Monday, 16 March 2026

Why is Having a Burgee Important?

When learning to sail on a river like the Thames, one of the most useful bits of equipment on the boat is also one of the simplest — the burgee.

A burgee is a small flag or ribbon fixed near the top of the mast that shows the true wind direction. While it may look decorative, it is actually an essential sailing instrument.

Why a Burgee Matters

On open water the wind direction is often fairly consistent, but river sailing is very different. Trees, houses, river banks and bends in the river all disturb the wind. The wind may shift every few seconds.

Without a burgee you are often guessing where the wind is coming from.

With a burgee you can instantly see:

The true direction of the wind
When the wind shifts left or right
Whether you are sailing too close to the wind
The best moment to tack

For beginners especially, this simple visual cue makes steering the boat far easier.

Steering the Boat Correctly

When sailing upwind, the helm needs to keep the boat sailing as close to the wind as possible without stalling the sails.

The burgee helps you do this.

If the burgee starts pointing towards you, you are steering too close to the wind and the sails may luff.
If it streams straight back over the boat, you are on a good course.
If it swings to one side, the wind has shifted and you may need to adjust your heading.

Experienced sailors constantly glance at the burgee while steering.

Spotting Wind Shifts on a River

On a narrow river course, wind shifts can make a huge difference.

A small shift in wind direction can suddenly make one side of the river faster than the other. Racing sailors watch the burgee carefully to decide when to tack.

Even when cruising, spotting these changes early makes sailing smoother and more efficient.

Cheap but Powerful

The beauty of a burgee is that it is simple and inexpensive.

Many sailors just tie:

a short ribbon
a strip of sailcloth
or a small triangular flag

to the masthead.

Despite its simplicity, it gives the helm one of the most valuable pieces of information on the boat.

My Own Sailing Habit

On the Thames I find myself glancing at the burgee almost constantly. The wind bends around the trees and houses along the banks, and without it I would often be guessing.

Some sailors prefer to read the sails or the ripples on the water. But when learning — or when the wind is tricky — the burgee is the quickest way to see what the wind is really doing.

A small flag perhaps… but one that can make a big difference to your sailing.

Sunday, 15 March 2026

Choosing the Right Sailing Jacket for Croatia in April

One of the things I quickly discovered while preparing for our sailing trip to Croatia in April is that choosing the right sailing jacket is not nearly as simple as it sounds.

At first I thought it would be easy. Walk into the Dinghy Show, try one on, hand over the credit card, job done. Unfortunately sailing jackets are a bit like boats — there are lots of choices, plenty of opinions, and everyone thinks theirs is the best.

So at the show I did what any sensible sailor would do. I tried on quite a few jackets, asked lots of questions, and listened carefully to people who clearly spend far more time getting soaked at sea than I do.

A number of sailors recommended Gill jackets, saying they were very waterproof, well made, and good value for money. Several people also mentioned that they hold up well when the weather turns unpleasant — which in the Adriatic in April is not impossible.

Another small detail that caught my eye this year was the colour range. Gill are producing jackets in gold and blue, which happen to be the colours of my company. That might sound like a trivial reason to choose a jacket, but if you’re filming sailing videos and taking photographs for a blog, a bright colour is actually quite useful. It also helps the safety boat spot you!

In the end I settled on the Gill OS2 Offshore Jacket in gold, which you can see in the photo above.

The jacket has several features that made it stand out:

Highly waterproof and breathable fabric
A high collar for protection against wind and spray
Plenty of large pockets
Adjustable cuffs to keep water out
A bright colour that is easy to spot at sea

My thinking was simple. If we are out sailing in wind, rain and choppy seas for a day or two, the last thing I want is to be cold and wet. A good jacket won’t make you sail any faster — but it will certainly make the experience a lot more enjoyable.

Of course, I haven’t yet tested it in the Adriatic. That part of the experiment happens in April.

But if the weather does turn rough, I suspect I’ll be very glad I spent a little extra time choosing the right jacket.

And if nothing else, at least I’ll look suitably nautical in the photographs.

Saturday, 14 March 2026

Knot of the Week: The Clove Hitch – quick to tie, handy to know

Some sailing knots are like old friends. Reliable, familiar, and always there when you need them. Others are more like that one club member who arrives early, helps for five minutes, and then quietly wanders off just when the real work begins.

The clove hitch sits somewhere in the middle.

It is one of the first knots many sailors learn, and for good reason. It is quick to tie, easy to adjust, and very useful for temporary fastening. If you want to secure a rope to a post, rail, stanchion, pontoon ring, or fender line in a hurry, the clove hitch is often the knot that comes to the rescue.

But like many things in sailing, it has its strengths and its limits. It is brilliant when used properly, but it is not a miracle worker.

What is a clove hitch?

A clove hitch is a simple knot used to attach a rope to a pole, spar, ring, or post. It is made from two turns crossing over each other, finishing with the working end tucked under the final turn.

It grips neatly, can be tied quickly, and is easy to untie after light loading. That makes it ideal when you need a knot that is fast rather than fancy.

