Tuesday, 24 February 2026

From Dinghy Levels 1 & 2 to Yacht Competent Crew in Croatia

(or: how I discovered yachts have more rope than sense, and Croatia has more sunshine than my entire British childhood)

Having survived RYA Dinghy Sailing Levels 1 & 2, I now find myself preparing for RYA Competent Crew on a yacht in Croatia. This is the point where a sensible person would say, “Lovely, I can sail a dinghy now,” and go and have a cup of tea. Instead, I’m upgrading to a boat that weighs roughly the same as a small housing estate and comes with a kitchen. A kitchen. On a boat. Clearly this is either progress or a cry for help.

The good news is that dinghy training is a brilliant head start. You already understand the big ideas: wind awareness, points of sail, how sails actually drive the boat, and why the phrase “it’ll be fine” is usually followed by splashing noises. You know what a tack and a gybe are, you’ve probably practised them with the elegance of a folding deckchair in a breeze, and you’ve learnt that sailing is basically physics with occasional shouting.

The difference with a yacht is that everything is bigger, heavier, and more polite — right up until it isn’t. On a dinghy you feel everything instantly: a puff hits, the boat heels, you move, job done. On a yacht there’s a pause while the boat considers your suggestion, consults its committee, and then very slowly agrees to turn—just as you’ve started thinking you’ve broken it. Also, there are winches. Winches are wonderful devices designed to multiply your strength and your capacity for getting a line jammed at exactly the worst moment.

So where do you start preparing for Competent Crew? First: deck safety and habits. Croatia will be warm, sunny and gorgeous… which is precisely when people get casual. The golden rules still apply: one hand for the boat, keep lines tidy, keep fingers away from anything that bites (cleats, winches, blocks), and assume the boat will move at the worst possible moment. Practise moving around while staying braced, and get comfortable with the idea that “tidy” on a yacht isn’t neatness — it’s survival.

Next: terminology and roles, because yachts have more zones than an airport. Bow, stern, port, starboard — you know. Add in the yachty bits: cockpit, companionway, guardrails, coachroof, shrouds, spreaders. And learn the basics of what a crew member actually does: preparing fenders and warps, handling lines when coming alongside, listening properly during manoeuvres, and being the calm person who says useful things like “we’re drifting sideways” rather than unhelpful things like “ooh look, dolphins!”

Then: knots and line handling — the quickest way to look competent without actually being competent (a vital life skill). If you can confidently tie a bowline, clove hitch, round turn and two half hitches, and a figure-of-eight stopper, you’ll be useful from day one. On yachts, lines are thicker, stiffer, and occasionally behave like irritated pythons. Practise tying knots with cold hands, or at least while someone asks you questions and you pretend it’s fine.

After that, give yourself a gentle intro to winches and sail handling. Dinghies teach you trimming by feel; yachts add systems: halyards, sheets, travellers, reefing lines, and winches that make you feel powerful until you accidentally wind the wrong way and create a knot that requires a priest. Learn the basic flow: hoist, trim, ease, reef early, and understand the core safety rule: never step in a bight of rope unless you enjoy interpretive dance with ankle injuries.

Finally, because it’s Croatia, you’ll likely do plenty of med mooring (stern-to with a lazy line), which is a fabulous mix of sailing skill, boat handling, and reverse parking in front of an audience. Your prep here is mostly mental: keep calm, follow the plan, get fenders ready, know which line is which, and remember that shouting “we’re fine!” does not make you fine. It just makes you louder.

The aim of Competent Crew isn’t to turn you into skipper overnight. It’s to make you safe, useful, and confident — able to handle sails and lines, move around sensibly, help with berthing, and understand what’s going on without having to be translated from “yacht speak” into “normal human”. And if, by the end, you can do all that while also enjoying Croatia’s sunshine without turning the cockpit into a spaghetti incident… that’s not just competence. That’s victory.

