Knot of the Week: The Halyard Hitch (aka “Halyard Knot”, “Halyard Shackle Knot”, sometimes “Sunfish Halyard Knot”)

There are knots that look heroic. There are knots that are heroic. And then there are knots that are basically a tiny, tidy, no-nonsense gremlin whose entire job is: hold this halyard onto that shackle and don’t make a fuss about it.

That’s the Halyard Hitch: a compact hitch used to attach a halyard to a shackle / headboard / sail attachment point at the top of a sail. It sits neatly, tightens under load, and doesn’t leave you with a big bowline “ear” that loves snagging on everything in the postcode.

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What it’s for (and why sailors like it)

Best use: attaching a halyard to a small shackle (or similar metal fitting) where you want:

• Compactness (hoist a bit higher; less metalwork clunking about)

• Security under load (it cinches up nicely)

• Less snagging than bulkier knots

Not the same thing as a “cleat hitch” (the one you use on a horn cleat to park the halyard). That’s a different knot entirely.

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How to tie the Halyard Hitch (simple stages)

You’re basically making two wraps around the standing part, then tucking the tail through and snugging it all down hard against the shackle.

1. Through the shackle
   Pass the working end through the shackle (or sail head fitting).

   
   
   

2. Wrap #1 around the standing part
   Take the working end around the standing part (the halyard itself).

   
   
   

3. Wrap #2 around the standing part
   Make a second wrap below the first, so you’ve got two neat coils.

   
   
   

4. Tuck back through the coils (near the shackle)
   Feed the working end back up and down through the two loops you’ve created, close to the shackle.

   
   
   

5. Dress it and pull it tight
   Pull the working end to start forming the hitch, then pull the standing part to seat it hard against the shackle.
   This knot rewards proper tightening—give it a real heave.

   
   
   

6. Trim and finish (optional but sensible)
   Trim the tail, and if it’s a synthetic line, melt the very end carefully to stop fraying (don’t melt the knot itself into a modern art sculpture).

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Common mistakes (aka “why did it slip?”)

• Not snugging it down properly. This hitch wants to be seated tight against the shackle. Half-hearted tightening = grumpy knot.

• Messy wraps. Keep the two turns neat and adjacent. If they cross, it’s harder to dress and tighten cleanly.

• Too little tail. Leave enough to work with, then trim once you’re happy.

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Halyard Hitch vs Bowline vs Buntline (quick pub chat version)

• Bowline: easy to untie later, but bulkier and snag-prone aloft.

• Buntline Hitch: also compact and popular for halyards; can be very secure but may be harder to undo after heavy loading.

• Halyard Hitch: compact and tidy specifically for halyard-to-shackle style attachment; very “purpose-built”.

If you like neatness, hate snags, and want your sail a smidge higher without extra hardware clattering about: this one earns its keep.

Dinghy Show This Week… What Do I Actually Need — And What Can I Afford Not to Buy?

 

Dinghy Show This Week…

What Do I Actually Need — And What Can I Afford Not to Buy?

Every year I wander into the RYA Dinghy & Watersports Show like a child in a chandlery sweet shop.

Carbon tiller extensions.
New rope in suspiciously attractive colours.
A drysuit that promises Olympic performance (but I sail on the Thames, not the America’s Cup).

And then reality kicks in…

As someone learning to sail at 65+, racing our RS Toura on the River Thames and quietly watching the restoration of Vanessa the B-Rater, I’ve learned something important:

Most gains come from skill, not shopping.

So here’s a practical, slightly humorous guide before your wallet gets capsized.

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✅ What You Probably DO Need

1️⃣ Good Control Lines (You Touch These All the Time)

If your sheets feel like washing line from 1998, upgrade them.

• Fresh main sheet

• Tapered jib sheets

• Cunningham / kicker line if worn

• Clear colour coding

On a river like the Thames, fast adjustments matter more than carbon sparkle.

💡 Cheap upgrade. Big difference.

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2️⃣ Safety & Comfort Kit

• A well-fitting buoyancy aid

• Proper sailing gloves

• Warm hat that doesn’t blow into Buckinghamshire and fits over my ears.

• Decent boots - I keep admiring othe peoples.

Comfort = longer sessions = faster learning.

