Performing sailing yacht engine checks in preparation for a passage helps to avoid breaking down when you are underway. Engine Checks Checks Before Starting the Engine Performing engine checks before […]
safety
EPIRB (Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons) and PLB (Personal Locator Beacons) are a quick and effective way to alert emergency services of your maritime distress. A locator beacon allows Search […]
EPIRB & PLB Emergency Locator Beacons
Anchor Watch Anchor watch is when you post crew members to take lookout duty on a rotation through the night. It is extremely important to avoid collision, even at […]
Anchor Watch Advice
Boat fire prevention is the key. It is essential to have boat fire safety practices in place to minimise the risk of a fire occurring. Having the correct fire fighting […]
Boat Fire – Prevention & Control
It is essential for all boaters to have a method of calling for help in the event of an emergency at sea. Many boaters believe a mobile phone is adequate; although […]
VHF Communication Equipment For Sailing
For sailors heading into cooler waters, cold water shock is a serious danger not to be overlooked. Wearing a personal flotation device will help to save your life in this situation. Immersion […]
Cold Water Shock – Safety At Sea
What Are Safety Harnesses, Lines & Jacklines? Safety harnesses are worn to secure you to a safety line which connects to the boat via a jackline. They prevent you from […]
Safety Harnesses, Lines & Jacklines
Carbon monoxide (CO) is dangerous because it is tasteless, odorless, and you can’t see or feel it. This is what makes carbon monoxide poisoning the most common type of fatal […]
Carbon Monoxide on Boats
Always, always, always use a kill cord and ensure that it is attached to the driver of the boat – www.rya.org.uk Tenders and small powerboats should always have a […]
Kill Cord Advice – Stay Safe At Sea
Tender Safety Considerations Boaters often use a tender for short passages between the yacht and shore. Tenders are generally used as a necessary mode of transport to get from A […]
Tender Safety Tips
An escape route is a critical part of your passage plan or manoeuvre. Having an escape route thought out ahead of time is an important part of your passage plan or manoeuvre preparation, whether you […]
Planning Your Escape Route
A Chinese gybe is caused by the yacht excessively heeling over to windward. The upper section of the mainsail and the spinnaker move to windward further increasing the angle of […]
Chinese Gybe: Prevention & Recovery Advice
If you decide to up anchor from the UK and head abroad with your sailing boat, there is important paperwork that you must have prepared and on board with you. If […]
Required Paperwork For Sailing Abroad
Pyrotechnic signal aids, such as marine flares, help pinpoint your boats exact location in an emergency. A boat can be difficult to see, even in good conditions. Marine flares alongside […]
A Guide To Marine Flares
Before you head out on your fun adventure, take a moment to run through this sailing pre-departure checklist to ensure a safe and fun time at sea. Download our printable sailing pre-departure […]
Sailing Pre-departure Checklist
Many of you sailors will have been sunburnt at least once while out on the water. You will agree that it is much easier and safer to apply sunscreen to prevent sunburn, […]
Avoid That Sinking Feeling!
Seasickness. Unfortunately, it’s a sure bet that you will experience this at one point in your sailing life. When it occurs, what should you do to prevent or treat it? […]
How To Ease Seasickness
At some point in your sea-going adventures, you may run aground. Fear not… many skippers have done it before, and many skippers will do it in the future. The most famous […]
What To Do If You Run Aground
Marina étiquette involves using your common sense and good manners towards those docked next to you. Remember that your neighbours can see and hear everything much more clearly than if you were […]
An Introduction To Marina Étiquette
What is AIS? Marine vessels and vessel traffic services use AIS (Automatic Identification System) to identify and locate other vessels by exchanging electronic data through an automatic tracking system. Nearby […]
AIS: Useful Marine Navigation Tool
Boat capsizes are actually more common than you realise. If you are a small vessel operator, whether power or sail, then it is a good idea to be prepared for […]
What To Do If Your Boat Capsizes
A helicopter hoist may be necessary in an emergency situation at sea. It is important to know what to do to prepare for the helicopter hoist, and how to minimise any […]
How To Prepare For A Helicopter Hoist
A fouled prop happens to most boaters eventually. Lobster traps, fishing pots, or even just a stray line can become entangled, causing your engine to abruptly stop and refuse to start […]
How To Untangle A Fouled Prop
From the start, it is important to teach children that sailing is a fun activity. To keep their interest levels up whilst teaching safe sailing for children you need to […]
Fun & Safe Sailing For Children
Why make a float plan? In an emergency situation there is a lot of crucial information that needs to be communicated with the emergency services. It can be hard to remember everything, […]
Float Plans Aren’t Just For Boaters!
All boaters using petrol, and especially anyone new to boating, should appreciate the nature of petrol vapour especially in the context of the bucket-like quality of a boat cabin and […]
10 Essential Petrol Safety Tips For Boats
The right lifejacket will keep you alive and increase your survival time in the event of immersion. They are designed to keep the victim face up in the water to allow breathing […]
How To Choose The Right Lifejacket
Sailing is a highly enjoyable sport and, with the proper RYA training, it is a great way to relax in your downtime. Like any sport, it does have inherent risks and […]
Man Overboard Procedures
When you learn to drive a vehicle on the road, a compulsory element is to learn road signs. Similarly, if you are learning to sail then it is really important […]
Buoyage Reminder For Safe Sailing
Whether you are sailing offshore or heading along a coastal route, passage planning is the key to a safe and successful trip. Passage planning is important because it helps you to […]