Going Overboard Is Our Worst Nightmare It happens, crew members do fall overboard, on a crewed boat there are others who can turn back and rescue them, on a single-handed sailboat it could be disastrous. So how can boating folks reduce the risk without lessening the fun?Be prepared, is a great motto and I borrow…
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Outstanding! But, choose wisely and satisfy your dreams, and look forward to having the time of your life. A great deal depends on whether you are an experienced sailor looking for a new boat, an experience boater looking for a pre-owned boat or a new comer to boating and very keen to get your feet…
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Maintaining the security of your possessions, is essential isn’t it? So why do so many people leave the keys to their cars in places where they can be stolen? Very many cars are stolen every year because the keys were left in the ignition, on the hall-stand just inside the house door, on the kitchen…
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A lot depends on the extent of the damage of course, the off season is the ideal time to make repairs to your boat, as many of us in the Northern Hemisphere will be doing over the next few months, if you need something done properly advice is at hand. Are you able to perform…
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Experienced boating people know how to read the sea state at a glance, in doing so they know to recognize changes as they occur. Just as the wind on your face can tell you if the wind has veered, sea state can tell you what is happening on the surface of the water i.e. flat…
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All too often people take risks with their lives and with their most prized possessions by ignoring or tampering with safety devices.Hopefully one would not tamper with a life jacket because it was bulky, the wrong colour et al? So, why would one replace electrical fuses with nails or screws? Q. What is an electrical…
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Facts, Gas is heavier than air. Boats make perfect reservoirs for heavy gas to settle in. Used correctly gas is no threat. Used carelessly gas can be lethal. Burnt gas produces Carbon Monoxide. Boating folks are in the main clued-up about gas and the attendant risks, however in case of doubt it is…
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Communication is a Two-way Process, How do we communicate with other people when sailing? Wave? There is an old joke about a swimmer gesticulating frantically, ‘Is he waving or drowning?’ Any right-minded person would assume the worst and go to their assistance just in case. However, it does make a valid point about communication. According…
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As is often the case sailing close to the wind has its origins in sailing, in general life it means taking a risk, cutting it fine, and for experienced sailing skippers that is what life is about, the adrenaline rush, challenging yourself against the elements, enjoying the rush, literally. Sailing close to the wind…
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A magnetic compass uses the natural magnetism of the Globe upon which we all stand. Planet Earth has a magnetic field – North is north, and South is south. The pointer on a magnetic compass will always point Northward, once we know where North is, a fixed reference point, and we know that a circle…
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