Sailing Hints & Tips

Home
>
Cruising & Sailing
>
Sailing Hints & Tips

Sailing Hints & Tips

I spend almost all my summers sailing around the Greek islands. With this small article I would like to share some sailing hints with you that will help you enjoy the most out of your sailing holidays.

? When moored or anchored, use your sun tent and stay under it most of the time. Our friend, the Sun, sometimes can be dangerous, especially during summertime.

? Be cautious on board and if possible, always wear a pair of soft boat shoes. This way you will protect your feet and the deck surface. When sailing, avoid walking on deck without particular reason and in rough weather, remember to use your life belt.

? If you have children on board, let them sit outside but always in the cockpit wearing a life vest.

? Before operating the electric anchor winch, start the motor and run it at aprox 1.200 to 1.500 rpm in neutral. This is necessary in order not to exhaust the service battery, as the consumption of the winch is extremely high. Our recommendation is to low your anchor manually and collect it using the remote control. Whenever using the anchor winch (dropping or collecting your anchor) be very careful with your fingers. An electric anchor winch is a great facility but also extremely danger with careless use.

? Remember to use the electric refrigerator only with the motor running.

? Many yachts are equipped with a switch with which you may connect the two batteries, to have more power to start your motor. You can keep them connected, as long as your motor is running. When you stop the motor, remember to disconnect them. This will protect you, to be without electric power in case that you will forget, for example, the electric refrigerator running.

? When you moor in a port, always have a fender between your yacht and the quay, so even if your anchor for any reason is unable to keep you in position, the yacht will not touch the quay. Take care of the swell that big ferries cause and avoid mooring the yacht close to the place these boats anchor.

? Before you put your engine in gear, have a look around the yacht for floating ropes that may block or damage your propeller or gearbox. When you want to go from forward to backward, do it after you let the engine speed drop to idling.

? Avoid towing your dinghy especially in rough weather, as you may lose it. It's better to keep it secured in front of the mast. Remember that lost items are always charged to the charterer. In case you need tug help and before you accept it, agree on the price and ask for a receipt that clearly states that no further payment will be asked.

? Avoid dropping papers or napkins in the toilet bowl. It's better to use plastic bags for the waste papers. Toilet pumps are not able to dissolve such things.

? Remember to close the main switch at the top of gas bottle when you don't use the gas stove or when nobody is on board.

? While refilling either water or fuel tanks, make sure not to mix fuel with water or water with fuel. In both cases the situation becomes unpleasant and difficult to be repaired.

? Keep always an eye on the hour counter of your motor and make sure that you have sufficient amount of fuel in your tank. The fuel gauge is not always reliable, so check the hours that you have used the motor.

? Do not throw plastic bottles, cans or any other waste in the sea. Keep them on board and remove immediately at the first harbour.

? It is also requested not to raise any flag, other than the Greek, at the aft side of the yacht, as it is against Greek and International marine regulations.

CAUTION : If the yacht is equipped with DSC VHF, DO NOT PRESS DISTRESS SIGNAL BUTTON UNLESS IT IS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY (FIRE - COLLISION - GROUNDING - SINKING).There is a penalty for the unnecessary use.

- For more information please check http://www.seascope-sailing.com

Yannis Moraitis
http://www.seascope-sailing.com

In The News:

Set sail for small ports
iAfrica.com
And those tired of arriving in port to find it crammed with giant ships and several thousand cruise passengers swarming all over town should certainly consider cruising on a smaller ship with access to less crowded and more remote destinations.

CruiseMates Cruise Guide
Royal Princess Entertainment Firsts
CruiseMates Cruise Guide
Without a doubt, the biggest news in cruising right now involves the introduction of two brand new cruise ships next year. First is Norwegian Breakaway in April, 2013, less than a year away. That ship will sail year round from New York City, ...

and more »

Financial Times
Sea-change: The Acciona prepares to compete in the Vendée Globe
Financial Times
By Victor Mallet Sailors like to distinguish themselves from powerboaters and pretend that theirs is an environmentally friendly sport using only the power of the wind. But the reality has always been rather dirtier. Cruising yachts, especially in the ...

Sail World
Fresh hopes for cruising sailors as EU attacks pirate lairs
Sail World
New hopes have been raised for cruising sailors wanting to cross the Indian Ocean with the very first proactive attack by European Union naval forces into Somalia this week, after promising to take more positive action. The EU Naval Force had announced ...

and more »

Living Here: Amusements and attractions
Daily Press
Cruising mid-April through late October. Waterside, downtown Norfolk. 757-627-7245. americanrover.com. Busch Gardens Williamsburg. European-themed adventure park with more than 50 rides, shows and attractions. Single-day tickets: $66.99 adults, ...

and more »

Mixing cruising with independent travel
Chicago Tribune
I used to think there were independent travelers and cruise passengers -- two mutually exclusive categories. But now, with cruising shedding its newlywed and geriatric stereotypes, all kinds of tourists are finding shipboard travel to be appealing.

and more »

Crystal Honors Soldiers From Around The World With Veterans' Gatherings
MarketWatch (press release)
Both ships will be sailing the western coast of France over the holiday weekend, with Crystal Symphony spending the rest of the summer in the Baltic region, and Crystal Serenity cruising the Mediterranean area until December.

and more »

InnerSea Discoveries/American Safari Cruises Christens Two Vessels for ...
Seattle Post Intelligencer
Un-Cruise Adventures are hands-on with 'tools' provided – kayak, snorkel, paddle board, explore by skiff, hike, beachcomb; view whales, bears, dolphins, eagles, sea turtles and other wildlife. The Safari Endeavour sails weeklong un-cruises in Alaska's ...

and more »

TTR Weekly
New options for Chao Phraya cruises
TTR Weekly
A cruise on the River Chao Phraya is right up there as a must-do activity when visiting Bangkok. There are countless operators, big and small, competing for the charter or join-tour business and sailing an equally bewildering variety of river craft, ...

Sail World
The Blurr wins 2012 Elliott 5.9 Traveller Series opener at Opua
Sail World
Sailed over the weekend of May 19-20 2012, the host club was Opua Cruising Club which has several E5.9's racing regularly. 10 races were sailed in moderate to strong breeze with shifty and gusty conditions making for plenty of challenges.

Google News