As I discovered during early RS Toura outings, cold hands make poor tactical decisions.

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3️⃣ Wind Awareness

• Masthead wind indicator

• More telltales - possibly red and green ones.

• Maybe a burgee at the club - but I do have the masthead float.

You don’t need £500 electronics for river sailing.
You need to look up as I am constantly reminded.

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🤔 What You Probably Don’t Need (Yet)

❌ Carbon Everything

Unless you’re fighting for podium places at national level, carbon upgrades on a training or club boat rarely transform results.

Skill > stiffness.

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❌ Brand-New Sails (Unless Yours Are Truly Shot)

If your sail:

• Has zero shape

• Looks like a tea towel

• Won’t point

Then yes.

Otherwise? Spend the money on coaching or entry fees.

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❌ Fancy Electronics for River Racing

On the Thames:

• Wind shifts are king

• River bends matter

• Other boats are your wind instruments

A simple watch beats a chartplotter in Bourne End.

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🎯 My Personal Rule Before Buying Anything

I ask myself three questions:

1. Does this solve a real problem I’ve noticed?

2. Will it improve safety?

3. Will it improve skill development?

If the answer is “it looks cool”… walk away.

(Or at least go and have a coffee first.)

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💷 The Smart Spending Order

If budget matters (and it usually does):

1. Safety gear

2. Control lines & maintenance

3. Coaching / training

4. Entry fees

5. Then — and only then — performance upgrades

6. or a new Dinghy!

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And One More Thing…

The Dinghy Show is not just about buying.

It’s about:

• Talking to class associations this year is the 80th Anniversary of the Merlin Rocket.

• Meeting sailors

• Seeing restoration ideas

• Innovative boat design

• Learning what not to do

You’ll gain more from conversations than carbon.

 

Preparing for the Competent Crew Qualification – Get the Book

If you’re thinking about taking the RYA Competent Crew course, there’s one simple piece of advice:

Get the book before you step on board.

The Royal Yachting Association (RYA) doesn’t just run courses – it provides structured, progressive training that builds confidence properly. And the official Competent Crew Skills book is your roadmap.

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Why Buy the Book First?

When I started sailing on the Thames in a dinghy, I discovered something important:

The people who progress fastest aren’t necessarily the strongest or the bravest…

They’re the ones who understand what’s about to happen.

On a yacht course, everything comes at you quickly:

• New terminology

• Rope handling

• Winches and clutches

• Sails you didn’t know existed

• Night watches

• Seasickness (possibly!)

If you’ve already read about it, your brain isn’t overloaded. You recognise it.

Instead of thinking:

“What on earth is that rope?”

You think:

“Ah, that’s the halyard – I know what that does.”

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What the Competent Crew Book Covers

The official book walks you through:

• Basic seamanship

• Parts of the boat

• Sail handling

• Ropework and knots

• Safety procedures

• Man overboard drills

• Helming under supervision

• Living aboard

It’s not heavy theory. It’s practical and reassuring.

Exactly what you want before your first week on a yacht.

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Why This Matters (Especially for Us “Later Starters”)

As someone who began serious sailing later in life, I’ve learned this:

Preparation reduces anxiety.

When you’ve read the book:

• You sleep better before the course

• You ask better questions

• You make fewer avoidable mistakes

• You enjoy it more

And enjoyment is the whole point.

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How It Fits Into Your Sailing Journey

If, like me, you:

• Sail dinghies on a river

• Are thinking about stepping up to sea sailing

• Want to charter a yacht in the future

Then Competent Crew is the gateway qualification.

It’s the foundation before Day Skipper.

And the book is the foundation before the course.

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A Practical Plan

1. Buy the book 6–8 weeks before your course

2. Read it through once

3. Re-read sections on knots and safety

4. Practise basic knots at home

5. Arrive onboard calm and ready

You wouldn’t sit a GCSE without opening the revision guide.

Why treat a yacht differently?

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Final Thought

Sailing rewards preparation.

Wind, tide and weather don’t slow down because we feel unprepared.

But knowledge turns nerves into excitement.

So if you’re planning your Competent Crew course…

Get the book.

 

Prepping for a Holiday on a Sailing Yacht – Where on Earth Do You Start?

