Sunday, 31 August 2025

Sail Shape and Speed – A Beginner's Guide to Boat Balance

Or, why your boat suddenly stops when it looked like it was going fine

When we first started sailing, we thought the sail was just like a flag — you hoist it, the wind hits it, and off you go.

Turns out, it's more like a wing, a kite, a brake, and a diva — all rolled into one.

Welcome to the mysterious world of sail shape and how it affects boat balance and speed. If you're wondering why your boat feels sluggish, leans too much, or refuses to go where you point it, the answer might be right above your head — flapping in the breeze.

🎯 What Is “Sail Shape” Anyway?

Imagine slicing your sail from luff (the front edge) to leech (the back). That cross-section should look a bit like an airplane wing — curved, not flat. This curve (called camber) helps generate lift, pulling the boat forward.

More curve = more power.
Less curve = more control.
Too much flap = zero dignity.

⛵ Boat Balance: It's Not Just About Where You Sit

If your boat feels like it’s trying to lie down for a nap, chances are the sails are overpowered or the weight isn’t balanced. On a river like the Thames, you can’t always move your boat — so you need to move yourself.

Heel too much? Hike out further (or politely ask your crew to shift their weight).
Boat won’t point upwind? You’re too powered up. Flatten the sail and sheet in.
Boat stuck in irons (dead into the wind)? Your sails aren’t drawing — let the jib out to help you reverse out and try again.

⚙️ The Tools of the Trade:

Kicker (Vang): Pulls the boom down, flattens the sail, reduces twist. Very satisfying to use.
Outhaul: Tightens the foot of the sail to reduce curve. Think “tight trousers” for your boom.
Cunningham: Pulls the sail down the mast to move the power forward. If it sounds like a 19th-century cricketer, that’s because it is.

💨 Reading the Sail

Flapping luff? You’re too loose — sheet in.
Telltales streaming backwards? You’re perfect. Don’t touch anything. Celebrate.
Telltales going bananas? Adjust the sheet or bear away. Then blame the wind.

🏁 Speed Secrets for Beginners

Trim constantly. The wind changes every few seconds. So should your sail trim.
Balance the boat. If it’s flat, it’s fast.
Talk to your crew. Or mime wildly until they move.

And finally…

📸 Sail Shape Looks Good on Camera

A nicely trimmed sail is not only fast — it’s photogenic. Ideal if you’re being filmed from the Whaly camera boat or hoping to make the pmrsailing.uk calendar.

Final Thought

Boat speed isn’t about being reckless. It’s about being efficient — squeezing every bit of power out of the wind without wasting energy. Like making a good cup of tea: not too weak, not too strong, and definitely no flapping.

Saturday, 30 August 2025

Tying the 6 Knots That Matter (and Why You’ll Forget Them at the Worst Moment)

If you're new to sailing, you'll quickly find out that knots matter. Not the stress-induced ones in your stomach before a race, but actual knots made with rope (or, in sailing terms, lines — because nothing is ever simple in sailing).

Now, there are hundreds of knots in the sailing world. Some are ancient, some are decorative, and some are so fiddly they seem designed solely to impress landlubbers at the pub. But really, when you're on a dinghy on the Thames, you only need five.

Here are the essential five knots every river sailor needs — and a few stories of how I learned them... usually the hard way.

1. Figure of Eight Knot

The “knot to stop things falling off” knot.

You use this at the end of your ropes — sorry, lines — to stop them sliding through pulleys and vanishing overboard forever. I once forgot to tie one on the end of the mainsheet. The boom swung out, the rope disappeared, and we had to sail the rest of the race using hand signals and mild panic.

💡 Tip: It looks like a number 8. Practice tying it in your sleep.

2. Clove Hitch

For tying things to poles. Like fenders. Or your dignity.

This knot is great for tying a rope around a post. It's also the knot most likely to come undone when you need it most — unless you do it properly. I once tried to secure the Whaly camera boat to the pontoon using a clove hitch in a rush. The Whaly decided to go sightseeing on its own. Lesson learned.

3. Bowline

“The rabbit comes out of the hole, goes round the tree…”
And if you're like me, the rabbit gets confused and takes up knitting.

This is the king of knots. It makes a loop that won't slip. It’s how you attach the jib sheets to the sail, and how you look impressive to instructors (assuming you get it right before they walk away).