It is the sort of knot that says, “That will do nicely for now.”

How to tie a clove hitch

There are several ways to tie it, but the simplest method around a post is this:

Pass the rope around the post.
Cross over the standing part and go round the post again.
Tuck the working end under the second turn.
Pull both ends to tighten.

If you are tying it in open space before dropping it over a post, you can make two loops, one turning clockwise and the other the same way, then place one over the other and drop them over the post. It feels slightly like performing a small magic trick when it works first time.

What is the clove hitch used for?

The clove hitch is most useful for temporary jobs where speed matters.

Common uses include:

tying a fender line to a guardrail or rail
securing a rope quickly to a post or pontoon
starting lashings
attaching a line temporarily while you sort something else out
light mooring jobs where the load is steady and you are keeping an eye on it

On a dinghy or small sailing boat, it can be useful for quick attachments when rigging, tidying lines, or fastening gear in place.

It is also a good knot to know if you ever need to secure something in a hurry while launching, recovering, or sorting the boat ashore.

When not to trust it

This is where the clove hitch shows its character.

It is not the best knot for heavy or jerky loads, and it can slip if the rope or post is smooth, or if the load changes direction. In other words, it is excellent when things are calm, but not always the knot you would trust with your entire happiness on a windy day.

If the knot is going to be under strain for a long time, or if safety really matters, many sailors add an extra half hitch to make it more secure, or choose a different knot altogether.

So yes, the clove hitch is useful. No, it is not the answer to everything. Like a chocolate teapot, a summer waterproof, or a cheap trailer light board, it has its limits.

Why learn it anyway?

Because it teaches an important sailing lesson: the right knot for the right job.

The clove hitch is quick, tidy, and practical. It helps build confidence with rope handling, and it gives you another useful tool in your knot-tying toolkit. It is one of those knots that pops up again and again in boating, camping, scouting, and general life.

And let’s be honest, there is something deeply satisfying about tying a knot properly. It makes you feel competent, salty, and faintly nautical, even if you are only fastening something to a fence post in the dinghy park.

Final thought

The clove hitch is not the strongest knot and not the most secure knot, but it is certainly one of the handiest. Learn it, practise it, and understand where it works well.

Because in sailing, as in life, it is good to know which things are a permanent solution and which are just holding everything together until tea time.

Friday, 13 March 2026

Mounting a Wireless Masthead Anemometer – Because I Rarely Look Up at the Burgee

One thing I’ve discovered while learning to sail on the River Thames is that sailors are supposed to constantly glance up at the burgee or wind indicator at the top of the mast. Apparently this tells you everything about the wind direction and how well your sails are set.

There is just one small problem.

I rarely remember to look up, and we have a masthead float.

Instead, I tend to look where the boat is going, where the bank is, where the next buoy is, and occasionally where my helm is sitting to make sure we haven’t capsized yet. The result is that the burgee can flap around heroically above my head while I remain blissfully unaware of what it is trying to tell me.

So I started thinking about a slightly more tech-friendly solution.

The Idea

The plan is to mount a small wireless wind anemometer on top of the masthead float and place a digital display at the foot of the mast. That way, instead of craning my neck like an owl every few seconds, I can simply glance down and see:

Wind speed
Wind direction
Gust changes

This is essentially bringing the sort of instruments you see on yachts down to a simple dinghy scale.

Why the Masthead?

The top of the mast is actually the best place to measure wind because:

The airflow is cleaner and less disturbed by sails
It represents the true wind direction more accurately
The sensor is away from crew movement

In my case the masthead float provides a convenient mounting point and also helps keep the boat from turning turtle if we capsize — something that beginner sailors (like me) try quite hard to avoid.

Wireless Makes It Easy

Older systems required wires running down the mast, which is fine on a yacht but a nuisance on a dinghy that is regularly rigged and de-rigged.

Modern wireless sensors solve this problem:

Sensor powered by small solar panel and battery
Signal sent wirelessly to a cockpit display
No cables to disconnect when lowering the mast

For a training boat like our RS Toura, simplicity is everything.

What It Helps With

Having a digital wind display is surprisingly useful for learning:

1️⃣ Understanding gusts
You start to see exactly when the wind jumps from 6 knots to 12 knots.

2️⃣ Sail trim learning
You can correlate boat speed and sail position with wind strength.

3️⃣ Teaching beginners
Instead of saying “it feels windy” you can say “we’re sailing in about 10 knots”.

It turns sailing from guesswork into something a bit more measurable and scientific — which appeals to the science teacher in me.

Will I Still Look at the Burgee?

Probably… No is the real answer - it will be a waste of time fitting one.

So until that good habit forms, having a digital wind display at eye level might just stop me sailing along happily while the burgee is desperately pointing the other way.

And if it encourages a few more data-driven sailors on the Thames, then the experiment will have been worth it.

Thursday, 12 March 2026

Best Translator App to Use When Abroad

(It sounds odd for sailing… until the moment you enter a foreign port!)