A couple of months to go before stepping aboard a yacht…
Excitement rising.
Mild panic setting in.
Visions of turquoise water – mixed with quiet worries about knots, seasickness and whether you’ve packed the wrong shoes.

Whether you’re chartering in the Mediterranean, crewing for friends, or finally trying life beyond the Thames and the RS Toura, here’s a calm, practical place to begin.

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1️⃣ Start With the Sailing Itself

Before buying a single item of kit, ask:

• Are you the skipper or crew?

• Is this bareboat charter or flotilla?

• Coastal pottering or offshore passages?

• Warm Med sunshine or Atlantic breeze?

If you sail regularly at somewhere like Upper Thames Sailing Club, you already understand wind awareness, sail trim and boat balance. What changes at sea is scale, systems, and seamanship.

If you haven’t helmed a yacht before, consider:

• A refresher weekend

• A short Royal Yachting Association Competent Crew course

• Revising basic yacht terminology (winches, halyards, reefing, heads, guardrails)

Confidence reduces stress enormously.

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2️⃣ Get Your Paperwork Sorted Early

Not glamorous. But essential.

✔ Passport validity
✔ Travel insurance (declare sailing!)
✔ EHIC/GHIC card (if Europe)
✔ Any qualification certificates (Day Skipper etc.)
✔ Charter contract and damage deposit details

If hiring abroad, check licence requirements early. Some countries are stricter than others.

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3️⃣ Think Clothing – But Think “Boat Practical”

You need far less than you think.

The golden rules:

• Non-marking deck shoes

• Light waterproof (even in summer)

• Hat with retainer

• Sunglasses with strap

• Sailing gloves

• Soft holdall (hard suitcases are boat-hostile!)

Even in the Med, evenings can feel chilly under way.
And yes, things will get damp.

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4️⃣ Seasickness – Plan for It Even If You “Never Get Ill”

Confidence is admirable. Preparation is wiser.

Options:

• Stugeron (if suitable for you)

• Acupressure wristbands

• Ginger products

• Stay hydrated

• Stay on deck, eyes on horizon

The first 24 hours are often the bumpiest — body adjusting, not necessarily weather worsening.

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5️⃣ Learn the Boat Systems

Unlike a dinghy, a yacht has:

• Engine controls

• Battery systems

• Water tanks

• Gas systems

• Marine toilet (with rules!)

Nothing creates tension faster than someone not knowing how the loo works.

Have a proper handover briefing. Take notes. Ask questions.

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6️⃣ Food & Provisioning Strategy

Are you marina-hopping with supermarkets nearby?
Or anchoring in quiet bays?

Plan:

• Breakfasts (easy and consistent)

• Simple lunches

• 2–3 “proper” evening meals

• Snack drawer (vital morale tool)

• Plenty of water

Avoid complicated first-night cooking. The crew will be tired.

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7️⃣ Safety Mindset

Even on a relaxed holiday:

• Know where lifejackets are

• Understand jackstays and harness points

• Know the man-overboard procedure

• Keep one hand for the boat

If you already volunteer on safety duty at your club, you understand how quickly situations escalate. Offshore, response times are longer.

Calm competence beats bravado every time.

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8️⃣ Tech & Navigation

Are you:

• Using paper charts?

• Relying on plotters?

• Backing up with Navionics?

If you’ve enjoyed plotting routes on the Thames or following river marks, this is simply the bigger version.

Bring charging cables. Label them. There are never enough sockets.

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9️⃣ Mental Preparation

This isn’t a hotel.

• Cabins are small

• Showers are brief

• Space is shared

• Wind changes plans

But…

Morning coffee at anchor.
Sailing into a new harbour under canvas.
Sunsets at sea.

Worth every minor inconvenience.

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A Simple 8-Week Countdown Plan

8 weeks: Confirm bookings, check passports
6 weeks: Order kit you don’t own
4 weeks: Refresh sailing knowledge
3 weeks: Medical kit & insurance
2 weeks: Provision planning
1 week: Soft bags packed, weather checked
Departure day: Relax — adventure begins

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If you sail regularly on a river, a yacht holiday is not a leap into the unknown — it’s a widening of the playground.

And who knows… once you’ve done it, the Thames may feel very small indeed.