It’s also the knot most of us can’t remember when we need it. Especially under pressure. Like when the mainsail halyard snaps and you need to rig a new one now.

4. Reef Knot (Square Knot)

Left over right, right over left. Or was it the other way around?

This is for tying two ends of the same rope together — say, to reef the sail. But tie it wrong and you get the infamous “granny knot”, which looks the same but definitely isn’t.

It’s a neat, tidy knot — perfect for when you want to look like you know what you’re doing, even if you’ve just capsized for the third time.

5. Round Turn and Two Half Hitches

Because one hitch is never enough.

This is your go-to knot for tying the boat to a cleat, post, or ring. It holds under tension, doesn’t jam, and is easy to undo even when wet. You’ll use this every time you tie up at the dock — and you'll really wish you'd tied it correctly if your boat floats away during lunch.

6. Sheet Bend

(And the Double Sheet Bend, for when you really don’t trust your rope.)

This one’s for tying two different ropes together, especially if they’re different thicknesses. It's less commonly used in day-to-day sailing, but very useful if you need to extend a painter or improvise a tow.

Final Thoughts:

Knots in sailing are like passwords:

Everyone says you need lots.
You only use a few.
And when you need one in a hurry, you forget it.

That’s why we’ve putting together a video demo for each of these knots — so you can see them, practise them, and remember them before you’re halfway down the Thames dragging a rope and muttering under your breath. We have also another video on splcing a rope out soon.

🎥 Watch the knot tutorials here
(Featuring close-ups, slow-mo, and mild sailor frustration.)

And remember: a good sailor doesn’t just tie knots — they untie them with confidence too.

Friday, 29 August 2025

That’s Not Starboard! Learning River Right of Way

(And just when you think you've got it, along comes a tack...)

One of the first things you're told when you start learning to sail is this golden rule: "Starboard has right of way." Simple, right? If your sail is on the port side, you’re on starboard tack. If you're on starboard tack, you have right of way. Easy.

Except... not quite.

Because when you're sailing on a narrow, meandering river, it's less about “rules” and more about creative negotiations, frantic waving, and the occasional cry of “You’re on port!” followed by a muttered, “No I’m not, you are…”

On a breezy day on the Thames, things get spicy. Boats coming upstream, boats coming downstream, tacking left and right (and left again), and at least one crew shouting directions from under the boom because they’ve forgotten to duck. At one point last Wednesday, four dinghies were approaching each other mid-river like some slow-motion square dance — all convinced they had right of way.

The problem is, sailing upriver against the wind usually means tacking from side to side in a beautiful zigzag — unless, like us, your zigzags resemble a drunken wasp. But every time you tack, your right-of-way status flips. Starboard becomes port. Port becomes starboard. Chaos ensues.

Even better: on a river, the banks get in the way. You can’t just maintain a course and expect others to steer clear. You’ll end up in the irises. Or under the willows. Or both. And that’s if you’ve avoided the racing A-Rater bearing down on you like a ghost ship from the age of sail.

A Few Rules That (Sometimes) Help:

Starboard tack has right of way — unless the other boat’s bigger, scarier, or full of Cadets who haven’t learned the brakes don’t work on water.
Windward boat keeps clear — until you’re both pinned to the bank and giggling nervously.
Give way to boats restricted in manoeuvrability — which is most of us, really.
Don't shout STARBOARD unless you're sure. And even then, maybe say it nicely. Or point. Or smile.

What We Learned:

River sailing is half seamanship, half charades.
Tacking in traffic is like threading a needle blindfolded with one hand tied to the mainsheet.
And yes, that mild panic as another boat heads straight for you? Totally normal.

So next time you’re on the water, confidently shouting “Starboard!” as you accidentally gybe in a puff of wind and steer into a hedge — just remember: we’ve all been there.

And that’s what makes it fun.

Thursday, 28 August 2025

Oops! A List of (Minor) Sailing Mishaps

pmrsailing.uk – Adventures on the River Thames at UTSC

They say sailing builds character. They don’t often mention how—but I’m fairly sure it involves a generous helping of near-capsizes, unexpected rope failures, and the odd bruised ego. So, in the spirit of honesty (and mild embarrassment), here’s a list of our recent “oops” moments aboard the RS Toura.