Google Translate is one of those apps most sailors never think about packing… until the moment they tie up in a harbour where nobody speaks English.

When you’re sailing locally on the River Thames, life is easy. Everyone speaks the same language, and the most complicated conversation usually involves where the tea and biscuits are stored on the committee boat. But the moment you arrive in a foreign marina—perhaps in Croatia, Greece, or Italy—the situation can change rather quickly.

Suddenly you need to ask things like:

“Where is the fuel pontoon?”
“Is there space for a 14-metre yacht tonight?”
“Where can we buy fresh water?”
“Can we get electricity on the berth?”

That’s when a translation app becomes one of the most useful bits of kit on board.

Why Google Translate Works So Well

The reason many travellers rely on Google Translate is that it works in several very practical ways:

1️⃣ Text translation
Type a phrase and instantly show it in the local language.

2️⃣ Voice translation
Speak into the phone and let the app translate your question aloud.

3️⃣ Camera translation
Point the camera at a menu, noticeboard, or harbour instructions and the app translates the text instantly.

4️⃣ Offline language packs
Download the language before you travel so it works even when there is no mobile signal in the marina.

For sailors, that last point is particularly important—marinas and harbours don’t always have great internet connections.

Real Situations Where It Helps Sailors

Even if most harbourmasters speak some English, there are always moments when translation helps:

⚓ Understanding harbour rules
⚓ Reading weather notices
⚓ Ordering food in a harbour restaurant
⚓ Asking for spare parts or tools
⚓ Talking to local fishermen or boat owners

And sometimes it’s simply polite. Making the effort to speak a few words of the local language—even if your phone is helping you—often leads to much friendlier conversations.

My Plan for Croatia

As I prepare for my Competent Crew sailing trip in Croatia, this is one of the apps I will definitely have installed on my iPad and phone.

It may not seem like sailing equipment… but when you arrive in a harbour after a long passage and need to ask where to moor, it suddenly becomes one of the most useful tools on board.

And if nothing else, it may help ensure the most important question of the evening is understood perfectly:

“Where is the nearest restaurant?”

Wednesday, 11 March 2026

5 Free Apps for Sailing with an iPad in the Adriatic

When sailing on a yacht in the Adriatic this spring as part of the RYA Competent Crew course, I will definitely be taking an iPad with me. While traditional navigation using paper charts and a compass is still essential, modern sailing apps can add a huge amount of useful information.

The good news is that many of the most useful sailing apps are free, or at least have a free version that is perfectly adequate for most cruising sailors.

Here are five excellent free apps that are well worth installing before you leave the marina.

1. Navionics Boating

The Navionics Boating app is one of the most popular navigation apps used by sailors around the world.

The free version allows you to:

View marine charts
Plan routes between harbours
Identify navigation markers and hazards
Check harbour information

For serious navigation you would normally subscribe to the detailed chart package, but even the free version is extremely useful for planning routes or checking positions quickly.

Many sailors now use Navionics on an iPad mounted near the helm as a low-cost chartplotter.

2. Windy

Weather matters enormously when sailing, particularly in places like the Adriatic where conditions can change rapidly.

The Windy app is widely used by sailors, pilots and meteorologists because it provides beautiful animated weather maps.

It can show:

Wind speed and direction
Rain and storms
Wave height
Temperature and pressure systems

It is particularly useful for spotting incoming weather systems before they reach you.

3. PredictWind

The PredictWind app is designed specifically for sailors.

Even the free version provides:

Detailed wind forecasts
Multiple forecast models
Coastal weather predictions
Local wind direction changes

The Adriatic can produce localised winds such as the Bora and the Sirocco, and PredictWind helps you understand when these may appear.

4. MarineTraffic

4The MarineTraffic app shows ships around the world using AIS tracking data.

This allows you to see:

Large ships near your location
Their course and speed
Where they are heading
Port arrival information

In busy areas or narrow channels this can be extremely helpful in understanding what other vessels are doing around you.

5. Anchor Alarm (Anchor Watch)

A final very useful safety tool is an anchor alarm app, such as Anchor Alarm.

When anchored overnight, the app uses the iPad’s GPS to ensure your boat remains inside a safe swinging circle.

If the boat drifts outside that circle, the alarm sounds.

This can give enormous peace of mind when anchored in unfamiliar bays.

A Final Thought

Sailing apps are fantastic tools, but they should never replace traditional navigation skills.

When I head to Croatia for the Competent Crew course, I will still be using:

Paper charts
A hand bearing compass
Tidal information
Good seamanship

But having an iPad with a few well-chosen apps can provide an extra layer of safety, awareness, and convenience.

And the best part?
Most of the useful ones are completely free.

Tuesday, 10 March 2026

After the jacket, what other essentials do I need for a holiday in the Adriatic?

For many sailors heading to the Adriatic for the first time—especially those doing RYA Competent Crew—there’s a moment about halfway through the week when someone says:

"I really wish I had brought one of those.

So I asked around and this what the experienced sailor said.

Here are 10 things Competent Crew students often realise they should have packed once they are already out sailing around the Croatian islands.