 Faster Boats – When Things Go Wrong, They Go Wrong Faster

Watching SailGP is a bit like watching Formula 1 on water. The boats – F50 foiling catamarans – lift clear of the surface and hurtle along at motorway speeds. It’s thrilling, dramatic… and unforgiving.

Recently, the New Zealand SailGP Team collided with the France SailGP Team during racing. No one sets out to crash. These are elite sailors with razor-sharp reactions. But when you are travelling at over 40 knots (about 80km/h) on hydrofoils, small misjudgements become very large, very quickly.

And that’s the lesson for all of us – especially those of us pottering around on the River Thames in much more sedate craft.

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Why Faster Means Less Forgiving

On a traditional river dinghy, if you misjudge a tack you might lose a boat length.
On an F50, a misjudgement can mean:

• Closing speeds of 70+ knots between two boats

• Foils acting like underwater wings and knives

• Massive loads in carbon fibre structures

• Split-second decisions under pressure

Physics doesn’t care how experienced you are.
Kinetic energy increases with the square of velocity.

Double the speed?
Four times the energy.

That’s GCSE Physics alive and well on the racecourse.

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The Human Factor

Even at the top level:

• Wind shifts happen.

• Boundaries approach quickly.

• Other boats make aggressive moves.

• Communication must be instant and precise.

In high-performance sailing, there is almost no “pause and think” time. It’s instinct, teamwork and trust.

As someone learning and racing at the Upper Thames Sailing Club – and now restoring Vanessa, our B-Rater – I’m acutely aware that speed changes everything. Even stepping up from a training dinghy to something more powerful sharpens the consequences of poor timing.

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What Club Sailors Can Learn

We may not be foiling at 50 knots, but the principles scale down perfectly:

1. Leave Space

Room at the mark matters. On a river, that might mean avoiding a crunch into the bank or another club boat.

2. Plan Ahead

AME – Approach, Manoeuvre, Escape.
Have an exit before you need one.

3. Communicate Clearly

A calm “Starboard!” early is better than a panicked shout late.

4. Respect Speed

Even a modest gust can double your apparent pace in a dinghy.
Things go wrong faster than you expect.

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The Bigger Picture

One of the fascinating tensions in modern sailing is this:

We want boats that are:

• Faster

• Lighter

• More exciting

• More spectacular

But increased performance narrows margins.

That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t innovate. Quite the opposite. It means training, safety systems, and decision-making need to evolve just as quickly.

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Final Thought

Watching SailGP reminds me why I love sailing at any level. Whether it’s a foiling F50 or a river handicap race at Bourne End, the same physics apply.

Speed magnifies everything:

• Skill

• Mistakes

• Thrill

• Consequences

And perhaps that’s the real beauty of the sport.

When things go right, they go right spectacularly.
When things go wrong… they go wrong faster.

 Getting Qualified with the RYA – Is It Worth It?

When you first start sailing or powerboating, qualifications can feel a bit… formal. After all, if the boat floats and you don’t fall in too often, surely that’s enough?

Well — not quite.

Getting qualified with the Royal Yachting Association (RYA) is about far more than collecting certificates. It’s about competence, confidence, and credibility.

And speaking as someone learning to sail (and powerboat) on the Thames in my 60s, I can say this: the structure really helps.

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Why Bother with RYA Qualifications?

1️⃣ Confidence Through Structure

The RYA syllabus is progressive and logical. You’re not just “having a go” — you’re building skills step by step.

For dinghy sailing, that might start with:

• RYA Level 1 – Start Sailing

• RYA Level 2 – Basic Skills

• RYA Level 3 – Better Sailing

For powerboating:

• RYA Powerboat Level 1

• RYA Powerboat Level 2

When I needed to helm club powerboats safely at Upper Thames Sailing Club, Level 2 wasn’t optional — it was essential. Quite right too.

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Dinghy Sailing Qualifications

For those starting later in life — as I did — the structured approach removes the embarrassment factor.

You practise:

• Rigging properly

• Launching and recovery

• Tacking and gybing under control

• Capsize drills (yes — deliberately!)

• Basic theory of wind and points of sail

There is something reassuring about knowing you’ve met a recognised standard.

