Hypothermia, a winter nightmare
Those who love sea unconditionally and sailing enthusiasts in particular, know that the winter season offers unique moments for many reasons.
Condensation: how to fight an insidious enemy
Humidity inside a boat is as pleasant as a bucket full of sand spread on the sleeping bag you are sleeping in. And yet it is not just a matter of comfort
Fire, one of the worst nightmares on board
Fire on board is no doubt the worst event possible that could even cause a boat to sink. Therefore, precautions include common-sense measures and obligations required by the law in force in Italy, such as having at least one fire extinguisher on board watercrafts, even those sailing within one mile from the coast.
Hand-bearing compass: the highest reliability that dissolves all doubts
Everybody who passed the boating licence exam had to learn about the compass. This is an ancient and yet still current navigational instrument especially useful for offshore sailing. A traditional compass is unrivalled by no electronic device
SAIL CARE chapter 2
Each sail has been designed to withstand wind stress, stress induced upon mast and equipment, sea waves and – above all –a specific wind range. Knowing the wind range is essential for sail proper use and stowage.
Summer cruises – Golfo dei Poeti
The vast expanse of boats of all kinds and sizes at anchor between April and October says more than a thousand words about the appeal of Golfo dei Poeti among those who sail the Tyrrhenian side of the peninsula. The big cove between Lerici and Portovenere – and La Spezia lying in the middle – is a must for summer cruisers sailing through the Mediterranean (large vessels included) as well as a meeting point for sailors longing to spend some days in one of the best Italian scenarios.
Summer cruises: Gallinara island
Seen from the sea, Liguria offers spectacular views. However, from a sailor’s point of view, things are not that simple. From La Spezia to Ventimiglia almost no natural shelters are available to protect from southerly winds or coves deep enough for a boat to safely moor for the night (except for Sestri Levante roadstead, which is always overcrowded in summer). The only island in this sea area is Gallinara, just over a green cliff on Riviera di Ponente, off the coast of Albenga.
OCEAN CROSSING: OPERATION FOOD-STOCKS
Sailing involves physical and mental strain. Our body’s energy consumption must be balanced to the quantity of food we consume, and this is why eating a balanced and varied diet is not only recommended but essentia
C.I.R.M. The guardian angels of seafarers
C.I.R.M. stands for Centro Internazionale Radio Medico (International Radio Medical Centre). It was established back in 1935 and is considered one of the pioneers of telemedicine. It provides radio medical advice 365 days a year, 24 hours a day to ships on any nationality navigating on the four corners of the world regardless of boundaries or which flag they fly.
Asinara Island, our local Caribbean scenario
Asinara Island is one of the favourite destinations of those who have decided to spend their holiday cruising to Sardinia. It is a natural paradise in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, so beautiful to be more than comparable with the Caribbean Sea.
Marine toilets: joys (and sorrows)
ands up if you have never spent some minutes (in the best of cases) or a couple of hours (in the worst of cases) of your holiday time kneeling by the WC or, even worse, with your head in the toilet bowl or by the seacocks. On-board toilets or better, marine toilets, bring joy and sorrow to all yachtspeople. Joy, as there is nothing better than having a toilet within a few metres when you need one urgently. Sorrow, as when something goes wrong – which happens quite frequently – the necessary repair work is long-lasting, complicated and as unpleasant as you can imagine.
It doesn’t matter if jack or bag, provided that it is “lazy”
Most sailboats are equipped with lazy jacks and lazy bags and most sailors would surely say this is worthwhile as not only they have never regretted the choice, but they couldn’t do without!
