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.
Radar reflectors: the importance of being visible when you can’t be seen
It helps a boat to show up on other boats’ radar. It is very light, cheap, easy to install (just a small rope or two plastic clamps are needed) and it significantly improves the safety of small boats.
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.
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.
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!
CAST OFF THE MOORINGS AND LEAVE
Who has ever thought, at least once in a lifetime, of leaving everything to travel the world? Many have, I guess, and among them, some were able to put it into practice.
The life jacket
Life jackets are safety devices per excellence and a must for boaters. Yet they are too often left stored and unused, and not only by amateur yachtspeople.