⚓ 1. The Cleated Mainsail and the Gybing Surprise

We all know that cleating the mainsail before a gybe is frowned upon. It’s right up there with stepping into the boat before checking the bung.

But there we were, mid-race, wind behind us, everything going (suspiciously) smoothly… until the boom snapped over with gusto during a gybe—and the mainsail was still cleated.

Cue sudden heeling, flailing limbs, and a moment of slow-motion drama as Paul launched himself from windward to leeward in a heroic Superman dive that can only be described as nautically athletic.

The boat stayed upright. My heart rate did not.

🪢 2. The Rope That Cried "Snap!"

Midway through a brisk lap, I heard a sound no sailor wants to hear—"twang!" followed by the equally worrying “...was that important?”

Yes. Yes it was.

One of the lower control lines had snapped clean in two. Not one of the flashy ropes you show off to the race officer, but an important one nonetheless.

We managed to jury-rig something passable with a spare bit of string (and a prayer). But it did highlight a key lesson: ropes age faster than sailors admit, and maintenance isn't just something you do when it’s sunny and you’re bored.

🪢 3. The Halyard That Gave Up

With only minutes to the start of a race (and with all the usual faffery complete), we triumphantly hauled up the mainsail... or at least tried to.

Halfway up, the halyard gave a pathetic little snap, the sail slithered down like a defeated curtain, and we stood there blinking at it, as if shocked by the sheer audacity of rope to retire mid-shift.

We didn’t start the race on time. But we did learn the emotional weight of silence on a pontoon. We were also amazed at all the stories we heard of similar and worse mishaps and several members of the club heeled the boat over and helped us thread a new halyard.

🌳 4. Running Aground (Elegantly) Under the Willow Tree

The wind had died (as it does) and the current took over (as it does). As we glided peacefully—but irresistibly—towards the bank, we became intimately acquainted with the willow tree.

We ran aground with such grace it almost looked intentional. For a moment, I considered naming the manoeuvre. “The Willow Park.” Sounds nautical, no? The is a short version of the video of this incident.

🌿 5. The Iris Incident

As crew, I take full responsibility for this one. In an effort to be helpful during a tack, I whipped the jib across too early.

This had the unfortunate effect of turning us slightly too soon—right into a patch of irises by the riverbank. I don’t think the plants survived. We did. But the conversation on board was... quiet for a while.

🛶 6. Too Late = Too Crunchy

Of course, there’s a flip side. On another outing, I didn’t move the jib in time and we crashed full speed (well, gentle-drift speed) into the marina deck.

We just missed the boats, but the sound of fibreglass sliding against wood is surprisingly loud. And attracts attention. From everyone. Who now calls it “that thing you did that time.”

📡 7. The Vanishing GPS

During a capsize drill, our trusty GPS—a loyal friend for so many adventures—parted ways with its tether and vanished beneath the waves.

It didn’t beep, didn’t flash, just floated off silently. Possibly on a voyage of its own. If anyone finds a very confused GPS showing 0.3 knots in a lily bed, it’s ours.

🧼 Honourable Mentions

That time the rudder didn’t lock in and popped up mid-tack.
The sailing gloves that mysteriously vanished, later found in the boat, soaked and slightly ashamed.

🧭 Lessons Learned (But Probably Not for Long)

Don’t cleat the mainsail if you're about to gybe. Just... don’t.
Check your lines. If it’s frayed, replace it. If it looks fine, check again.
Pack spares. Lots of spares. Including hats.
Make sure your crew is agile, fearless, and has the reflexes of a caffeinated squirrel (thanks again, Paul). I am certainly not.
Most of all: keep laughing. Because sailing, especially on the Thames, is part skill, part wind… and part comedy sketch.

Want more tales of triumph, terror, and tangled tell-tales?
Visit pmrsailing.uk for our latest sailing blogs, videos, and nautical nonsense.

📝 Final Thoughts

If you're ever feeling bad about a sailing mishap, remember:

You're not alone.
Most mistakes make great blog material.
We’re all just one unexpected gust from a comedy skit.

So here’s to halyards that hold, jibs that behave, and GPS units that stay attached.

But honestly? The mishaps make the memories. And they’re excellent fuel for the clubhouse bar chat.

