Blogs & Articles
Hopefully, there are some interesting bits of info amoungst the waffle…


Understanding Sail Measurement Codes
Sail Measurement Code Whether you’re racing under handicap rules or ordering new sails for your boat, you’ll encounter sail measurement codes. These standardised terms define


Angle of Attack: Harnessing Wind for Speed and Control
Angle of Attack: Harnessing Wind for Speed and Control In sailing, few concepts are as fundamental—and as misunderstood—as the angle of attack (AoA). Mastering it


Shaping Your Sails for Racing: A Guide to Speed and Control
Shaping Your Sails for Racing: A Guide to Speed and Control When it comes to sailboat racing, sail trim is your most powerful performance tool.


Headsail Connection Systems: Hanks vs Bolt Rope vs and Furling
Comparing Headsail Connection Systems: Hanks vs. Bolt Rope, vs. Furling Just like rigging tension and rigging material can increase performance, the way you connect your


How to Adjust the Rigging on your Sailboat
How to Tweak Your Rigging on a Sailboat Proper rig tuning is one of the most effective ways to improve your sailboat’s performance, safety, and


Understanding Sector, Directional, and Leading Lights
Understanding Sector, Directional, and Leading Lights in Navigation Marine navigation relies heavily on visual aids to help sailors identify safe passages, avoid hazards, and enter


Free Sailing Rules Judgement
Free Sailing Rules Arbitration/Judgement Got a Racing Rules Headache? Let’s Solve It. We’ve all been there — close crossings, messy mark roundings, chaotic starts, or


Comfort Ratio on Yachts
The Comfort Ratio: Measuring Motion Comfort at Sea When choosing a cruising yacht, buyers often hear about the displacement-to-length ratio, the sail area-to-displacement ratio, or the ballast ratio. But


Bruce anchor size chart
Bruce anchor size chart Here’s a Bruce (Claw) anchor size chart in kilograms: Boat Length (metres) Boat Length (feet) Recommended Anchor Weight Heavy Weather / Heavier


Why use nautical miles and knots in sailing
Why use nautical miles and knots in sailing? We use nautical miles and knots in sailing because a nautical mile is based on the Earth’s


Ernesto Bertarelli: His Love for Sailing
Ernesto Bertarelli: A Brief Biography about His Love for Sailing In a nutshell… 1965–1996: Early Life and Business Foundations 1965 – Born in Rome, Italy.


100 Sailing Acronyms and their Meaning
100 Sailing Acronyms and Their Meaning Sailing, like many specialised fields, has developed an extensive vocabulary of acronyms and abbreviations. These shorthand terms are essential


Compass variation and deviation explained
Compass variation and deviation explained Understanding Compass Variation and Deviation For anyone navigating the seas, understanding the differences between compass variation and compass deviation is


The Book of Maritime Idioms
The Perfect Gift For the Sailor who has everything The Book of Maritime Idioms A curious collection of sailing terms that found new meaning in


The Book of Maritime Superstitions
The Perfect Gift For the Sailor who has everything The Book of Maritime Superstitions A curious collection of sailing-related beliefs that still carry weight in


Renaming your boat: The Perfect Gift For Sailors
The Perfect Gift For the Sailor who has everything Renaming your boat The ceremony that will save you and your crew from calamity… “Renaming Your


Creating Lateral Distance and Leverage
Creating lateral distance and leverage in competitive sailing Okay, so you need to know about lateral distance and how this relates to creating leverage. Well,


Life Jacket PFD – 275N+ Review and Comparison
Your actions have a purpose. You act decisively and without fear. You are also a planner who will mitigate any possible danger. Life jackets for


Tell Me About The America’s Cup
The America’s Cup: A Deep Dive into the World’s Oldest and Most Prestigious Sailing Race The America’s Cup is not just a sailing competition but


10 most famous sailing songs
The 10 most famous sailing songs Here are 10 famous sailing songs, with brief descriptions and key lyrics. These songs span genres and eras but


