Most useful sailing tip.

[Stemar]

1. Have fun. If you're skipper, make sure the crew's having fun too.
1a The smaller the boat the more fun

2. Remember Sod's law. If you've only got a plan b, you're already in the mire. Plans D, E & F are the ones that'll get you out of it.

 

[castaway]

Remember that when sailing downwind at 7kts with 15kts of apparent wind at the mast head.........

This will translate into around 25kts when you turn to try beat home !

Regards Nick

 

[Koeketiene]

If everything (wind, tide...) is just right... the sun will shine straight in your eyes /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[stevebrassett]

Don't panic. Panicking will turn a situation into a crisis.

 

[Richard10002]

If you're letting go a mooring line and it gets jammed on the quay or the buoy ... let it go. It will be there when you get back, or it will only cost a few quid to replace if you are never going back.

 

[billmacfarlane]

In a tricky nav situation never assume that the boat in front knows where it's going. It's happened to me.........trouble is, I was the boat in front !!!!!

 

[ctelfer38]

All good stuff Guys and Gals. This list could be unending! One more to keep it going. Don't hog the helm! ! /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[William_H]

Someone who hogs the helm...Known around here as Captain Araldite.

I agree it is more fun for them and very usefull in an emergency to have everyone comfortable and familiar with helming the boat. olewill

 

[ga1135]

Always tell your crews what you are going to do/where to go, so that they have the ideas of what will be going on, it helps to reduce the stress on them/you/the boat, hence enjoy the trips with more funs.

 

[VictorII]

One I haven't seen yet, and a very useful one my former skip always repeated: First yourself, then the boat. One hand to hang on, then the other one for doing things.

Boats are more easily mended than people. In the heat of it all, people -especially beginners- forget this easily. That's why you still see people putting their hands, arms, legs, feet, you name it, between two other objects. e.g. two 6 tonne pleasure yachts.