Want more tales of aquatic almost-catastrophes?
📚 Read more at pmrsailing.uk
🎥 Watch the videos (and spot the bits we edited out...)
⚓ Follow us for weekly laughs, lessons, and mild confusion on the River Thames.

Wednesday, 27 August 2025

Reefing the Sails – When the River Gets Punchy

Reefing the Sails – When the River Gets Punchy

pmrsailing.uk – Learning to Sail at 65+ on the River Thames
#pmrsailing #RS_Toura #ReefingTheSails #RiverThamesSailing #SailingAt65

One week, we’re drifting in circles under a sky of barely moving clouds. The next, the River Thames decides to flex its muscles and give us a proper workout.

Today? It was 18mph winds at Upper Thames Sailing Club, and that’s just about the point where we say:
“Right. Time to reef.”

🪁 What Is Reefing (and Why Bother)?

Reefing is sailor-speak for reducing the sail area to stop your boat doing unwanted gymnastics. It helps keep you upright, in control, and—crucially—on the boat.

Because while full sails are lovely in light airs, in heavier winds they can feel like you’re harnessing the power of a small hurricane. The boat heels, the rudder fights back, and your crew starts giving you that look.

🧵 Different Boats, Different Reefing Styles

Turns out, not all reefing is created equal. Here’s what we’ve learned:

🌀 Rolling Reefing

Some dinghies roll the bottom of the sail around the boom like a giant Swiss roll. Very neat. Very tidy.
Except when you do it badly and it looks like you’ve tried to reef a picnic blanket in a gale.

🎹 Concertina Reefing (RS Toura Style)

Our lovely RS Toura doesn’t roll. It concertinas—gathering the mainsail into neat horizontal pleats that get tied down to the boom with reefing points.

It’s like origami for sailors. You fold, tie, and hope you’ve remembered all the knots correctly while the boat flaps enthusiastically beside you.

Pro tip: Don’t wait until you’re on the water to figure it out.

📐 When Do You Reef?

Here’s our unscientific but experience-based scale:

0–5mph: Wish you had a paddle
6–12mph: Lovely sailing
13–17mph: Getting exciting
18+ mph: Reef now unless you enjoy swimming
25+ mph: Find the bar

Today was firmly in the "Reef or Regret" category.

🔧 Top Tips from the Riverbank:

Reef before you launch. Doing it on the water is like trying to pitch a tent in a wind tunnel.
Practice it in calm weather so you don’t look like you’re fighting a particularly angry duvet.
Make sure the sail shape still looks like a sail—not a deflated balloon.
Communicate with your crew—or just bribe them with snacks to hold the boom steady.

🚤 Final Thought

Reefing isn’t about giving in to the wind—it’s about working with it. A well-reefed boat sails beautifully, comfortably, and keeps your tea in the cup rather than your lap.

And let’s be honest—sometimes, being a little smaller in the sail department makes you a much bigger sailor in the long run.

#pmrsailing #ReefingTheSails #LearningToSail #RS_Toura #UpperThamesSailingClub #SailingInStyle #ThamesWinds #SailingAt65

Tuesday, 26 August 2025

Practising our start

We practised our start on the five-minute warning. The Wind was quite good blowing across the river, so we could sail up and down the river on the same tack. The one minute horn sounded. As if on cue, the wind, which had been doing a passable impression of “light breeze,” decided it had better things to do. Like not be here.

The Quiet Boat – Filming Sailing with Our Electric Whaly

The Quiet Boat – Filming Sailing with Our Electric Whaly

pmrsailing.uk – Learning to Sail at 65+ with Cameras in Tow
#pmrsailing #ElectricBoat #SailingPhotography #EcoFilming #WhalyCoyote

There’s a special kind of calm that comes with gliding along the Thames with nothing but the gentle hum of an electric motor and the sound of sails flapping in the breeze.

Enter our trusty Whaly 455R, affectionately known as “Whaly Coyote”—the quietest, calmest, camera boat in the club.

It’s electric, eco-friendly, and perfect for sneaking up on unsuspecting dinghy sailors and capturing the action without adding a soundtrack of outboard motor growl.

🎥 Why Quiet Matters in Filming

When you're filming sailing boats in action—especially close-ups for training videos, drone shots from water level, or interviews mid-race—engine noise is the enemy.

