The latest cruising news from the Northern Hemisphere and the world.
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31 Oct 2016 |
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  - 2016-10-30&cs=newsletter&cm=email&cn=open_Newsletter&ev=) Idyllic paradise (but first you have to get there)
 | | Remoras - think what you want... © |
Maybe it was because I had spent a lot of time on kerosene canaries of late. Could easily have also been the three days my back was out and I could not drive, so was chauffeured everywhere instead. Both did wonders for any control freak tendencies I might have, but in reality it made me think about how wonderful it was not to have to think - totally joyous.
However, if you're sailing on your own or two-up, there comes a time when you need some kip and you cannot just sign off and let someone else do all the driving. This is especially so if you're near the coast, where there are so many things that can go wrong for you, like loads of bricks, and a plethora of Yankee Foxtrots (think yacht truckers and you're almost there) ploughing into or out of port, or just plain sitting there awaiting their turn.
I was privileged enough to be taken onto the bridge of a bulk carrier coming into port. It was incredible for sure, but the lack of vision in certain zones is also quite unimaginable. And as for manoeuvring, well that is a judicious plan and the 20,000Hp tugs don't exactly hang out with large ships at sea like little remoras, now do they.
 | | The wake disappearing in before the bow of a 750-foot bulk carrier John Curnow © |
So that means keeping watch. Some hate it - others love it. Some think four hours is OK at night and others need to keep it short. Of course, if you're on your own, then you need to adopt different practices, because you cannot start a fight with the other watch or might get a mutiny, or consider jumping over the side, neither of which have a good outcome.
On a recent delivery, we had a six-person crew and did two hours up for two souls together. This is ideal, for you can make tea and talk with the other soul, which passes the time so well and prevents chin to chest abrasion. In this case, the other person was keen to learn, which is awesome, because it makes you think even more clearly about what you're doing and explaining.
I remember one night the amount of corrections I made to course as we ‘slid' around the bottom of a reef and avoided the top of an island about another 1.5nm below us. The way the tide was running made this occupy the whole of the three-hour watch, as I crosschecked the electronic charts with the paper one I had surveyed thoroughly before the sun went down, several hours earlier.
So it is up to you to determine how you are going to stick to the regs, because reliance on the electronics to alert you is fundamentally flawed. For sure they are tremendous aid, but in that last word lies the definitive statement. It can also be quite fun for newbies or guests who come aboard for part of your journey. Also, plan some tasks, like making notes or plotting positions, maintenance items, cook biscuits and so forth. In this way, tedium does not reign supreme. The efforts you make here will help you keep clear of a bad hair day.
 | | Sun rising after a glorious dog watch John Curnow © |
Of course if you are on your own, then the egg timer, or iPhone alarm thing, could become your greatest pal as you get up several times a night to survey all that lies before you. Whatever you do, chose a system and stick to it, so you and everyone else on board and out ploughing the seas can have a better night's rest!
As a reminder, here's what the book has to say about it all - 'Rule Five, Look-out: Every vessel shall at all times maintain a proper look-out by sight and hearing as well as by all available means appropriate in the prevailing circumstances and conditions so as to make a full appraisal of the situation and of the risk of collision.'
Solar panels and wind generators deliver heaps of power and the drain of modern gear and LED lights is nothing like days of yore. Incandescent globes should be a thing of the past and just remember how much the fridge likes to draw. Why all the electronic speak? Simple. AIS (Automated Identification System) is terrific and you should stump up for a transceiver if you can, because you should tell everyone where you are. If you are radar equipped, then it to can have the proximity alarms set for vessels, ice and land.
Ultimately, the new age instrument packages are truly awesome. They will alert you to off-course deviation, changes in wind or boat speed, water depth and temperature, and with Bluetooth, even send an alarm to your phone. Time to wake up! It might all be money, but it is cheap when you consider the options.
 | | 2017 Sail Maldives Yacht Rally Sarah Harvey |
OK. In this newsletter you will find terrific material from the Caribbean 1500-ARC Bahamas, safety tips on securing your boat or tender, Fiji, the ARC+, a little thing called satellite and all that they have seen. Then there's Mauritius, the Atlantic Rally, Nautitech's impressive range of incredible cruising cats, some pure folly, a horse rally, English language assistance for those in Martinique, and then something that really caught my eye, the Sail Maldives Yacht Rally.
If a touch of maritime history, no resort islands and that blue that only the Indian Ocean can do seems like you, then check it out. If you are in that part of the world, or can get there by January 20, 2017, this one looks way past good. 1,190 islands await you!!! Now that sounds like great cruising grounds, but seeing as the country is 99% liquid, we should really say cruising waters...
So you see, there are tales, lessons, inspirations and history to regale yourself with. Please do enjoy... We're loving bringing you the best stories from all over the globe.
Now then, are you out there plying the seas and got something to say? We'd love to hear from you via editor@sail-world.com – In the meantime, do you love being on the ocean? Well remember to love them back too. They need our help. Now more than ever! Until next time...
John Curnow
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