For each other: choosing the boat that (really) suits us
In every keen sailor’s heart there is, without doubts, the dream of buying their own boat. There’s no denying that, being ship owner of their “own beauty”, taking care and customizing her personally, and being able to dispose of it whenever and as you wish,…
Change of course: sailing as a metaphor of life
A common mistake when thinking about sailing is to believe the boat to be a confined space we have to embark on, one in contact with the others. Hence all the fears linked to coexistence and all the urban legends (actually, marine) on the furious…
Good boating practices: “Sailing”
Now here is part three of this excursus through Good Boating Practices. After pondering on how to develop a sustainable behaviour when moored in a marina and how to implement green boat maintenance, it is now time to set sail showing an eco-sailing approach. As…
Joys and sorrows of sailing
Sailing is a combination of joys and sorrows: for both aspects there is plenty of choice! We all have plenty of pictures piled in a drawer or stored in our computer as mementos of some magic sailing moments, but, certainly the same cannot be said…
From bimini to shrouds: solar panels can be installed (almost) everywhere
Energy autonomy on board is the goal of every ship owner. A target that can be achieved through many different technological approaches. One of these, however, has become the indisputable preferred choice for cost-efficiency and zero environmental impact: solar energy. Thanks to the rapid progress…
I cross over: how to prepare an atlantic crossing
Crossing the Atlantic is a dream, but even preparing to live the dream can be daunting. For anyone embarking in a “deep water” adventure, months and weeks before the departure might be stressful. There is an endless list of work, while combining job and family…
Guests on board: etiquette and unrwitten rules in hosting
During this period of uncertainty, a sailing holiday could be one of the safest options for a family unit or a group of friends of “proven origin” that didn’t want to crowd with hundreds of people in a resort or on a beach. Hence why…
Quickly and well: how to sell your boat optimally
“Two are the happiest moments in a ship-owner: the day he buys his boat and the day he sells it”. Eventually, for many ship-owners will come the time to change their yacht for a different model or dimension. It does not matter how much love…
Flight and sailing: Vendée Globe, America’s cup and surroundings
August 22nd 1851 the Royal Yacht Squadron organized what nowadays we would call “a club race” on a route that winds around the Isle of Wight. Fourteen local boats and a New York Yacht Club boat participated. At stake was a silver pitcher (quite ugly…
Memories of nautical chart table
You used to use me to track the route On all boats beyond a certain size (even quite reduced actually) is proudly displayed a furniture element that, until not so long ago, was a real cult piece. It was a sort of secular temple that…
Pets on board: some tips
Whether it is a spilled litter, pet passports or dogs overboard, sailing with our cat or dog can be a challenge. At the same time, since pets are often an integral part of our families, leaving them at home just isn’t an option for many…
Rigging: checking and replacement
Today, we will be addressing a very important and delicate topic: we are talking about a real art, that of rigging, which consists, basically, in the discipline that studies, designs and produces the necessary equipment to arm a sailboat, sustaining the mast and making it…
