Sailing Hints & Tips
Author: Yannis Moraitis
I spend almost all my summers sailing around the Greek islands.
With this small article I would like to share some sailing hints
with you that will help you enjoy the most out of your sailing
holidays.
• When moored or anchored, use your sun tent and stay under it
most of the time. Our friend, the Sun, sometimes can be
dangerous, especially during summertime.
• Be cautious on board and if possible, always wear a pair of
soft boat shoes. This way you will protect your feet and the
deck surface. When sailing, avoid walking on deck without
particular reason and in rough weather, remember to use your
life belt.
• If you have children on board, let them sit outside but always
in the cockpit wearing a life vest.
• Before operating the electric anchor winch, start the motor
and run it at aprox 1.200 to 1.500 rpm in neutral. This is
necessary in order not to exhaust the service battery, as the
consumption of the winch is extremely high. Our recommendation
is to low your anchor manually and collect it using the remote
control. Whenever using the anchor winch (dropping or collecting
your anchor) be very careful with your fingers. An electric
anchor winch is a great facility but also extremely danger with
careless use.
• Remember to use the electric refrigerator only with the motor
running.
• Many yachts are equipped with a switch with which you may
connect the two batteries, to have more power to start your
motor. You can keep them connected, as long as your motor is
running. When you stop the motor, remember to disconnect them.
This will protect you, to be without electric power in case that
you will forget, for example, the electric refrigerator running.
• When you moor in a port, always have a fender between your
yacht and the quay, so even if your anchor for any reason is
unable to keep you in position, the yacht will not touch the
quay. Take care of the swell that big ferries cause and avoid
mooring the yacht close to the place these boats anchor.
• Before you put your engine in gear, have a look around the yacht for floating
ropes that may block or damage your propeller or gearbox. When you want to go
from forward to backward, do it after you let the engine speed drop to idling.
• Avoid towing your dinghy especially in rough weather, as you
may lose it. It's better to keep it secured in front of the
mast. Remember that lost items are always charged to the
charterer. In case you need tug help and before you accept it,
agree on the price and ask for a receipt that clearly states
that no further payment will be asked.
• Avoid dropping papers or napkins in the toilet bowl. It's
better to use plastic bags for the waste papers. Toilet pumps
are not able to dissolve such things.
• Remember to close the main switch at the top of gas bottle
when you don't use the gas stove or when nobody is on board.
• While refilling either water or fuel tanks, make sure not to
mix fuel with water or water with fuel. In both cases the
situation becomes unpleasant and difficult to be repaired.
• Keep always an eye on the hour counter of your motor and make
sure that you have sufficient amount of fuel in your tank. The
fuel gauge is not always reliable, so check the hours that you
have used the motor.
• Do not throw plastic bottles, cans or any other waste in the
sea. Keep them on board and remove immediately at the first
harbour.
• It is also requested not to raise any flag, other than the
Greek, at the aft side of the yacht, as it is against Greek and
International marine regulations.
CAUTION : If the yacht is equipped with DSC VHF, DO NOT PRESS
DISTRESS SIGNAL BUTTON UNLESS IT IS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY (FIRE -
COLLISION - GROUNDING - SINKING).There is a penalty for the
unnecessary use.
- For more information please check http://www.seascope-sailing.com
