Marina Etiquette and Radio Calls: Sound Like You Belong
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.
The Salty Sea Blog
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! ⛵
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Steering the Best Course to Windward — a practical guide
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.
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Bottom-Up vs Top-Down: Pilotage Plans That Work
Bottom-up or top-down? After several practical courses with skippers trained elsewhere, I saw the same pilotage problems: plans too long to read or too thin to protect the boat. Here’s how to choose a format, avoid left/right flips, and build a cockpit-ready plan that works by day and at night.
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Skipper’s Debrief: Turn Every Trip into a Better One
A simple 10-minute debrief that makes every passage better—what to ask, how to capture lessons, and how to fold them back into your next plan.
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Wind Over Tide: Why It Feels Horrible (and What To Do)
Wind against tide = short, steep, wet. Learn how to spot the overlap, slide your timing, and reef early so the headland round feels easy—not epic.
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Taking Your Boat to France: A Calm, Practical Guide to Extending Your Cruising Ground
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.
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Reefing Right: When to Reduce Sail (and by How Much)
If you’re thinking about it… it’s time.” Learn the clear triggers to reef, a step-by-step mainsail flow, and smart headsail furling so the boat stays upright, fast and calm.
#SailingUK #Seamanship #ReefEarly #Cruising -
Weather Windows: Interpreting Forecasts for a Safe Day Out
A practical, UK guide to reading the Shipping Forecast, Inshore Waters and apps—then turning mixed data into a clear “go/no-go” weather window you can trust. Includes a quick routine and common pitfalls.
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The New Digital-First RYA Approach: What It Means for Students
Digital-first doesn’t ditch paper—it prioritises the tools skippers actually use. Learn how to set up your plotter/app (safety depth, XTE, AIS), cross-check on paper, and make calmer decisions afloat.
#RYA #SailingUK #Navigation #Chartplotter #AIS -
The Clipper Race Goes Global: Stitching Diversity into UK Sailing’s Fabric
How the 2025–26 Clipper Round the World Yacht Race—starting in Portsmouth—shows sailing’s future: global crews, growing female leadership, modular training, and practical lessons UK clubs can use now.
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...
