Ahoy, fellow sea wanderers! If the smell of salt in the air, the rhythmic slap of waves against the hull, and the endless horizon call to your soul, you’ve found the right place. The Salty Sea Blog is a place for musings on sailing—whether it’s the thrill of a stiff breeze filling the sails, the quiet magic of a sunrise at anchor, or the camaraderie found in harbours worldwide.
From salty old sea dogs to fresh-faced deckhands, this blog is for anyone who finds peace, adventure, and a bit of mischief on the water. So hoist the main, set your course, and let’s sail into the stories, lessons, and musings that make life on the sea so irresistible.
Fair winds and following seas! ⛵
Day Skipper theory is not about chasing a pass mark. It’s about proving you understand the method.
This guide shows you how to stay calm online, what to revise for the two papers, and the small mistakes that cost marks. Biggest one: heights use the nearest port, streams use the port named at the top of the atlas or tidal diamond page, often Victoria. Plus revision downloads and buoyage flashcards.
If you are comparing Ardent Training and My Sailing Course for your RYA Day Skipper Theory course, the right choice depends on how you want to learn. Both offer online Day Skipper theory training. The difference is in the teaching style, the level of support, the course structure, and how well prepared you feel by…
The step-by-step on taking your UK boat to France: documents, how to report to UK Border Force (sPCR), where to clear into France (PPF vs authorised marinas), fuel and waste-water rules, inland extras, and what changes with the EU’s new EES system.
Your family Med sailing holiday is closer than you think.
Pick your route:
• Fast-track: 8–10 weeks
• Balanced: 3–6 months
• Steady: 6–12 months
Get the right tickets early. Day Skipper, ICC, and VHF SRC. Croatia checks VHF hard, don’t risk a ruined check-in.
Start in a flotilla or hire a skipper for day one or two, then build to bareboat confidence.
This guide lays out the steps, the timelines, and what “ready” really looks like.
Start right, save time. New to yachts, do RYA Competent Crew. Already crew with ease and want to lead, take Day Skipper Theory, then the Practical week. This guide shows who fits each path, the skills you need, common myths, and clear next steps.
Build a digital passage plan an RYA instructor can read in 60 seconds. Show “decisions for reasons” with clear evidence.
• What they check: clarity, safety margin, reasons, alternatives, backup.
• The 4-page pack: route overview, tides and streams, pilotage, weather and limits.
• Prove your sources: chart edition, model run time, reference and secondary ports.
• Keep it simple to share: GPX, PDF, and one printed summary.
• Finish with a checklist you can copy.
Read the full guide and make a plan that stands up to inspection.
Definitive guide to RYA theory exam invigilation for Day Skipper, Coastal/Yachtmaster, and Ocean, when it’s required, how to book, costs, and what to bring.
The calm before the storm—literally. Explore the synoptic charts to see what’s behind #StormAmy and when the wind and rain arrive. #MetOffice #PassagePlanning
Nail your marina approach: what to say on VHF (with scripts), when to call, and the unspoken rules on pontoons—so you look and sound like you belong.
Steering the best course to windward is about balance — the right angle and boat speed together. This guide shows why telltales are your quickest feedback, why learning to feel the boat matters, and how to combine horizon observation with VMG readings to time tacks smartly. Includes practical helming tips and progressive coaching drills to bring new helms up to speed. Read on and shave minutes off your next beat.
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...
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