loose = full = power in light breeze.
pmrsailing.uk/sailing-less...
We explain how this simple control can reshape your mainsail and your race.

#SailingTips #Outhaul #pmrsailing

No wind.
No speed.
Just... drifting.
We’ve all had those days. Here's how to make the most of light-air sailing — and maybe even move forward.
pmrsailing.blogspot.com/2025/11/why-...
#DinghySailing #LightWind #pmrsailing

Yelling into a crackly VHF? Doesn’t help.

We’ve compiled the safety boat radio calls that actually work during chaos — short, clear, and calm.

Read the tips:
pmrsailing.blogspot.com/2025/11/safe...
#SailingSafety #VHFskills #pmrsailing

Rudder fall off? No problem.
You can still steer a sailboat — using just the sails and your body weight.
We explain how to luff up, bear away, and even tack without touching the tiller.
pmrsailing.blogspot.com/2025/11/sail...
#SailingSkills #NoRudderNoProblem #pmrsailing

Electric Safety Boats – Quieter Rescues Electric Safety Boats – Quieter Rescues The Surprising Benefits of Silence When It Matters Most There’s a certain irony in traditional petro...

Loud engines are helpful… until they're not.
Electric safety boats are changing the game.
We look at why silence helps during capsizes and why our Whaly’s quiet approach makes a big difference.

pmrsailing.blogspot.com/2025/11/elec...
#SailingSafety #ElectricBoating #pmrsailing

Sailors call it the boom for a reason.
It’s not just a pole – it’s a swinging reminder to duck.
We explore why it’s called a boom, what it does, and how to avoid hearing it the hard way.

Read more: pmrsailing.uk/sailing-less...
#SailingTerms #pmrsailing #DinghySailing

The UTSC Annual General Meeting – More Than Just Minutes and Motions The UTSC Annual General Meeting – More Than Just Minutes and Motions It might not be the most thrilling event on the sailing calendar — n...

The UTSC AGM: no spinnakers, no capsizes, but still vital.
We planned races, set the social calendar, and launched our first ever UTSC Club Calendar featuring members’ photos.
pmrsailing.blogspot.com/2025/11/the-...
#SailingClub #BehindTheScenes #pmrsailing #AGM

Laying Up the Boats for Winter – Making Space, Stacking High Laying Up the Boats for Winter – Making Space, Stacking High pmrsailing.uk blog As the last few leaves fall into the Thames and the temp...

Time to lay up the fleet.
Dozens of wooden boats safely tucked into the Century Boathouse for the winter.
We even had to double-stack to make them all fit.
Boat Tetris, anyone?
pmrsailing.blogspot.com/2025/11/layi...
#SailingClubLife #WinterStorage #WoodenBoats #pmrsailing

Powerboat Handling in Reverse – Tight Turns and Tricky Spaces Powerboat Handling in Reverse – Tight Turns and Tricky Spaces Everyone expects to use forward gear in a powerboat — but the real finess...

Steering in reverse feels backwards — because it is!
Learn how to control your powerboat in tight spots using reverse gear like a pro.
New blog: pmrsailing.blogspot.com/2025/10/powe...

#Powerboating #SafetyBoatSkills #pmrsailing #BoatHandling

The Hidden Challenges of Mooring on a River or worse a goose of=r a swan  The Hidden Challenges of Mooring on a River At first glance, mooring might seem like the easiest part of sa...

Mooring on a river looks easy — until you're caught between wind, current, and a pontoon that just won’t behave.
Today’s blog: The hidden skill of mooring on the Thames.
pmrsailing.blogspot.com/2025/10/the-...
#SailingTips #RiverSailing #DinghySailing #pmrsailing

Why Boats Can’t Sail Straight Into the Wind Why Boats Can’t Sail Straight Into the Wind And What Tacking Angles Have to Do With It “Why can’t we just point the boat where we want t...

Why can’t boats just sail straight into the wind?
Because physics.
You’ve got to tack — and tacking angles make all the difference.
New blog for beginner sailors now live:
pmrsailing.blogspot.com/2025/10/why-...
#LearnToSail #TackingAngles #SailingTips #pmrsailing

Getting Ready for Sailing in Chilly Winds Getting Ready for Sailing in Chilly Winds End of Autumn, Beginning of Winter on the Thames The trees are dropped their leaves, the sun i...

Frosty breeze? Chilly Thames?
Here’s how we layer up and launch through the last of Autumn (and into Winter) without turning blue.
pmrsailing.blogspot.com/2025/10/gett...
#ColdWeatherSailing #DinghyLife #pmrsailing #SailingTips

The Safety Boat as Umpire? The Safety Boat as Umpire? Should safety crews call out racing rule breaches — or just keep quiet? When you're crewing the safety boat ...

Should the safety boat call out rule breaches during a race?
It’s tempting — but should they umpire or just stay silent?
New blog explores the line between safety and fairness.
pmrsailing.blogspot.com/2025/10/the-...
#SailingRacing #SafetyBoat #pmrsailing

Reefing: When to Shorten Sail and Why It Saves Races (and Swims) Reefing: When to Shorten Sail and Why It Saves Races (and Swims) If your boat feels a bit out of control, you’re heeling too far, the hel...

Thinking about reefing?
Then reef.
Shortening sail = more control, less heeling, fewer swims.
New blog explains when, why, and how.
pmrsailing.blogspot.com/2025/10/reef...
#SailingTips #Reefing #LearnToSail #pmrsailing

Buoyancy aids and lifejackets aren’t the same.
One helps you swim, the other keeps you alive — even if you can't.
Learn when to wear which, especially on the river vs. at sea.
pmrsailing.uk/sailing-less...
#SailingSafety #LearnToSail #pmrsailing #Lifejackets

Wide In, Tight Out – The Perfect Mark Rounding Wide In, Tight Out – The Perfect Mark Rounding If you’re learning to race a dinghy, there’s one golden rule you’ll hear over and over: W...

Mark rounding can win or lose races.
Go wide in, tight out for a smoother, faster turn that keeps your boat powered and leaves the others in your wake.
New blog: pmrsailing.blogspot.com/2025/10/wide...
#DinghyRacing #LearnToSail #SailingTips #pmrsailing

Electric Powerboating – How Long Does a Battery Last? Electric Powerboating – How Long Does a Battery Last? Real-world testing of battery range on the Whaly pmrsailing.uk blog One of the mo...

How long does an electric powerboat battery really last?
We tested our 3kW Whaly over real river duties — not just theory.
Verdict? One charge gets you through a full club day… and back.
Read more: pmrsailing.blogspot.com/2025/10/elec...
#ElectricBoating #SustainableSailing #pmrsailing