Our electric setup means:

No noisy petrol motor ruining the sound
No vibration shaking the camera
No fumes making filming uncomfortable
And no startling the swans (they're already unimpressed with our tacking technique)

🔋 Eco-Friendly and Solar-Charged

Our electric outboard is powered by a 3kW ePropulsion motor and a 30kW battery, which we recharge at home—using solar panels. Giving a range of upto 75km.

Yes, our camera boat runs on sunlight.
It’s clean, green, and gives us enough juice for a full day of filming regattas, training sessions, and the occasional dramatic capsize (we’ve got plenty of footage... just ask Paul).

📷 Perfect Platform for Filming

The Whaly is:

Stable (perfect for standing up with a camera)
Spacious (room for gear, crew, and snacks)
Safe (built like a floating tank with a soft edge for nudging boats gently)

We mount GoPros, DSLRs, and even livestream rigs aboard, capturing everything from drone launches to jib sheet mishaps in glorious 4K.

🧭 Not Just for Filming

We also use the Whaly for:

Safety boat duty
Rescue support during Start Sail and RYA courses
Towing boats when the wind forgets to turn up (which it often does)
And occasionally as a floating picnic base when the crew gets hungry

So, if you see a low, silent boat lurking near the racecourse aty Bourne End—it’s probably us. Filming, floating, and doing our bit for the environment.

Because good video needs good audio—and fewer emissions.

#pmrsailing #WhalyCoyote #ElectricBoat #EcoFriendlyFilming #SailingVideos #SailingAt65 #CameraBoat #UpperThamesSailingClub

Monday, 25 August 2025

The Great Drift-Off – Racing, Ice Cream, and the Art of Coming Last

The Great Drift-Off – Racing, Ice Cream, and the Art of Coming Last
pmrsailing.uk – Learning to Sail at 65+ on the River Thames

It was nearly 2pm for a 2pm race start—which, if you’ve ever sailed at a club before, means we were practically early.
Three boats sat on the water, bobbing hopefully. We looked at each other and realised: if we just float around and don’t capsize, we’ll come third. A podium finish!

And then, like a slow-motion twist in a very low-budget sports movie, Andrew appeared... in his Lightning.

And just like that, we were demoted to fourth out of four—before we’d even crossed the start line. And to rub sea salt in the wound, this was a trophy race, meaning only the winner counts. No prizes for "most time spent drifting backwards."

💨 Enter: The Wind… Or Rather, Exit

As if on cue, the wind, which had been doing a passable impression of “light breeze,” decided it had better things to do. Like not be here.

And so the “race” began—not with a bang, but with a gentle ripple and a barely perceptible forward lurch. I’ve seen snails move faster. In fact, I think a duck overtook us.

Five laps were optimistically set, then reduced to three, and we… well… just about squeezed in two. Sort of.

As we rounded the top mark for our second go, the safety boat—perhaps sensing our need for exercise—decided to relocate the mark significantly downstream. Off it went, disappearing into the distance like a mirage. By the time we finally reached it, the rest of the fleet had not only rounded it but were halfway to packing up.

🍦 Meanwhile, on Shore…

My wife, stationed upstream with a camera to capture our majestic sailing skills, had enough time to:

Film our heroic drift.
Walk to the ice cream van.
Queue behind every child under the age of ten.
Enjoy said ice cream.
Stroll casually back to the clubhouse.

She still beat us there. By a lot.

We eventually rolled over the finish line with all the momentum of a feather on a still day. Dead last. But upright. And smiling.

Because in sailing, it's not about the winning—especially when that’s clearly off the table. It’s about being out there, trying, laughing, drifting with purpose, and avoiding collisions with swans.

Lesson of the day?
If you want to look fast, race when the camera's rolling.
If you want to look like a winner, don't let Andrew show up.

#pmrsailing #SailingAt65 #RiverThamesRacing #DriftNotRace #LastPlaceLegends #LearningToSail #UpperThamesSailingClub #WindOptional

Sunday, 24 August 2025

Heeling – Tilted but Not Toppled

Heeling – Tilted but Not Toppled
Learning to Sail at 65+ on the River Thames
#pmrsailing #DinghySailing #HeelingExplained #SailingAt65 #UpperThamesSailingClub

If you’re new to sailing, the moment your boat starts to tilt—or heel, as we call it—can be a bit unsettling. One side rises, the other dips, and suddenly the horizon isn’t quite where you left it. But fear not! Heeling is not a sign of doom. It’s a sign you’re doing it right.

