Case It Up
Fed up with your pilotage plans blowing away or being dissolved by rain and spray? There’s nothing like an old CD case. Jot the notes on a suitable piece of paper and pop them in. If it’s a longer traverse, write on both sides, and if it’s really pouring with rain, seal the gaps with a turn of black tape from your tool box.
Full and By
The ancient technique of sailing “full and by” rather than close-hauled is a valuable concept in a cruising yacht. It means “steer by the wind but keep the sails full.” In practice, in most modern yachts, full and by is 48-50 degrees from the true wind, or 5 degrees below close-hauled. The sheets aren’t eased. It’s just a matter of how you steer. In a lumpy sea it’ll get you there a lot quicker than hard on the wind.
August/September 2025
