Category: Europe
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Why you don’t need an anchor windlass + how to cruise without one
Paul Trammell sails his Cartwright 40 Windflower singlehanded. Here he explains why you don’t need an anchor windlass My first sailing boat didn’t have a windlass, and this led to a bit of unexpected drama. I was sailing in the Bahamas in my 30ft Dufour Arpege when I came across beautiful waves at Egg Reef.…
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Should you set sail if a Force 8 is forecast?
Each month Yachting Monthly’s resident expert, James Stevens answers a reader’s question. This month Should you set sail if a Force 8 is forecast? Toby is skipper of Cutting Edge, a 13m cruiser racer which he keeps in Salcombe. Cutting Edge is a powerful yacht fully equipped for racing with a comprehensive sail wardrobe and…
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‘The Atlantic taught me how to calculate a boat’s carbon footprint’
Craig Simmons explains how you can reduce your boat’s carbon footprint and save money For nearly three decades, I have been deeply involved in shaping environmental solutions across many industries, from agriculture to aviation. My colleagues and I were even honoured with a prestigious Queen’s Award in 2006 for our groundbreaking work. Yet, it is…
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Should you enter this harbour with a navigation electronics malfunction?
Each month Yachting Monthly’s resident expert, James Stevens answers a reader’s question. This month should this reader make a difficult harbour entrance? Dave and three friends are sailing their 10m cruising yacht from the Solent to Brest. They were going to enter L’Aber Wrac’h, a rocky inlet in north-west France, for the night, but the…
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How to dry out to at any anchorage (and harbour)
Ken Endean describes how standing your boat on its own two (or three) feet can open up a whole host of anchorages and harbours otherwise out of reach Almost all vessels, in the days of working sail, had to take the ground when calling at destinations around Britain. Some port towns were on estuaries that…
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Sailing with katabatic winds: what you need to know this season
A katabatic wind can be sudden, strong, and unpredictable. Understanding how they work and where to expect them can help keep you safe on coastal cruises. There are several localised metereological phenomena sailors and watersports users should know all about. Two key phenomena are land and sea breezes and Katabatic winds. You’ll want to understand…
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How to get out of a tight yacht berth without damage
Each month Yachting Monthly’s resident expert, James Stevens answers a reader’s question. This month how to get out of a tight berth without damage Sarah and Mark have enjoyed a holiday in Guernsey but the wind and tide are both now favourable for them to return to England. They are on board their 11m yacht…
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How to get the best from your sailing boat: Learning how to ‘change gears’
Changing gears as the conditions change is about instinct and feel as much as it is about numbers. Alan Denham explains how to get the best from your boat Many of you, like me, probably started their sailing adventures in small dinghies. The purity of just you, the wind and some canvas. It’s where we…
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How it works: Taking a noon sight
Author of the book. Illustrated Navigation, Ivar Dedekam talks Yachting Monthly through the process of taking a noon sight To take a sextant noon sight you first have to figure out when the sun will pass over your meridian. It is good enough to work it out to the closest minute. Start by taking a…
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how to make the most of your coastal sailing
A key feature of coastal sailing, land and sea breeze are a commonly encountered phenomena for most sailors No matter where you are in the world, coastal sailing is all about knowing how to read your immediate surroundings to have fun and stay safe while cruising and one of the most common localised weather phenomena…