Last Sunday gave us perfect “gentle heeling” conditions. A bit of breeze, enough power in the sails, and just the right amount of drama to make every tack feel like an adventure.

🌬️ What Is Heeling?

Heeling happens when the wind fills the sails and pushes the boat sideways. Because the boat has a keel, daggerboard, or centreboard resisting that sideways motion, the boat doesn’t just slide across the water—it tips.

The angle of heel depends on several things:

Wind strength
Sail trim
Crew position
Hull design

Some boats are built to heel dramatically. Others, like our RS Toura, heel modestly—but noticeably enough to get your attention! However, from the crew's point of view, it is dramatic. I feel that I am about to fall out, and I need to, instead of sitting sailside, come over to the other side and lean out with Paul at the Helm.

More details on Heeling in our Sail Terms on https://pmrsailing.uk/sailing-lessons/sailing-terms-list/Heeling.html

🧠 Why Heeling Isn’t Capsizing

Heeling is normal. The boat is designed for it. In fact, some heeling helps the sails work more efficiently by changing their angle to the wind.

Capsizing, on the other hand, is when the heel becomes so great that the boat flips over. Very different feeling—and usually involves shouting and getting wet.

With the right balance of sail control and crew movement, you can enjoy heeling without tipping past the point of no return.

🧭 How We Managed It This Week

As the wind picked up, we noticed the Toura starting to lean. The trick is to:

Hike out gently – shifting our weight to the high side of the boat
Ease the mainsail slightly to reduce power
Keep the tiller steady and anticipate the gusts

We even tried standing still for a moment to feel the boat find its balance under us—tilted, but totally in control.

And once you trust the boat? That little bit of lean becomes exhilarating, not terrifying. I am starting to get happier with the boat not being level.

💬 A Moment of Reflection

As one fellow sailor put it:
"It felt like the boat and I were dancing—with the wind leading, and me just trying to keep up."

Heeling is part of the rhythm of sailing. It teaches trust, control, and how to feel the forces at play.

So next time your boat tilts and your tea slides across the seat, smile. You’re not toppling—you’re sailing.

#HeelingNotFalling #LearningToSail #DinghyHandling #RS_Toura #RiverThamesSailing #pmrsailing #SailingConfidence #WednesdayOnTheWater

Saturday, 23 August 2025

When the Boom Bites Back

When the Boom Bites Back

Learning to Sail at 65+ – Adventures on the River Thames

It’s one of those lessons every new sailor hears: “Watch out for the boom.”
And yet… sometimes the boom decides to make the introduction itself.

This week’s sailing session was going swimmingly—calm waters, light wind, and a fairly uneventful tack up the river. But then came the gybe.

Now, we had talked about gybing. We knew it meant the boom would swing across. But knowing and experiencing are two very different things. As the wind shifted and the stern passed through the wind, the boom came flying across with the grace of a falling tree—and just about the same level of warning.

A sharp thwack, a startled yelp, and a lesson firmly learned: never turn your back on the boom.
(Or in my case, never underestimate how quickly your wife can duck while you’re still pondering whether to.)

So, Why Does the Boom Bite?

During a gybe, the mainsail switches sides as the wind catches it from the opposite direction. Unlike a tack, where the boom moves more gently through the no-go zone, a gybe can be sudden and forceful—especially in stronger winds.

That horizontal pole we so lovingly call the boom? It’s not just there to bruise your ego. It carries real momentum. And if you're not ready for it, it reminds you the hard way.

How to Avoid a Surprise Visit from the Boom

Announce the Gybe – “Ready to gybe?” gives everyone time to brace or duck.
Control the Mainsheet – Pull in slightly before the gybe, then ease it out once the boom has crossed over.
Stay Low, Stay Aware – Keep your eyes on the boom and your head out of its way.
Practise in Light Winds – Gybing is much more forgiving when there’s not a force 4 behind it.

Gnav vs Kicker – Why We Love the Gnav on Our Dinghy
More Room, Fewer Ropes in the Face
If you’ve spent any time hunched over the centre of a dinghy, trying not to get whacked in the face by the kicker, you’ll appreciate the joy of a gnav.

