YachtMate Blog — Sailing tips, marine weather & boating guides

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Practical guide

Sailing Croatia: Complete Guide to Navigating the Adriatic

Nautical vignette, Bora and Maestral winds, anchorages, stops from Dubrovnik to Kornati: everything you need for a successful Croatia sailing trip.

June 6, 2026 9 min read Read →

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Practical guide

Atlantic Crossing by Sail: How to Prepare and Succeed

Trade wind route, ideal calendar, safety equipment, provisions, communications and expert tips for a successful Canary Islands to Caribbean sailing passage.

June 5, 2026 10 min read Read →

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Practical guide

Sailboat Winch Maintenance: Disassembly, Cleaning and Lubrication

Complete guide to servicing your winches: disassembly, cleaning, pawl inspection and greasing with proper marine products.

June 4, 2026 8 min read Read →

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Marine weather

Beaufort Scale: Practical Guide for Sailors

From force 0 to hurricane force 12: wind speeds in knots, sea states, sail plans and safety thresholds to navigate with confidence.

June 3, 2026 8 min read Read →

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Regulations

Marine Waste Management: MARPOL Rules and Best Practices on Board

Understanding MARPOL Annex V: all plastics banned at sea, Mediterranean special areas, and how to organise on-board waste to stay compliant.

June 2, 2026 8 min read Read →

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Practical guide

Pre-Departure Checklist: 20 Essential Safety Checks Before Sailing

Before every sail, run this 20-point checklist to ensure a safe trip: safety gear, weather, engine checks and paperwork.

June 1, 2026 8 min read Read →

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Practical guide

Teak Deck Maintenance on a Sailboat: Clean, Protect and Restore

Complete guide to maintaining your sailboat's teak deck: regular cleaning, stripping, sanding and UV protection for a long-lasting deck.

May 30, 2026 8 min read Read →

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Practical guide

Lightning at Sea: Protecting Your Boat and Crew

Lightning rod, grounding cable, surge protectors and emergency procedures: everything to sail safely in a storm.

May 29, 2026 8 min read Read →

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Regulations

Boat Navigation Lights: Complete Guide to Required Lighting

Angular sectors, range, light types by vessel: understand all mandatory COLREGS lighting requirements to sail safely at night.

May 28, 2026 8 min read Read →

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Practical guide

English Channel Crossing by Sailboat: Complete Guide for Your First Passage

TSS rules, tidal streams, weather, night sailing, safety checklist: everything you need to know to cross the Channel.

May 27, 2026 10 min read Read →

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Practical guide

Spinnaker and Light Sails: Practical Guide

Choosing between spinnaker, gennaker and Code 0 by wind angle, hoisting and dropping safely, avoiding classic mistakes.

May 26, 2026 8 min read Read →

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Practical guide

Reefing a Sailboat: Techniques and Timing

When to reduce sail, how to reef in 6 steps and the mistakes to avoid for safe sailing in strong winds.

May 20, 2026 8 min read Read →

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Practical guide

Watch Keeping on Board: the Complete Guide for Your Crew

Watch systems, ideal durations and golden rules for effective watch keeping and safe offshore sailing.

May 19, 2026 8 min read Read →

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Practical guide

Freshwater Management on Board: Tips and Savings

Calculate your daily consumption, optimise your tanks and discover all the tips to never run out of water while sailing.

May 18, 2026 7 min read Read →

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Practical guide

Emergency Repairs at Sea: The Complete Guide

Hull leak, engine failure, broken rigging, torn sail… How to handle boat damage at sea with the right repair kit on board.

May 18, 2026 9 min read Read →

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Practical guide

Boat Propeller Maintenance: Cleaning, Protection & Replacement

Learn how to clean, protect and diagnose your propeller to maintain your boat's performance and avoid costly repairs.

May 13, 2026 8 min read Read →

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Practical guide

Marine Radar: How It Works, Installation & Settings

PPI display, X-band vs S-band, GAIN/STC/FTC settings, ARPA and COLREG rules — everything to navigate safely in fog.

