Day shapes
Although forgotten by many and intentionally ignored by others, day shapes are important and must be observed. This is why fines are quite common in the event of an inspection. In details, day shapes refer to Part C of COLREGs, i.e. International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, stating that by day certain vessels are required in certain situations to exhibit signals having specific geometric shapes (ball, cylinder and cone).
Mooring hooks
No vessel can do without a mooring hook, including dinghies and small, medium or large sized boats.
A mooring hook is essential to board lazy lines attached to mooring posts, to fetch a fender or any other object that has slipped outboard or even to help who wants to climb on board. In short it helps you to increase your reach when grabbing an object or a person.
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.
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.
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.
The compass: definitely an evergreen!
The compass has been for centuries, and still is nowadays, the safest and most reliable instrument you may have on board. This is why it is useful not to lose the habit to have a look at it every now and then instead of keeping on staring the plotter multicolour screen.
Welcome a warm winter at sea
Let us therefore look at what are the best heating options for dinette and cabins and the most popular heating systems for a comfortable boat even in winter unless you prefer shivering or risk a bronchitis cuddled up in your sleeping bag!
SAILING IN THE TIME OF COVID-19
A sailing boat has always been synonym with freedom. Every time we raise anchor or cast off the moorings we cut off the last physical bond with the mainland and step into an exciting dimension of total freedom. Or at least this is the perception as we are well aware we have to know and always act upon the rights and duties in force.
Trying a boat: the purchase between heart and brain
Yachts’ brokers do not sell boats, they sell dreams and from dreams, you know it, you can wake up very disappointingly. Buying a sailboat requires, in a way, an act of faith: the conviction that the winds will always blow in our favour and that…
New Year’s cruise
To welcome the New Year aboard their boat is a tradition many boat owners can’t give up. Honestly, most of these just arrange a gargantuan lunch to be shared with friends or family in the comfortable and warm dinette while being moored at the usual…
