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

Guirec partage ses secrets de cuisine en mer avant son arrivée à Brest - Actualités Nautisme Avant de retrouver la terre ferme à Brest ce week-end, Guirec prend le temps de lever le couvercle sur son quotidien à bord. Après 91 jours en mer, le navigateur prouve qu’on peut traverser l’océan sa...

6/6 🏁 Just miles from Brest, Guirec proves that technical efficiency doesn't mean sacrificing taste. A flawless logistics setup that highlights the importance of the human factor in maritime performance.
#GuirecSoudee #OceanRacing #Seamanship

6/7 Facteur humain : l'ère du brouillage endémique impose une "sobriété numérique". Le sextant et le radar (recalage sur les amers) redeviennent des compétences de combat. La dépendance absolue au "tout-écran" est désormais un risque majeur de sécurité. #Seamanship

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

🪢 Every sailor's essential skill set! Master these 5 fundamental knots and sail with confidence.

Read the full article on blog.theboatdb.com/knot-so-f... and sail to the future with knowledge.

#marinedatacloud #theboatapp #theboatdb #Blogarticle #SailingSkills #Seamanship

Becoming a Skilled Seaman

When joining his uncle's ship as a midshipman, Lord Cochrane was determined to master every aspect of a sailor's duty. Lieutenant Jack Larmour was one of the few seamen who, due to their....
#LordCochrane #NavalHistory #RoyalNavy #AgeOfSail #seamanship

First prosecution under new watercraft safety laws The powerboat was seen travelling at speeds of up to 25mph shortly before the collision with the kayak. Credit MCA **A motorboater who injured a teen kayaker in a “completely avoidable” collision has become the first to be sentenced under new The Merchant Shipping (Watercraft) Order 2023, which came into force in 2024.** A motorboater who injured a teen kayaker in a “completely avoidable” collision is the first to be sentenced under new watercraft safety laws.

Time to change the Beaufort Scale? John Savage argues that simplifying the Beaufort Scale would make it easier to teach to new sailors. Credit: Ajax News and Feature Service/Alamy **John Savage argues that the Beaufort Scale needs an update to make it more simple** John Savage argues that the Beaufort Scale needs an update to make it more simple

The Merchant Marine Specialized 100 years ago. The Navy should have then, and needs to now. | Center for International Maritime Security SWO Specialization Week By MIDN 1/C Jeffrey W. Jaeger, USNR Since 1899, the U.S. Navy has used a generalist career track for its surface warfare officers. This coincides with the Arthur administration...

CIMSEC SWO Specialization Week

"The Merchant Marine Specialized 100 years ago. The Navy should have then, and needs to now.", by Jeffrey W. Jaeger

#SWOSpecializationWeek #Seamanship #MilitaryProfessionalism #SurfaceNavy #MaritimeLeadership

cimsec.org/the-merchant...

cimsec.org/swo-speciali...

How to avoid spinnaker broaching A spinnaker can soon start throwing its weight around if not kept under control. Credit: David Harding **Spinnakers and cruising chutes can make downwind sailing fun and faster – as long as you don’t let them take over. David Harding offers some tips on safe handling** Spinnakers and cruising chutes can make downwind sailing fun and faster – as long as you don’t let them take over. David Harding offers some tips on safe handling

Sailing through a thunderstorm at Portland Bill: How I survived a solo knockdown Credit: Dick Everitt **David Edgar experiences a knockdown on a fraught solo sail round Portland Bill as a gale gathers strength** David Edgar experiences a knockdown on a fraught solo sail round Portland Bill as a gale gathers strength

Lying ahull or heaving to? Which is best for heavy weather? Skippers of modern, light-displacement cruising yachts like this Bénéteau Océanis 40 may be better off heaving to rather than lying ahull in very rough weather **Experienced ocean sailor Tim Cassidy advocates lying to the wind with no sail set in heavy weather, but stresses the importance of hull shape** Experienced ocean sailor Tim Cassidy advocates lying to the wind with no sail set in heavy weather, but stresses the importance of hull shape

Slab reefing: Guide to sail shape & preventing sail damage There should be plenty of halyard tension when reef **David Pugh explains how to keep in shape for all conditions with a comprehensive guide to slab reefing techniques** David Pugh explains how to keep in shape for all conditions with a comprehensive guide to slab reefing techniques

Fog on the River Thames can look calm and inviting – but it removes context, not just visibility.
If you can’t clearly see and identify hazards ahead, the sensible choice is often not to sail. pmrsailing.blogspot.com/2025/12/why-...
#Sailing #RiskAssessment #Seamanship #RiverThames #LifelongLearning

Barry Perrins: ‘I bought the boat and lived the dream’ Barry encountered challenging weather conditions on the home stretch between France and England. Credit: @adventuresofaseadog **After nine years of circumnavigating the globe, 'old Seadog' Barry Perrins talks to Laura Hodgetts about seamanship, the realities of sailing offshore and his onboard essentials** After nine years of circumnavigating the globe, 'old Seadog' Barry Perrins talks to Laura Hodgetts about seamanship, the realities of sailing offshore and his onboard essentials

Vane gear self-steering: you guide to an offshore sailor’s best friend Once you have your pendulum servo self-steering gear set up, avoid the temptation to fiddle with it until you have looked at sail trim first. Photo: Jake Kavanagh. **Andrew Simpson looks at pendulum servo self-steering gears, and describes how to get the best out of them** Andrew Simpson looks at pendulum servo self-steering gears, and describes how to get the best out of them

‘My boat was a write-off’: Lessons learned from an on-the-water boat collision Illustration by Claudia Myatt. **Leo Heaney’s regular yacht club race night quickly turns dangerous after an unexpected boat collision. After seven months of repairs and frustration, here are the lessons learned.** Leo Heaney’s regular yacht club race night quickly turns dangerous after an unexpected boat collision. After seven months of repairs and frustration, here are the lessons learned.

