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THE PARTS OF A SAIL EXPLAINED

24/3/2025

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HOW TO PLOT A GPS FIX ON A PAPER CHART

24/3/2025

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HOW TO CONVERT FROM KNOTS TO BEAUFORT SCALE AND BACK

24/3/2025

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What is sea sickness and how to avoid it?

24/3/2025

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Those of you that have read 'Tales of the Riverbank', might believe that there's "nothing but nothing so absolutely wonderful as messing about in boats", but I'm pretty sure Badger and Ratty hadn't been on the weather rail all night, downwind of a projectile-vomiting Toad.
 
'Mal de mer' as the French would say, is basically motion sickness; the disconnect between what your eyes are seeing and what your balance receptors are telling your brain. It causes the body to react and it makes you feel nauseous - and sometimes vomit; sometimes spectacularly.

In itself this is nothing but unpleasant, although in severe and prolonged cases it can cause dehydration and therefore result in further complications. It is therefore imperative that you keep an eye on a sufferer and encourage them (without nagging) to keep sipping water even if they are feeling very ill.

Remember too, if you are taking medication, including the contraceptive pill, you are in danger of losing its beneficial effects after a bout of vomiting - even once home. 

If you suffer in cars or on flights, it is more likely that you will need to medicate when at sea in rough weather. Common sense would suggest that if you already know that you suffer, be prepared. The key is to medicate early (12 hours before you sail) if the remedies are to have a chance to work.
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the right kit to keep warm at sea in high latitudes

24/3/2025

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Keeping warm at sea is just a matter of preparation and attention to detail.

Of course, on some of the warmer legs, such as leg 1, leg 7 and much of leg 5, keeping warm on board is not a problem. In fact, dealing with 40+ degree temperatures and high levels of humidity below deck is the biggest challenge. If you want to read more on these warmer legs and how to keep cool, click here.

In my experience, staying warm requires that you look after yourself by eating well, staying active and staying as dry as possible and as well insulated as possible. Staying active on the race is rarely a big problem but there is an art to choosing the correct clothing for the conditions.

On a very cold night at sea, when it's wet and rough, with water over the deck (and the crew), staying dry and warm without overheating when busy changing sails, can be tricky. The start of a watch might have you thinking you are under-dressed, and feeling the bitter cold and yet 30 minutes later you might be sweating profusely having just dragged the yankee 1 down the deck, battling against sea state and gale force winds.

Understanding the best way to layer is therefore important.  For a cold ocean, you should be dressed as follows;

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Base Layers (keeps you 'un moist' - wicks away moisture)

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The base layer is critical. It needs to be breathable and comfortable. Worn close to the skin it should 'wick' moisture away when you are wet or sweating. Being quick drying, it's normal to sleep in your base layers which will dry in your sleeping bag.

Base layers should be made of specialist synthetic material that is treated to resist bacteria or made up of merino wool, which is comfortable, wicks well and is largely odor resistant. Bamboo and Icebreaker are well known base layer brands. You should have both jockey shorts and long johns for when it gets really cold.

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working aloft at sea - some tips and tricks

24/3/2025

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'JRTR' CV9 Qingdao - on a regular mast climb at sea 2011/12 Race: Photo JRTR!
Regular, preventative maintenance of your boat and its systems is critical when undertaking an ocean passage; even more so when you're pushing the boat in race trim. A significant part of your maintenance programme will include your sail wardrobe and standing and running rigging.

To check the rig, blocks and halyards, you're going to need to do a mast ascent and this will mean undertaking a risk assessment. Yes, yes, 'Health and safety', but believe me, the first time you leave the rig in an unplanned swing, you'll be a believer! Climbing a rig when underway is different to when sitting alongside a dock.
​

In any event, before you start, you should be wearing a lifejacket with safety line, helmet, possibly fingerless leather-palmed sailing gloves (optional) and if you are taking tools with you make sure they are clipped to your harness (so that you don't drop them on your crew mate's head).
​
Having a sealable bag on your belt is useful for things like insulation tape, spare bulbs, etc and I'd recommend you take a multitool / safety knife (also on a lanyard) and accessible when you are in your harness. Don't do what I once did and put it in your dry suit thigh pocket, then realise you can't get to it when you need it because your climbing harness prevents access to your pocket!

​
​If you plan on being up there a while, a 70 cm long strop with a carabiner clip on both ends can be useful for attaching yourself more securely to the mast whilst working aloft.

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How to organise your kit below deck

24/3/2025

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Your Kit & EquipmentYour kit is likely to be split into three parts on any one leg. These are;
  • Deck Gear & Kit
  • General Kit
  • Sleeping Bag

If you are doing multiple legs, you may decant your warm and cold weather kit into different dry bags so that you have less kit to manage on any one leg. The redundant kit can be stowed in a dry bag under other bags (space is very limited on each yacht).
​
Deck KitEvery watch change you will need certain kit. Dependent on whether it's hot or cold and day or night, this kit might include everything from warm beanie hat, sun hat, peaked cap, gloves, mittens, balaclava, lip balm, leatherman multi-tool, safety knife, head torch, etc.

I kept all this kit in a 12L Lomo Bag which I had clipped to my bunk by a carabiner clip. This enabled me to quickly and easily stow and find essential kit needed on watch change. Time is of the essence when getting to deck and this speeds things up and saves you scrabbling around in the bilges late at night, trying to find your head torch!
General KitI kept this kit in a larger dry bag (maybe 60 - 80L) with back pack straps so it was easy to travel with. Having a dry bag saves your kit getting wet in its storage location (usually due to a leaking deck stanchion). This keeps your clothing, underwear, etc dry and in one place. Your wet gear is kept in the crew wet lockers near the galley.
​Sleeping BagMost boats have a dedicated bunk which they use to store the on-watch's sleeping bags. You can't leave them on your bunk, after all. Someone from the off watch is using it! Ocean Sleepwear bags are very popular for RTW crew and cold leggers.

These bags have a Goretex outer and come with a bag which is great for storage on a bunk because, in rough weather, bags can fall off bunks onto a wet floor. With a down-filled bag, this can be disastrous. With an Ocean bag it's no drama.
This video goes through kit organisation.

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how to pack your ocean sleeping bag for travel

24/3/2025

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I recently came across a post on a #ClipperCrew what's app group.  Thanks Keith for the tip!  You can buy a vacuum pump and various bags for just over a tenner on Amazon and the result is that packing your Ocean Sleepwear bag just got a whole lot more manageable!
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KEEPING YOUR COOL IN THE TROPICS ON A CLIPPER 70

24/3/2025

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If you are signed up to do legs 1, 4, 5 or 7, then you are likely to see the tropics at some point. Legs 1, 5, and 7, in particular, can be very warm for at least part of the time at sea. This brings with it several challenges, mainly revolving around choosing the correct deck clothing and apparel, managing fluid intake, personal hygiene and keeping cool below deck when off watch.

Trying to sleep in 38-45º C, especially when it's humid and you are salt-encrusted & sweaty, is almost impossible until you are very very tired.

Good, lightweight, wicking base layers with long sleeves (for UV protection) are critical. Don't use cotton. It gets wet, retains moisture once saltwater is on it and will get smellier, faster! A lightweight merino wool is good for comfort, performance and odour management. Icebreaker is a well-known Kiwi brand, although it is pricey.

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  • HOME
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