I remember going to my Coastal Navigation course about 10 years ago, and sitting right at the front of the class like a swotty nerd that I was. The teacher said that today we were going to be learning how to measure the distance off a landmark and that it was just a case of…
For today’s lesson in navigation we are going to look at one method of determining your position without the use of a GPS! These are always good skills to have, because lets face it, it is super easy to become reliant on your electronic gear, but if it breaks down then you could be in…
Yes… I am back to study mode, ticking off the final few bits of my Ocean Yachtmaster course. Next week I am starting a Meteorology course with some friends, so hold on to your hats for those posts people! But for now you are going to have to deal with a post on yacht stability……
Being a small island nation, New Zealanders have a natural affinity with the water. Here in Canterbury we are particularly lucky to have a variety of different sailing locations to suit everyone’s tastes. If you are a fan of the water, and are wanting to make new friends, challenge yourself and try something new, then sailing…
I think sailing at night feels kind of surreal – it is spooky sometimes, but then you see the millions of stars – more than you will ever see on land, and it is so beautiful. With the loss of your vision your other senses become more alert, you hear and smell new things. It…
Many of you will have seen my posts relating to the Ocean Yachtmaster course I am doing. Coastguard Boating Education is the NZ equivalent to the British RYA courses. I have already done many of their courses and found them really useful and interesting. About five years ago I purchased the Ocean Yachtmaster home study…
I remember my lovely Nana used to say to me “You learn something every day.” Well – here is your something for today! That is unless you know everything there is to know about anodes already? And if you don’t even know what an anode is, well – today is your lucky day! You are…
If you haven’t yet been involved in either being towed or towing someone, then you are either very lucky or your time is about to come! Being towed is not cool. Aside from the obvious humiliation, Wildwood does not like being towed, she slews around all over the place in a most uncomfortable fashion. As…
So you are bobbing about at sea somewhere and realise there is no wind, and you’ve run out of diesel and beer and you are about to get dashed on the rocks. So you call up someone to get rescued (or at least deliver some beer and diesel) you get towed back to port only…
The RYA – Royal Yachting Association has produced a great online course for people wanting to get a commercial endorsement on their sailing qualification. The PPR course stands for Professional Practices and Responsibilities, and means I can use my current leisure qualifications to upgrade to a skipper or crew on a commercial vessel. I thought…
Astrolabe Sailing 