The effects of changes of heading on some steering compasses are well known and are tabulated as deviation. Heeling can also displace a compass needle in some vessels on certain headings, especially …
A SHORTER SCOPE
It is well known that three or four times the maximum expected depth of water is a good starting-point for deciding scope when anchoring with chain cable. This rule is not cast in stone, however, and …
HEADS DOWN, BUT TAKE IT EASY
Gybing an yacht below 40ft or so in a light breeze, it is generally a waste of effort to pull in the mainsheet. Just gathering the parts and manhandling the boom across is perfectly safe. As the wind …
GIVE THE CREW A CHANCE
Always try to steer through a tack rather than just shoving the helm over and hoping for the best. If you go about too sharply the jib-sheet handlers will have a tough job winding in the genoa. Life …
KEEP ON TRACK
For close piloting inshore, it is important to steer down a straight track from one navigation mark to the next. Merely ‘aiming’ the boat will not be enough if there is any cross-set. As soon as you …
HANG ONTO YOUR RUDDER
It is unusual for a modern yacht to lie a’hull in a storm, but if this should ever be your lot, lash your helm amidships. If you lash the tiller to leeward and the boat gathers way after being knocked …