10 ways to save fuel when motoring: Essential tips for engine care, hull trim and propeller pitch Skimping on routine maintenance is a false economy, as an inefficient engine or drive unit will waste fuel. Credit: Jake Kavanagh **As costs rise, Jake Kavanagh looks at the simple ways boaters can use less fuel and energy when motoring** As costs rise, Jake Kavanagh looks at the simple ways boaters can use less fuel and energy when motoring

‘We were sinking, mastless, and adrift’: The crucial lessons learned from my shakedown sail **Paul Hayes is shaken by a shakedown sail in the Bristol Channel when his junk-rigged Coromandel springs a leak, loses its mast and suffers a snarled prop** Paul Hayes is shaken by a shakedown sail in the Bristol Channel when his junk-rigged Coromandel springs a leak, loses its mast and suffers a snarled prop

The simple mooring mistake that can chafe through your rope in 20 minutes Rather than through different fairleads like this, former sailing instructor Michael Collings has always taken the two ends of a mooring line over the bow roller **By following a few simple mooring guidelines, you can avoid the common pitfalls and make the process of securing your boat easier and more effective. Michael Collings shows you how** By following a few simple mooring guidelines, you can avoid the common pitfalls and make the process of securing your boat easier and more effective. Michael Collings shows you how

200 miles offshore with no rudder: How four sailors built a jury rudder from cabin doors The crew had to get inventive so they could sail to safety. Credit: Scott Dawson **Stranded 200 miles offshore in big seas without a rudder is every sailor’s nightmare. The crew of Quokka found a solution and sailed to safety, reports Louay Habib ** Stranded 200 miles offshore in big seas without a rudder is every sailor’s nightmare. The crew of Quokka found a solution and sailed to safety, reports Louay Habib

How a faulty chainplate turned a perfect sail into a dismasting disaster Illustration by Claudia Myatt. **Richard Ayrest made his first-ever Mayday call when his Southerly 420 dismasted close to the Manacle rocks, and learned vital lessons on emergency VHF, cutting tools, and the risks of a faulty chainplate.** I learned firsthand the risks of a faulty chainplate. Enjoying a perfect start to our Isles of Scilly adventure, my …Continue reading »

THEORY PRACTICE SEAMANSHIP 1808 SYSTEM SIGNALS Gower SHIPS Volvelle MARITIME

#books #antiquarian #seamanship #ships #maritime #history #theory #signals #boats #wind #navigation #manoeuvring #bookauction
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Preparing a small boat for heavy weather with advice from the skippers of the Jester Challenge 2025 Being able to handle heavy weather comes down to preparation. Photo: Theo Stocker / Future. **Jake Kavanagh speaks to Jester Challenge 2025 skippers to find out how they get ready for stormy weather while solo sailing.** The Jester Challenge 2025 once again proved a fertile ground for examples of how a short-handed crew can prepare for …Continue reading »

#Booksky #Seamanship

“A Force 8 gale turned the sea off Dover into a ‘cauldron of confusion’ that nearly overwhelmed our Halmatic 30” Credit: Dick Everitt **Tim Butler had to struggle back to the port he'd just departed when his Helmatic 30 began rolling violently in steep waves and a sudden Force 8** Tim Butler had to struggle back to the port he'd just departed when his Helmatic 30 began rolling violently in steep waves and a sudden Force 8

“A Force 8 gale turned the sea off Dover into a ‘cauldron of confusion’ that nearly overwhelmed our Halmatic 30” Credit: Dick Everitt **Tim Butler had to struggle back to the port he'd just departed when his Helmatic 30 began rolling violently in steep waves and a sudden Force 8** Tim Butler had to struggle back to the port he'd just departed when his Helmatic 30 began rolling violently in steep waves and a sudden Force 8

“A Force 8 gale turned the sea off Dover into a ‘cauldron of confusion’ that nearly overwhelmed our Halmatic 30” Credit: Dick Everitt **Tim Butler had to struggle back to the port he'd just departed when his Helmatic 30 began rolling violently in steep waves and a sudden Force 8** Tim Butler had to struggle back to the port he'd just departed when his Helmatic 30 began rolling violently in steep waves and a sudden Force 8

“A Force 8 gale turned the sea off Dover into a ‘cauldron of confusion’ that nearly overwhelmed our Halmatic 30” Credit: Dick Everitt **Tim Butler had to struggle back to the port he'd just departed when his Helmatic 30 began rolling violently in steep waves and a sudden Force 8** Tim Butler had to struggle back to the port he'd just departed when his Helmatic 30 began rolling violently in steep waves and a sudden Force 8

How I survived a fouled propeller in a crowded marina The culprit (a reconstruction with 2m of rope) and the Ambassador rope cutter. Photo: Alan England. **Moody 376 owner Alan England shares tips for exiting a tight berth after experiencing sudden power loss from a fouled propeller.** The thought of a fouled propeller was the furthest thing from my mind. The sun was shining and my plan …Continue reading »