Quick prep checklist (Croatia edition)

Know / practise

Points of sail, tacking/gybing flow (you’ve got this from dinghies)
Core knots: bowline, clove hitch, round turn + two half hitches, figure-of-eight
Basic deck safety: one hand for the boat, tidy lines, no feet in loops
Winch basics: wrap direction, tailing, easing under control, no “death grip”
Berthing basics: fenders/warps ready, listen to the plan, slow is smooth

Pack

Sailing gloves (sun + rope burn is a combo nobody wants)
Deck shoes with good grip
Sun protection: hat, sunglasses with retainer, high SPF, lip balm
Light waterproof (because boats enjoy irony)
Refillable water bottle

Monday, 23 February 2026

Dinghy Show Diary: Rain, Rockets, and a Suspiciously Comfortable Deckchair

We set off for the RYA Dinghy & Watersports Show at Farnborough in the sort of rain that makes you start browsing kayaks “just in case”. Miraculously, we ended up parked so close to the entrance that I briefly wondered if my sat-nav had quietly upgraded itself to “VIP Mode”. First thing we clocked: the show had a big Sunsail presence, and yes—Ros and I absolutely did the responsible thing and sat in the deckchair like we belonged there.

As we wandered past the Sunsail stand they were running a “win a holiday” competition, and I casually mentioned (in the humble, understated manner for which I’m famous) that I’d already won a Sunsail trip—Croatia, competent crew, 47-foot yacht, the whole “please don’t ask me to coil the lines in front of professionals” experience. The lovely Lucy on the stand smiled and said she knew it was fair because she’d been the one who pulled our names out of the hat. That prize was organised with Steve and Judy from Sailing Fairisle (excellent filming and editing—go and watch and see if you agree), and the best bit is that the whole thing has sparked a “let’s make Sunsail’s videos even better” mission. As a man who owns far too many cameras for someone who still occasionally ties knots that resemble modern art, I approve.

Inside, the hall was a glorious overload: boats of every shape and attitude, from practical club workhorses to shiny speed-machines that look like they’ve escaped from SailGP training. One minute you’re admiring a clever folding wooden boat, the next you’re staring at a three-masted whaler with a price tag that made me blink twice (“just £3000” is either a bargain or the start of a very specific lifestyle). And then—foilers. The kind of boats that don’t so much sail as politely ignore gravity.

A big theme this year was birthdays. Everywhere you turned, someone was celebrating an anniversary, and the Merlin Rocket Association’s 80th was wonderfully hard to miss—there were big “80” signs and a proper gathering, complete with cake and cupcakes. We joined Stuart (the Chairman) and a crowd of happy Merlin folk for the ceremonial slice, which is the only kind of racing start I’m guaranteed to time perfectly.

While we were there, I also noticed how many boats are now fitted with GNAVs—which, if you’re new to the term, is basically a kicker arrangement that frees up cockpit space and reduces the chance of your crew performing accidental yoga while tacking. (A noble cause.)

Naturally, we also performed the traditional boat-show ritual of trying on sailing tops. We tested famous brands, admired the 2026 “I’m here to race but also to look vaguely competent” look… and then bought nothing. This is what personal growth looks like: me walking away from expensive kit while whispering, “You already own two perfectly good waterproofs,” like a man talking down a dragon. Paul and I, meanwhile, were doing a more dangerous kind of shopping: quietly eyeing up what might one day be a successor to the Toura—not today, but “a few years’ time” is how all boat purchases begin before they sprint towards “why is there a new trailer on the drive?”

My favourite discovery (because I can’t help myself) was joining the Amateur Yacht Research Society (AYRS). If you’ve got even a slight weakness for the history of boats like the Thames A-Raters—the wonderfully bonkers designs that helped push dinghy development forward around the turn of the 19th/20th centuries—then AYRS is a rabbit hole lined with diagrams, foils, and deeply satisfying technical detail. Trapezes, sliding seats, sail development, waterline length and speed… all the stuff we now take for granted in modern boats, born from people asking, “Yes, but what if we made it faster?” It’s right in the overlap of sailing + science, and the journal alone is worth it.

