A Brief History of the Nautical Almanac Sailing the high seas has never been for the faint of heart. Imagine setting off into the great unknown, armed only with your wits, a sextant, and a disturbing lack of Wi-Fi. It’s the kind of thing that makes modern sailors shudder as they check their GPS for…
The History of the Beaufort Scale The Beaufort Scale is perhaps one of the best-known ways to measure wind force, offering a standard method to classify wind speeds based on their effects both on land and at sea. It’s a valuable tool used by meteorologists, sailors, and engineers, significantly influencing modern understanding of wind strength…
A Tale of Big and Little Diomede Ah, time travel. A notion that’s been tickling our imaginations for donkey’s years. H.G. Wells scribbled about it, Doc Brown cobbled together a DeLorean for it, and Doctor Who nailed it with a flying blue police box. But what if I told you that time travel is already…
Why Some Sailors Just Can’t Stay Ashore The wind howls like a banshee, rain lashes against the windows, and the mere thought of venturing outside sends shivers down your spine. It’s a perfect day… for some hardy souls to don their foul-weather gear, wrestle their boats from the clutches of winter, and head out onto…
Why are bananas supposed to be bad luck on boats? If you’ve ever set sail or chatted with seasoned sailors, you might have stumbled upon a curious maritime superstition: bananas are bad luck on boats. This peculiar belief, like tales of mermaids and ghost ships, has been passed down through generations. But why do these…
Are charted depths based on the worst-case scenario? Traditional and electronic navigation charts (ENCs) provide us with an understanding of depth, particularly near the coastline. Generally, we ask ourselves: Can we float? After all, we don’t want to run aground! The numbers provided on charts give a likely worst-case scenario, known as chart datum. For…
Introduction Navigational aids have been crucial for maritime safety for centuries, but you may be surprised to learn that the standardisation of the buoyage system didn’t materialise until the 1980s. Among the various systems developed, the International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities (IALA) buoyage system stands out for its global adoption…
“Under the weather” is commonly used to describe feeling ill or unwell. Its origin can be traced back to maritime language and practices. Here are the key points of its origin: Overall, the phrase “under the weather” has its roots in maritime culture, symbolising the relationship between bad weather and feeling unwell, whether from direct exposure or…
The Bramble Bank Cricket Match: A Delightfully Oddball Tradition Every year, as the tides align just right, a peculiar and whimsical event occurs in the Solent, the stretch of water separating the Isle of Wight from mainland England. This event is the Bramble Bank Cricket Match, a charmingly eccentric game played on a sandbank that…
If you belive the Earth is flat, you're about to fall of the end...
If you belive the Earth is flat, you're about to fall of the end...
© 2025 – My Sailing Course (Part of The Sailing Business Ltd) | Terms & Conditions | Privacy Policy | Partnership Programme
Filters
Results
