It’s all very well imagining that a roller genoa is the answer to all our prayers. It certainly makes life easier in light and moderate going, but when the big winds blow, most of them set like a …
Get the grib
Are you looking for really sound wind and weather forecasting on your desktop, anywhere in the world, large area or small, with three-hour intervals and up to seven-day prognosis? We all are, aren’t …
Holding station
Holding station in a strong breeze, it’s only natural to try to hang in head-to-wind. In fact, most modern yachts don’t like this. Left to themselves they tend to end up with the wind over the …
Compensating for leeway
Here’s an easy system for making sure you apply leeway correctly on a course to steer. First construct your one-hour plot; next, sketch the wind on the chart. As soon as you can see which way it is …
Keep a track
Using a chart plotter without activating the ‘projected track’ feature is like eating chips without salt and vinegar. ‘Projected track’ creates a line emanating from the image of the boat which shows …
Cardinal errors
Everyone who has been on a navigation course knows what cardinal marks mean. If you have not had the benefit of formal training, the following may help with the topmarks and the black and yellow paint …