Understanding Maritime Structures
Understanding Maritime Structures: Pier, Wharf, Finger, Quay, Jetty, and More Coastal and harbour infrastructure comprises various structures to facilitate vessel loading and unloading, protect harbours,


Standing Rigging: Steel Wire vs Dyneema?
Standing Rigging: Steel Wire vs Dyneema? Several key factors are essential when deciding between metal (usually stainless steel wire) and Dyneema for standing rigging, depending on your sailing


What rope material should I use on sailboats?
What rope material should I use on my sailboat? The choice of rope material on a sailboat depends on the specific application (e.g., halyards, sheets,


Sailing the Whitsundays: A Journey Through Paradise
Sailing the Whitsundays: A Journey Through Paradise The Whitsundays, an idyllic archipelago nestled in the heart of the Great Barrier Reef, offer one of the


Preparing your Sailboat for the Hard Stand
Preparing your Sailboat for the Hard Stand Preparing your sailboat for the hard stand (also called dry storage or haul-out) is essential to protecting it during


Managing Waste on a Sailing Boat: A Practical Guide for Cruisers
Managing Waste on a Sailing Boat: A Practical Guide for Cruisers Life aboard a sailing vessel demands self-sufficiency, and waste management is one of the


Dogs on board sailing yacht
Dogs on board sailing yachts For many yacht owners, life on the water is the ultimate escape. The sea offers freedom, adventure, and peace. But


100 sailing quotes with deeper meaning
100 sailing quotes with deeper meaning Sailing has long captured the imagination of adventurers, dreamers, and philosophers alike. The open sea, with its vastness and


Tether Lines on Sailboats
Tether Lines on Sailboats When offshore or sailing in rough conditions, falling overboard can become life-threatening. Enter the tether line — an essential part of


Minimum Budget for Sailing Around the World
Minimum Budget for Sailing Around the World Sailing around the world is a dream many share — the promise of freedom, discovery, and adventure on


Sail Drive vs Shaft Drive: A Comparison
Sail Drive vs Shaft Drive: A Detailed Comparison for Sailboat Owners Choosing between a Sail-Drive and a Shaft-Drive system is one of the key decisions


How to Cope with Rudder Loss on a Sailboat
How to Cope with Rudder Loss on a Sailboat Losing a rudder while under sail is a serious and potentially life-threatening situation. The rudder is


Garmin Quatix 7 Marine Edition vs. Suunto Ocean
Garmin Quatix 7 Marine Edition vs. Suunto Ocean So, you’re looking to buy a sailing watch. Here is a quick comparison of two quality, well-known


Fixed vs. Folding vs. Feathering Propellers (Screws)
Fixed vs. Folding vs. Feathering Propellers When choosing a propeller for a sailboat or performance cruiser, one of the most critical decisions is selecting the


How to Clean and Antifoul Props and Shafts
How to Clean and Antifoul Propellers and Shafts 1. Why Special Attention is Needed Firstly, if you need to know more about antifouling your boat,


The Complete Guide to Antifouling for Sailboats
The Complete Guide to Antifouling for Sailboats Owning a sailboat offers the freedom to explore the open water, but that freedom comes with responsibility—chief among


Lights and day shapes sailors must know
Lights and day shapes sailors must know Having lights and day shapes on a boat is important because they are essential for safe navigation and communication at


Summary of the COLREGs
COLREGs International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea Here’s a detailed summary of the COLREGS (International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea), which are established


Notice of Race (NoR) vs Sailing Instruction (SI)
Notice of Race (NoR) vs Sailing Instruction (SI) To contrast and compare Notice of Race (NoR) and Sailing Instructions (SIs), we must understand their roles


Never trust a sailor on dry land
Never trust a sailor on dry land… The phrase “never trust a sailor on dry land” is a proverb-like expression rich in metaphor and connotation.