Small boat on a big sea
“So where have you sailed from?” “France.” “On this boat?!” Our new neighbours look surprised, we are invited for sundowners. Indeed, a 25 footer is not the size of a sailing boat one would expect to sail to Australia from…
Cruising
Dedicated to Cruising the world under sail including destinations, navigation, sailing tips, safety ideas, yacht & multihull reviews along with stories and insights for the sail cruising life in the Mediterranean, Caribbean, Europe, Australia and New Zealand.
Rebuilding a boat can rebuild a memory
My mother and father owned a succession of sailing boats when my sister and I were growing up. They were all wooden and mostly old, rather like Maurice Griffith’s description about his early east coast years. Their first boat was…
Four rarely-heard ocean terms
1. Gravity Wave Gravity waves, not to be confused with gravitational waves, form when air is pushed up and gravity pulls the air back down. On its way down, air displaces ocean water, forming waves that look like vertical channels. There…
Have you earned a purple heart for cruising medal?
The Purple Heart is well-known as a US military decoration, awarded to the unfortunates who are wounded in the pursuit of duty. Having been around for quite a while I believe maybe it is time this distinction was extended to…
Want to save an island’s coral reefs? Get rid of invasive rats
The stark surface of Redonda Island is turning green again. Hundreds of years ago, Europeans were sailing the globe and “discovering” new parcels of land—and rats came along with them as stowaways. As crews made landfall on many islands, rats…
SAM and the nature of frontal depressions
The weather picture in temperate latitudes can get very messy. Between the southern edge of the sub-tropical ridge (STR) and about 60 degrees south there are several major drivers of local weather locked in a contest for dominance. There is…
Shooting the breeze: paradise must be earned
Five years ago we were at a remote Pacific island with just a few other yachts. There was socialising ashore and chatter on the VHF. This year we sailed to another remote island: Lord Howe. It was an easy 470…
The deadly hazard of urination – don't pee off the rail
Have you ever heard of “Micturition syncope”? This is a fainting spell that can occur during or, more commonly, immediately after urination due to a severe drop in blood pressure. On board, such a collapse is not only particularly dangerous,…
Outboard Starting Problems and How to Fix Them Part 3: Refitting the Carburettor
Refitting the carburettor after cleaning, testing the motor. Cruising Association – https://www.theca.org.uk/
So, just how much does it cost to cruise?
Experiencing what can only be described as a man’s ‘young-life crisis’, twenty-one year old Andrew Godfrey puzzled over his latest dilemma: “What should I do with my life?” The path should have been obvious. A recent graduate with his Bachelor…
The Coral Sea is calling! Down Under Rally spots available
With the arrival of 2021 and the ongoing uncertainly in regard to when Australia`s Borders might reopen for international travel the Down Under Rally announced the Go East Yacht Rally from Australia to New Caledonia and beyond would not be…
The last Caribbean island to be unspoiled
The beauty of sailing the Caribbean as an Australian is that I would have otherwise not visited this part of the globe. Flights to the Caribbean are arduously long and prices are eye-wateringly expensive. However, Grenada is where I found…
Outboard Starting Problems and How to Fix Them Part 2: Blocked Carburettor Jets
An explanation of the causes of blocked carb jets, how to avoid the problem and how to fix it. Includes why Ethanol can be a problem and how to avoid it, how to remove and strip the carburettor, how to…
On a collision course – prevention is better than cure
Relatively small collision claims are generally the order of the day at Pantaenius Sail and Motor Yacht Insurance. There is often contact between yachts in particular when manoeuvring in and out of berths in marinas, but fortunately this usually only…
New KVH 37cm ultra-compact, fast, and affordable VSAT solution gives worldwide coverage
Now you can live, work, and relax onboard… just like home, while the TracPhone V30 keeps you connected when you want to be. Stream HD content, chat via WhatsApp, connect with the office, get weather information, browse or check emails…
A trouble-free haulout: does it exist?
Coastal sailors have it easy at haul-out time. They usually get the job done at a known facility in their home port. Even the nomadic coastal cruiser will be familiar with, or have recommendations for the yard they are considering….
Outboard Starting Problems and How to Fix Them Part 1: Simple Checks and Easy Fixes
A discussion of outboard motor starting problems, some of the causes and quick solutions, aimed at non-mechanics. Includes an overview of the 4, 5 and 6 HP Tohatsu / Mariner / Mercury motor, basic checks if the motor won’t start,…
Is a weather router worth it?
‘We need to get you into Horta asap’, the message on our Garmin inReach read, ‘there’s a low forming north of you and, if you don’t get in by Sunday morning, you could experience gale force winds of 50-60 knots.’…
Does anyone know how this yacht sank in Sydney Harbour?