And then there were the big names: RS with a fleet (the RS200 caught my eye as a possible “Toura-ish but racier” future option), Ovington with a new Phantom that had “Paul might like this” written all over it, and the Wayfarer stand which completely reset my brain. I arrived thinking a Wayfarer was… a Wayfarer. Turns out there are racing flavours, weekend flavours, cruising flavours, and even a keel version that’s basically “capsize-resistant by design”. We also had a proper play with the “hands-on” bits: the SailGP foil setup where you can try grinding (and discover new muscles), plus a mini sailing challenge with big air pumps making wind so you can practise hoisting sails and tacking indoors—proof that sailing people will happily recreate the outdoors inside a building, just to get more sailing.

I’ve come home with enough notes (and photos) to spin this into several posts: GNAVs and cockpit space, boat-spotting and future upgrades, why 1946 explains so many anniversaries, plus a proper round-up of the free seminars (weather reading, strategy, and the slightly comforting reminder that everyone else is also guessing what the wind will do next). For now: Farnborough delivered. Even in biblical rain. And if you see me in Croatia looking confident, just remember—there’s a strong chance I’m only holding the rope because it was handed to me and I panicked.

Sunday, 22 February 2026

Is it worth going to the free seminars and lectures at the Dinghy Show?

Absolutely — the free seminars/lectures are one of the best value bits of the Dinghy Show… as long as you treat them like a sailing session, not background noise while you’re “just popping past Rooster for a quick look” (famous last words).

Are the Dinghy Show talks actually “free”?

They’re included with your show entry (no separate ticket), spread across multiple stages/zones, so you can dip in and out all day. The 2026 show programme is laid out across three stages: Sunsail Main Stage, Knowledge Zone, and NextGen Zone.

When they’re 100% worth it

1) You want “steal-this-one-thing” coaching
A good 30–45 minute talk can save you an entire season of repeating the same mistake (hello, late tacks and panic gybes). The schedule spans performance, technique, wellbeing, rules, and more.

2) You’re the club’s “I’ll just Google it later” person
You won’t. You’ll forget. A live talk gives you:

the key principle
a memorable example
and often a Q&A where someone asks your exact question out loud (thank you, brave stranger)

3) You’re buying kit (or about to)
Listen first, buy after. Talks can stop you purchasing something shiny-but-wrong (“These boots are perfect!” …for Antarctica).

4) You’re newer / returning / “65+ and learning”
The Knowledge Zone style sessions are ideal for turning confusion into confidence — especially when everything on the show floor is screaming: “NEW FOIL TECHNOLOGY!!!”

When they’re not worth it

1) You already know the topic and you’re there for networking
If your real mission is “corner a class association legend and ask about rigs”, do that.

2) You’re running on empty
If you’re tired/hungry/overheated, you’ll sit through a brilliant session and remember only: “there was a PowerPoint and I think sailing involves wind.”

3) You’re using talks as procrastination
If you’ve spent three hours “learning about downwind strategy” but haven’t visited the chandlers list you came for… that’s not education, that’s avoidance with seating.

How to get maximum value (without turning it into school)

Pick 2–3 “must attend” sessions, then leave gaps for wandering.
Arrive 5–10 minutes early for popular speakers so you’re not standing at the back like a spare rudder.
Take one photo of a slide (only if allowed) and write three bullets in your phone: Idea / Drill / One change I’ll make.
Use Q&A ruthlessly: ask one practical question you can apply next weekend.
Plan your day from the schedule so you’re not sprinting between halls like it’s a pursuit race.

A very PMR Sailing take

Think of the talks as your “shore-based coaching session” before you spend money on kit or commit to a whole new way of sailing. If you come home with one habit changed, they’ve paid for themselves.

