Steve’s 5 top tips for sailing in UK waters
1) WEATHER
I use Met Office Inshore Forecast as well as other weather APPS – if they give different forecasts, always choose the worst forecast for planning. Stuck in Cornwall for 4 days waiting for a 13-hour good weather window to traverse the Bristol Channel, an increasingly impatient crew looked at 4 forecast apps. 3 provided a good forecast, and 1 provided a bad forecast…
2) SAFETY
Have the anchor winch turned on and the anchor ready to drop when berthing. After a good day’s sailing, the engine was started, approaching the harbour wall. Fenders and warps attached, crew relaxed. Everything changed when white smoke was observed billowing out of the exhaust. Engine now off, thankfully, the skilful helmsman came in under sail and without brakes…
3) FOOD
Take plenty of spam and cuppa soup, useful as an emergency breakfast, lunch, or dinner. For healthy low-carb, high-protein options, contact Jonathan Cavan, GSA secretary. Eating ashore is wonderful, but managing to a budget requires quick and easy onboard meals. Not had spam for 40 years, give it a go…
4) DRINK
Fly this pennant at every opportunity when the yacht is firmly attached to a pontoon or on a mooring.
5) Go sailing, then go sailing some more
The more you sail, the more experience you gain and the more your confidence grows. You visit more beautiful locations, see more wildlife and make more friends.
There’s a great diversity of people within the Go Sailing Association family sharing a common love for the outdoors and a great sense of adventure. We prioritise safety, and if you choose to join the Go Sailing Association, there’s a wealth of valuable information available to you in the members’ area of the website.
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Talk to Steve Cade our Commodore to see if GSA is a good fit for you. We’d love to hear from you…