Planning a Birthday Boat Charter
A birthday on the water has a very different feel from a celebration on land. Instead of booking a table or hiring a function room, you have changing scenery, fresh air and the freedom to enjoy time together somewhere a little less ordinary. When everything comes together, it creates the sort of occasion people remember […]
How to Improve Close Quarters Boat Handling
A boat that feels calm and predictable in open water can suddenly feel awkward in a marina fairway. Learning how to improve close-quarters boat handling is rarely about brute force or fast reactions. It comes from slowing everything down, understanding what the boat wants to do, and practising simple techniques until they feel routine. For […]
Navigation Decisions That Catch New Skippers Out
A skipper leaves the berth with a full tank, a working chartplotter and a fair forecast, then still ends up uncertain about position, tide and the next safe decision. That is how many navigation decisions that catch new skippers out begin – not with recklessness, but with small assumptions that stack up quickly once the […]
How to Build Confidence at the Helm
Most skippers do not lose confidence when the boat is running comfortably in open water. It usually happens when the berth is tighter than expected, a crosswind starts pushing the bow away, or several decisions need making at once. Building confidence at the helm is not about becoming fearless. It is about understanding what the […]
Preparing Boat and Crew for Rougher Coastal Passages
A calm forecast can still turn into a hard ride once wind meets tide, especially along exposed stretches of coast or in busy channels. If you are wondering how to prepare for rougher coastal boating, the answer is not one single skill or one bit of kit. It is a combination of sound planning, honest […]
Managing Crosswinds When Berthing a Motorboat
A crosswind always seems to show up at the wrong moment – just as the marina narrows, the berth looks tighter than it did from outside, and everyone nearby appears to be watching. Learning how to dock in crosswinds is not about fighting the wind harder. It is about reading what the boat will do, […]
Coastal Passage Planning Checks Before You Leave
A coastal passage rarely tests your planning on the easy days. It earns its keep when the forecast shifts, the tide turns against you sooner than expected, or a straightforward harbour entry becomes busy and uncomfortable. Good preparation is not paperwork for its own sake. It is what gives you time, options and a calmer […]
Using Tidal Streams for Better Passage Planning
A passage that looks straightforward on the chart can become surprisingly slow if the tide is against you. Equally, a well-timed departure can shorten the trip, improve fuel efficiency and make arrival far easier. That is why understanding how to use tidal streams is one of the most valuable passage-planning skills a skipper can develop. […]
Do You Need a Powerboat Licence or an RYA Certificate?
One of the most confusing parts of getting started with powerboating is the language. People often ask whether they need a powerboat licence, when what they really mean is whether they need a recognised certificate, formal training, insurance approval or permission to use a particular waterway. Those things are related, but they are not the […]
ICC Requirements for Boating in Europe and What UK Skippers Should Check
You can have plenty of time on the water in the UK and still get caught out by one question at the booking stage: what ICC requirements apply for boating in Europe? The awkward part is that there is no single answer that covers every country, every boat and every type of trip. Coastal waters, […]