Yes, that’s “vang” backwards—and for good reason. It does the same job as a traditional kicker (controlling the leech tension and boom position), but it does it from above.

🔧 So What Is a Gnav?

A gnav is a compression strut that pushes down on the boom from above, rather than pulling down from underneath like a traditional kicker.

✅ The Advantages of a Gnav

More space in the cockpit
No kicker strut or tackle cluttering up the space between your knees.
Perfect when you’ve got crew, camera gear, or just long legs.
Fewer ropes to trip over (or get hit by)
In gusty conditions, the kicker can flick up—right into your face.
A gnav sits out of the way, safely above head height.
Easier to move around
Whether you’re tacking, gybing, or just trying to find a comfortable seat, the open space under the boom makes life a little less tangled.

🧭 Downsides?

Some sailors say a gnav can put extra strain on the boom, and adjustments can be a bit trickier mid-tack. But for cruising, learning, and teaching—especially with older or newer sailors—it’s a game-changer for comfort and safety.

Final Verdict?

For our RS Toura, the gnav means fewer bruises, fewer tangles, and more time enjoying the sail.
When you’re learning at 65+, every bit of headroom helps.

Sail smarter, sail safer—and let the boom do its job above your head.

Learning = Bumps + Experience

Yes, we got bitten. But we also laughed (after the initial surprise), shared tips with the others back at the clubhouse, and chalked up another sailing milestone.

There’s no better teacher than experience—preferably the kind that only grazes your head and not your confidence.

Because every sailor has a boom story. This week, it was ours.

#LearningToSail #BoomStrike #GybingGoneWrong #pmrsailing #RiverThamesSailing #SailingAt65 #UpperThamesSailingClub #GnavNotKicker #ComfortOnBoard #DinghyUpgrades #RS_Toura #UpperThamesSailingClub #DinghySailing

Friday, 22 August 2025

Trimming the Sails – What It Means and How It Helps

“Trim the sails!” is one of those phrases you hear shouted across the river and in sailing books, but what does it actually mean? Spoiler: it’s not about cutting them smaller with a pair of scissors.

What Is Sail Trim?

Sail trim is all about adjusting the sails so they catch the wind in the most efficient way. Too loose, and the sail flaps uselessly. Too tight, and the boat heels over like it’s had one too many at the bar. Get it just right, and suddenly the boat seems to glide — the helm feels lighter, the speed picks up, and you start to look like you might actually know what you’re doing.

How Do You Trim the Sails?

It’s a constant dance of tiny adjustments:

Look at the telltales – those little bits of wool or ribbon on the sail. If they’re streaming smoothly, you’re in the sweet spot. If they’re flicking around like confused butterflies, some trimming is needed.

How to Read The Telltales

Telltale Behaviour	What It Means	What To Do
✅ Both streaming backward	Perfect airflow – hold your course!	Do nothing (for 5 seconds anyway)
🔼 Windward telltale lifting	You're pointing too high into wind	Bear away (turn slightly away)
🔽 Leeward telltale lifting	You're too far off the wind	Head up (turn slightly into wind)
🎯 Both fluttering/flapping	Sail not trimmed or stalled	Trim sail in / adjust heading

A good rule of thumb that works for both tacks is – if one telltale is flapping then move the sail towards the flapping telltale.

Ease or sheet in – pull the sail in (sheet in) to point higher into the wind, or let it out (ease) when sailing off the wind.
Balance with the wind – every gust and shift means a tweak. On a river like the Thames, that can be every 20 seconds.

Why Bother?

Because trimming the sails makes the difference between moving gracefully upriver and drifting aimlessly while the other boats sail past. It keeps the boat balanced, reduces unnecessary drag, and helps you maintain control when tacking or gybing. In races, good sail trim is often the difference between staying with the fleet and being left behind with the ducks.

The Dynamic River Dance

On a wide stretch of sea, you might have minutes of steady trim. On the Thames, trimming is a far more dynamic affair. The wind shifts as it bounces off trees and buildings, so the crew is constantly easing and pulling, like a pair of musicians tuning their instruments mid-performance. My instructor, Sally, says trim the sails, now wait 2 seconds, the wind has shifted, and you can trim them again.

