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We have all encountered clutches that won’t hold a rope properly, but figuring out the best solution is not always obvious, writes Rupert Holmes
Purchase systems that can be assembled quickly and cheaply using low friction rings mean many tasks that once required a clutch can now be handled by a decent cam cleat. Photo: Rupert HolmesThe first step is to examine the existing cams. Are they the correct size for each line? And how badly are they worn? Wear can have a massive effect on the amount of load a clutch can hold without the rope...
When Covid scuppers Josh Lindley’s gap year, he takes on a demanding 5-month sailing course instead to qualify as a skipper
Josh helming towards the MedwayWhen I was 14 I attended an open day at a small sailing club in Cookham village on the river Thames. I was hooked the minute I got on a boat, and soon became a member of Cookham Reach Sailing Club (CRSC).
I progressed to racing 12ft dinghies and brought home many trophies, which encouraged me to get my dinghy instructor qualification when I turned 16 and teach cadets at CRSC....
Do you have trouble maintaining focus toward the end of a tough race or during the last race of a multi-race day? You’re not alone, especially if you’re older. For this post we collected the available wisdom on how to…
The post Combatting Mental Fatigue on the Race Course appeared first on SailZing.
Years ago I owned an O’Day 25 on which my family and I explored the coast of British Columbia. Our travels took us from the far reaches of the Salish Sea all the way up to Desolation Sound and beyond, including the remote inlets of the west coast of Vancouver Island. Often, when the rest […]
The post Sudden Impact! appeared first on Good Old Boat.
One of the most painful things I’ve ever done aboard a boat occurred while sailing Shoal Survivor, my PDQ 32 catamaran, off the coast of Virginia with my wife and 15-year-old daughter. Permanent berths were available for the three of us, but when it was hot–and it definitely was on this trip–I’d often sleep on […]
The post Easy-Peasy, Sailboat Dinette-to-Sleeper Conversion appeared first on Good Old Boat.
Can electric inboard engines fully replace marine diesels for cruising boats? It's complicated, as Jake Kavanagh reports
The Swedish designed Candela can reach a top speed of 30 knots thanks to its Torqeedo motor and retractable foilsJust a few years ago there were perhaps half-a-dozen manufacturers making electric outboards. Now there are nearly 40. We covered that market in detail last month; here we look at the latest tech for inboard electric solutions – and the remaining unsolved issues – for a hybrid or ‘electric-only’...
Isles of Scilly boat owners asked to 'gently deflect' Wally the Walrus with oars and erect temporary barriers
Boat owners have been asked to block access to their boats. Photo: Tom OwenBoat owners in St Mary’s, Isles of Scilly have been asked to block bathing platforms and gently deflect Wally the Walrus with an oar if he attempts to board their boats.
The gregarious walrus, who’s come from Svalbard in Norway, has been seeking the company of humans and climbing aboard dinghies and yachts.
Walrus regular passenger on...The UK coast has one of the richest breeding grounds in Europe, and there’s no better place to spot birds than from the cockpit of your boat, says Genevieve Leaper
Guillemots, razorbills and kittiwakes at sea off breeding colony, Fowlsheugh RSPB reserve, Aberdeenshire. All photos: Genevieve LeaperSailors have been watching seabirds for thousands of years. Early navigators in the Pacific used their knowledge of how far different birds ranged from land to judge when they were approaching an island. The White tern was known as the ‘...
The official updates to the 2021 PBO Small Craft Almanac published by Adlard Coles
The official updates for the PBO Small Craft Almanac 2021 can be downloaded from the Adlard Coles website – updates for your almanac section.