From time to time, we all imagine we’ve anchored closer to the shore than is actually the case. To assess how far off the beach you are, don’t rely purely on first impressions. Spot something whose …
Tugboat hitch
Securing a spring line to a winch barrel where there is no handy cleat is best achieved by the tugboat hitch. This is also the favoured method anywhere a single post or bollard must accept a line that …
Look, no sails
Because most modern yachts sail well downwind under bare poles, dropping a mooring with wind against tide is easier than it looks. It’s often possible simply to make sure the sails are ready, then …
Dipping your loops
Where more than one rope must be made up on a shoreside cleat or bollard, always pass the loop of the second and subsequent lines through the loop that was there first. The geometry of this is hard to …
NO HOOKS ON THE LEECH
Few abominations can compare with a ‘motoring leech’, but the leech line should really be the last resort in subduing the horror. If you over-tighten the line, it will end up by 'hooking’ the leech of …
MAINSAIL TWIST – THE SIMPLE TEST
When applying kicking strap or mainsheet tension to control the leech twist of a conventional mainsail, the question arises as to how hard you should be pulling. In the context of a cruising yacht, …
