Learning

Purchase: two videos on bluewater sailboats

I came across two videos on the Sailing Zingaro channel that describe relatively well the desirable characteristics of an offshore sailboat. The comments seem well-founded enough for me to say that these are two good reference videos. In particular, the impact of the hull shape on the boat’s maneuverability, the...

Spherical trigonometry and navigation

Setting the scene A ship leaves New York, USA, bound for Brest, France. Assuming it takes the shortest route, what will be its departure course? If it is sailing at 15 knots, how long will it take to reach Brest? The coordinates of the two ports are known (below). City...

How to repair mooring lines

Last season took its toll on one end of a mooring line on Jean-du-Sud. A repair was in order. I took advantage of the repair to make a short video on how to repair it. I show how to tie a backsplice and a crown knot. I’ll show you how...

Two special cases of navigation lights

This short text describes two particular cases of navigation lights that have come to my attention in recent days. Both are in situations of reduced visibility, or at night. I found the examples interesting because they reveal parts of the navigation lights conventions that are less well known. Three red...