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Powerboat Qualifications

Powerboat Level 2 is particularly valuable. It covers:

• Low-speed handling

• High-speed manoeuvres

• Man overboard recovery

• Coming alongside

• Launching and recovery

For me — now running an electric Whaly as a camera and safety boat — the “steer then gear” principle and pivot-point awareness were game changers.

It also means insurance companies, clubs, and charter companies take you seriously.

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What You Actually Gain

It’s not just a piece of paper.

You gain:

✅ Better boat handling
✅ Safer decision making
✅ A shared language with other sailors
✅ Eligibility to help on safety boat duty
✅ Greater freedom to hire or helm boats

And — importantly — you reduce the risk to others.

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Is It Expensive?

Courses do cost money, but compared with:

• The price of boats

• The cost of equipment

• Or the potential cost of an accident

…it’s modest.

And unlike a shiny new sail, the knowledge doesn’t wear out.

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The Hidden Benefit: Community

Training days are often where friendships start.

You’re all slightly nervous. You all make mistakes. You all get better together.

That shared learning builds confidence much faster than struggling alone.

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Final Thoughts

If you’re learning to sail at 25, 45, or 65+, qualifications are not about proving something to others.

They’re about proving to yourself that you can do this properly.

For me, gaining RYA qualifications wasn’t a bureaucratic hoop.

It was a milestone.

And it opened doors — including volunteering on safety boats and expanding into powerboating with confidence.

If you’re hesitating… I’d say go for it.

 

The Halyard – What It Is and Why It’s So Important

A halyard is the rope (or line) used to hoist and lower a sail. Without it, your beautifully cut sail would remain a neatly folded picnic blanket at the bottom of the boat.

But in reality, the halyard does far more than just “pull the sail up”.

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What Exactly Is a Halyard?

On most modern dinghies and yachts, a halyard:

• Runs from a cleat or jammer at deck level

• Up the mast

• Through a pulley (sheave) at the masthead

• And down to the head (top corner) of the sail

Common examples:

• Main halyard – hoists the mainsail

• Jib halyard – hoists the jib

• Spinnaker halyard – hoists the spinnaker

On some boats (including many training dinghies like your trusty RS Toura), the mainsail may use a luff track and hook system, meaning you tension it once and it stays fixed. On classic Thames boats and larger yachts, halyards are central to sail control.

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Why the Halyard Is So Important

1️⃣ It Controls Sail Shape

The halyard doesn’t just lift the sail — it controls luff tension.

Too loose?

• Wrinkles appear down the front of the sail.

• The sail becomes too full.

• The boat feels sluggish.

Too tight?

• The sail flattens.

• Power reduces.

• In strong wind, that might be exactly what you want.

On a shifty stretch of the River Thames at the Upper Thames Sailing Club, halyard tension can be the difference between gliding past another boat… or being politely overtaken.

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2️⃣ It Affects Performance Upwind

When sailing close-hauled:

• Proper halyard tension keeps airflow smooth.

• It allows the sail to point higher.

• It reduces drag.

Racers obsess over this.

Cruisers? They should still care.

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3️⃣ It Affects Safety

A slipping halyard:

• Can drop a sail unexpectedly.

• Can make reefing difficult.

• Can create chaos in rising wind.

A worn halyard:

• May chafe through at the masthead.

• Can fail at the most inconvenient moment.

And yes… it always seems to happen just as you’re trying to look competent.

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4️⃣ It Must Be Correctly Cleated

A poorly cleated halyard can:

• Gradually slip

• Jam

• Become impossible to release under load

Good seamanship means:

• Tidy coils

• No twists

• Regular inspection for chafe

• Checking the sheaves at the masthead

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Materials Matter

Older halyards were natural fibre.
Modern halyards are typically:

• Polyester (good general use)

• Dyneema / Spectra (very low stretch, ideal for racing)

Low stretch = consistent sail shape = better performance.

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River Sailing Perspective

On a narrow river like the Thames:

• You tack frequently.

• Gusts are unpredictable.

• Acceleration out of tacks matters.

That means halyard tension becomes surprisingly important, even if you’re “just learning”.

When I first started sailing at 65+, I thought:

“It’s up. That’ll do.”

Now?
I check luff tension every time we launch.

Progress.

More at https://pmrsailing.uk/sailing-lessons/sailing-terms-list/Halyard.html