And yes, the show is on 21–22 February 2026 at Farnborough International — so if you’re reading this today, get your coffee, get your plan, and try not to buy anything you can’t lift with one hand.

Saturday, 21 February 2026

Heeling in a Sailboat

Heeling (Sailing Term)

URL: https://pmrsailing.uk/sailing-lessons/sailing-terms-list/Heeling.html

What does “heeling” mean?

Heeling is when a sailing boat leans over to one side because the wind is pushing on the sails.

If the boat leans away from the wind, that side is called the leeward side.
The side facing the wind is the windward side.
A little heel is normal — and often faster.
Too much heel is slow, uncomfortable… and a handy way to rinse your crew.

Why do boats heel?

Wind creates force on the sails. That force acts above the waterline, so it produces a turning effect (a “heeling moment”) that tries to tip the boat over. The hull, centreboard/daggerboard, and your bodyweight act to resist it.

In simple terms:

More wind / more sail area = more heel
More crew weight outboard + flatter sails = less heel

Is heeling good or bad?

Both.

✅ A bit of heel can be good

It can reduce wetted surface slightly
The sails can “set” nicely
The boat feels alive rather than stuck to the water like a barge

❌ Too much heel is usually bad

The rudder can become less effective
The boat “squirms” sideways (leeway increases)
You end up steering with panic rather than precision
On a river, you also drift towards that exciting new collection of reeds/boats/banks.

How do you control heeling?

The classic control toolkit:

Move your weight
- Sit further out (hike) to keep the boat flatter
- Move smoothly — sudden shuffles make the boat wobble (and the instructor sigh).
Sheet out
- Ease the mainsheet a little to spill wind
- This is often the quickest fix in a gust.
Depower the sail
- Flatten the mainsail (kicker/vang, outhaul, Cunningham — depending on your rig)
- Traveller down (if you have one)
- Reefing on larger boats.
Steer smart
- Heading up slightly into the wind can reduce power
- Bearing away can increase power (and heel), so do it gently.

What does heeling feel like (for beginners)?

The boat leans, your brain shouts “THIS IS THE END”, and your experienced crew says “Lovely breeze.”
The trick is learning the difference between:
- controlled heeling (fast, balanced, normal), and
- unplanned heeling (slow, splashy, dramatic).

Common beginner mistakes

Freezing in place instead of moving weight
Pulling the sail in tighter when the boat heels (very common!)
Steering wildly — which usually increases the problem
Waiting too long to ease the sheet in a gust

Quick safety note

Heeling is normal. Panic is optional. If you’re unsure, ease the sail, keep hold of the boat, and reset calmly. Practise in steady conditions first — with safety cover and plenty of room.

Related terms: Windward, Leeward, Gust, Hiking, Depowering, Reefing, Capsize

Friday, 20 February 2026

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.

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.

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.

Through the shackle
Pass the working end through the shackle (or sail head fitting).
Wrap #1 around the standing part
Take the working end around the standing part (the halyard itself).
Wrap #2 around the standing part
Make a second wrap below the first, so you’ve got two neat coils.
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.
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.
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).

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.

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.

Thursday, 19 February 2026

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.

✅ 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.

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.

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.

🤔 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.

❌ 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.

❌ 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.

🎯 My Personal Rule Before Buying Anything

I ask myself three questions:

Does this solve a real problem I’ve noticed?
Will it improve safety?
Will it improve skill development?

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

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

💷 The Smart Spending Order

If budget matters (and it usually does):

Safety gear
Control lines & maintenance
Coaching / training
Entry fees
Then — and only then — performance upgrades
or a new Dinghy!

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.

Wednesday, 18 February 2026

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.

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.”

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.

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.

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.

A Practical Plan

Buy the book 6–8 weeks before your course
Read it through once
Re-read sections on knots and safety
Practise basic knots at home
Arrive onboard calm and ready

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

Why treat a yacht differently?

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.