Regular Mysailing reader, Geoff Cramp sent in these photos of a cruising yacht which has sunk in Hen and Chicken Bay near Abbotsford in Sydney’s inner west. Geoff says the boat has been sitting on a rock shelf for some…
It pays to reassure if you want to insure
Regardless of where you live you can expect to be hit with severe weather once in a while. Whether it is some wilder winds hitting the region or a destructive cyclone, preparing your yacht properly can ensure your insurance agent…
Coldplay to fund Ocean Cleanup’s river interceptors
The Ocean Cleanup, the Dutch non-profit developing advanced technologies to rid the world’s oceans of plastic, announced its collaboration with musicians and philanthropists Coldplay. The band will directly support the non-profit’s mission by sponsoring an Interceptor, The Ocean Cleanup’s solution…
Boyfriend of Brit who vanished off yacht was jailed for ‘beating up his ex-wife’
THE boyfriend of a Brit who vanished off a yacht was jailed for attacking his ex-wife, The Sun can reveal. Ryan Bane, 44, claims he woke up at 2am to find his girlfriend Sarm Heslop, 41, had mysteriously disappeared from…
Local company awarded Torres Strait wreck removals contract
Under the War on Wrecks program, 13 derelict vessels which posed a hazard to users of Torres Strait waterways, by potentially drifting or breaking apart in bad weather, were earmarked for removal. Their removal was put out to tender as…
Australia fines Master and owners after ship dumps waste overboard
The Maritime Executive The chief officer and owner of a bulk carrier were convicted and fined in Australia for dumping trash overboard. While the fines were small dollar amounts, Australian authorities said it was the principle of dumping trash into…
NOAA begins four-year transition to phase out paper charts
The Maritime Executive Two years after announcing its intent to begin the phaseout of paper nautical charts, the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has officially begun the effort to sunset one of the most basic of tools for…
Royal Navy revives tall ship training
The Maritime Executive For the first time in decades, Royal Navy sailors are learning the art of seafaring on a traditional tall ship. Over four months, junior sailors are crewing TS Tenacious – giving them a unique insight into the days of sail…
Desperate search for British woman who vanished from her yacht in the Caribbean
Divers are searching for a British woman who went missing from her yacht in the Caribbean six days ago. Sarm Heslop, 41, has not been seen since Sunday night when she went out for dinner with her boyfriend. He woke up on their catamaran, a…
Western Australian Cruising Guide v5.3 now available
The Western Australian Cruising Guide is regarded as the coastal cruising bible for WA, covering the coast from Darwin to Eucla, including the Christmas and Cocos Islands. This book is a definite must-have, especially for cruising the Kimberley, with over…
MSC Cruises fined for seawall crash, but will pursue further enquiries
The original press release regarding this incident noted that the captain of an MSC ship which made headlines after it crashed into a Uniworld river ship in Venice, had been jailed. We have been informed from MSC Cruises that this…
Indonesia opens its borders, cruising yachts welcome again
Indonesia was recognised was always an attractive Asia Pacific cruising destination until the country shut down borders due to Covid-19. Now there’s good news for travellers as Asia Pacific Superyachts (APS) Indonesiaannounces borders opening and “Entry to Indonesia for Foreign Nationals”. The…
Calling all multihull owners to the Pittwater Rally in April
All multihull yacht owners are welcome to the Multihull Solutions Pittwater Rally, a casual event designed to be a social gathering of multihulls of all sizes enjoying a weekend of boating fun. The event is run as a true cruising…
Good policing sees false distress caller charged in US
Nathan Libby, of Rockland, has been charged with making a false distress call to the Coast Guard on December 3rd, 2020 via VHF-FM radio channel 16. Based on the call, the Coast Guard initiated a search spanning more than five…
Big 'berg under closer scrutiny regarding its environmental influence
It broke off from Antarctica a year ago and has been slowly making its way to South Georgia island (of Shackleton fame). So British polar researchers from the British Antarctic Survey are heading off after quarantining on the Falklands aboard…
Getting high? The Polar yachting guide available
In these weird times where cruising destinations are limited, then making the effort to head for the high north or high south latitudes can be enticing. But certain rules apply for such important and fragile environments. Not just for your…
The bureaucratic hell that is re-entering a yacht into Australia
We recently returned to Australia on our Australian catamaran from being offshore for two and a half years. We have just experienced the mine field of the re-importation process that Rosemary Jilderts described in her article 'Exporting and importing: what are…
Strange story of man tied to mast on sunken yacht
A well-known British expatriate has been found tied to the mast of his sunken, beautiful, two-masted schooner in Crete the British newspaper Mirror has reported. This is a strange story indeed as it involves a previous robbery attempt resulting in…
East coast wet has peaked but will hang around
The 2020–21 La Niña is likely to have peaked with respect to atmospheric and oceanic patterns in the tropical Pacific, says the Bureau of Meteorology on its latest climate update. However impacts associated with La Niña, such as above average…
Maersk Boxship loses 750 containers overboard in North Pacific
Heavy weather in the North Pacific is being blamed for the loss of containers aboard one of Maersk’s containerships. This is the third container loss incident recently reported in the Pacific. Maersk is saying that approximately 750 containers were lost…
The full story behind solo sailor's ordeal after being pitched overboard
A solo sailor who was rescued eight hours after being pitched overboard in rough seas off Australia’s Northern Territory coastline has revealed details of his ordeal. Southampton-born expat Nigel Fox, who has been praised by rescue services for the quick…
US Coast Guard recovers stolen tiki hut from “intoxicated” operator
BY THE MARITIME EXECUTIVE 01-14-2021 10:03:00 A small boat team with U.S. Coast Guard Sector Key West took on a special mission on Wednesday: tracking down and recovering a stolen floating tiki hut. For the full story, go to The…