Final Thought

So next time someone tells you to “trim the sails,” remember: it’s not a one-time job. It’s an ongoing conversation between the boat, the wind, and you. Get it right, and you’ll not only sail faster but also make it look — almost — effortless.

Thursday, 21 August 2025

Gybing Without Drama (Hopefully)

If tacking is the neat zig-zag of sailing, then gybing is its slightly more mischievous cousin. Instead of turning the bow of the boat through the wind, you swing the stern through it. That means the boom sweeps across with the potential to turn crew, helm, and even innocent bystanders into unwilling limbo dancers.

Done well, a gybe is smooth and controlled. Done badly… well, let’s just say that capsizes, tangled sheets, and bruised heads are not uncommon. But learning to gybe without drama is an essential skill, especially if you ever hope to sail downwind without looking like you’re auditioning for slapstick comedy.

What is Gybing?

A gybe is when the boat turns its stern through the wind so that the mainsail and boom switch sides. It’s most often needed when you’re sailing downwind and want to change direction without endlessly zig-zagging across the river.

Why Do We Need to Gybe?

Because rivers (and racecourses) have inconvenient banks and marks that insist on being in the way. When you’re running with the wind behind you, the only way to change tack is to gybe.

How to Gybe Without Drama

Prepare the Crew – Call “Stand by to gybe!” so everyone knows it’s coming. Panic is rarely improved by surprise.
Control the Boat – Steer smoothly, keeping the boat balanced. A sudden turn makes everything happen too quickly.
Manage the Boom – As the wind fills the other side of the sail, pull the mainsheet in slightly to reduce the boom’s swing, then ease it out again once the gybe is complete.
Keep Low and Move Smartly – Crew and helm should duck under the boom and swap sides without tripping over each other. (Easier said than done — trust us.)
Trim and Balance – Once on the new course, adjust the sails and weight to keep the boat moving steadily.

Practice Makes (Almost) Perfect

Our early gybes were anything but graceful: frantic ducking, last-second scrambles, and the occasional uncontrolled swing of the boom. But with practice, the movements start to click into place. Eventually, you can bring the boat round smoothly, sails filling neatly, and glide away looking like you actually meant it.

So the next time you’re sailing downwind, remember: gybing doesn’t have to be dramatic. With preparation, control, and a little teamwork, it can be just another part of the dance — preferably without the slapstick.

Wednesday, 20 August 2025

Clean Boat

One thing I like about sailing is going out in a nice white hulled boat, gleaming on the water. The reason it's like that is because we have spent ages cleaning it. With boats like the RS Toura, it is simply a case of using the jet washer and a bit of elbow grease, unlike others who are rubbing down and varnishing.

Here are the main advantages of keeping a dinghy hull clean in racing:

⚡ 1. Reduced Drag = More Speed

Algae, slime, and barnacle-like growths create friction between the hull and the water.
A clean, polished hull glides through the water more easily, which means the boat is faster in all conditions.
On rivers (like the Thames), even a light slime layer can knock noticeable speed off your boat, especially in light winds.

⛵ 2. Better Acceleration

Coming out of a tack or gybe, or starting from the line, a clean hull accelerates more quickly.
That extra “zip” can make the difference between holding your lane or being rolled by another boat.

🌊 3. Improved Manoeuvrability

With less drag, the boat responds more quickly to the helm.
This matters when making tight mark roundings or quick course adjustments in gusty conditions.

🏆 4. Competitive Edge

In one-design dinghy racing (like RS Touras, Merlins, Phantoms, etc.), all boats are theoretically equal.
The difference often comes down to small margins — a dirty hull can easily add 30–60 seconds over a race, which could cost several places.

🧽 5. Less Wear and Tear

Slime and dirt hold water against the gelcoat, which can encourage osmosis and staining.
Regular cleaning helps protect the hull long-term, keeping it smoother and faster season after season.

Practical Tips for Racers

Weekly wipe-down if your dinghy lives afloat — even a quick sponge under the waterline makes a difference.
Polish the hull occasionally with a light marine polish to keep it smooth.
Check centreboard and rudder too — they’re just as important for drag reduction.

👉 Bottom line: A clean hull = a fast boat. It’s the cheapest performance upgrade you’ll ever get!