May 12, 2026 9 min read Read →

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Practical guide

Tacking and Gybing: Mastering Sailing Maneuvers

Step-by-step techniques for changing tack safely: tacking, gybing, common mistakes and weather conditions to watch.

May 11, 2026 8 min read Read →

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Practical guide

Electric Propulsion for Boats: The Complete Sailor's Guide 2026

Electric motor, hybrid or diesel? Range, costs, marina charging, solar integration: everything you need to choose the ideal propulsion system.

May 10, 2026 8 min read Read →

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Practical guide

Catamaran vs Monohull: How to Choose Your Ideal Sailboat

Full comparison: stability, price, space, handling, maintenance. All criteria to choose between catamaran and monohull.

May 7, 2026 9 min read Read →

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Practical guide

Seasickness Prevention & Remedies for Sailors

Medications, natural remedies, on-board positioning and behavioural tips to overcome marine motion sickness.

May 6, 2026 9 min read Read →

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Practical guide

Planning a Sailing Cruise: Complete Preparation Guide

Destination, documents, crew, safety, provisioning and weather: the 6 steps to organise a successful cruise.

May 5, 2026 9 min read Read →

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Regulations

Mandatory Documents on Board: What the Law Requires at Sea

Registration certificate, boat licence, RC insurance, distress equipment… Everything the law requires on board in France by navigation zone.

May 4, 2026 7 min read Read →

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Practical guide

Running Rigging: Halyards, Sheets & Lines — Complete Guide

Everything about your sailboat's running rigging: materials, maintenance, replacement and practical tips for cruisers.

May 3, 2026 9 min read Read →

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Practical guide

Catamaran vs Monohull: Which Sailboat to Choose for Cruising?

Stability, performance, budget, living space... The complete comparison to choose between a catamaran and a monohull for your sailing profile.

May 3, 2026 9 min read Read →

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Practical guide

Towing at Sea: What to Do When Your Boat Breaks Down

Emergency procedures, coastguard, commercial tugs and tow line techniques to get home safely when your engine fails at sea.

May 3, 2026 8 min read Read →

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Practical guide

Nautical Charts: How to Read, Understand and Navigate Safely

Master nautical chart reading: symbols, depth contours, scales, paper and electronic charts to navigate safely.

May 3, 2026 9 min read Read →

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Practical guide

Life Jacket & Safety Harness: The Complete Sailor's Guide

Choosing the right life jacket (150N, 100N, 50N), using your harness and safety line, maintaining your CO₂ cartridge: everything about personal safety on board.

April 19, 2026 8 min read Read →

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Practical guide

Osmosis on Polyester Hulls: Detect, Treat and Prevent

Blisters below the waterline? Learn how to detect osmosis with a moisture meter, apply an epoxy treatment and protect your hull long-term.

April 19, 2026 8 min read Read →

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Practical guide

Sailing in Fog: Sound Signals, Radar and Vigilance

Mandatory COLREGS sound signals, radar use and safety checklist for navigating with confidence in reduced visibility.

April 17, 2026 8 min read Read →

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Practical guide

Harbor Maneuvering: Docking, Mediterranean Mooring & Reversing

Master Mediterranean stern-to mooring, reverse docking at a pontoon and mooring buoy pickup. Techniques, common mistakes and illustrated YachtMate tips.

April 16, 2026 8 min read Read article →

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Regulations

Distress Signals at Sea: Flares, EPIRB and Procedures

Parachute flares, EPIRB, PLB, VHF channel 16: everything you need to know about maritime distress signals, their ranges and legal requirements on board.

April 16, 2026 8 min read Read article →

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Guide · Weather & Communications

NAVTEX: Receiving Weather Forecasts at Sea Automatically

Frequencies, message codes, range and installation — everything you need to know about NAVTEX to never miss a weather or navigation warning offshore.

April 16, 2026 8 min read Read article →

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Practical guide

Understanding AIS: Complete Guide for Recreational Sailors

Class A, Class B, receiver-only: everything about the Automatic Identification System for safer navigation. YachtMate displays real-time AIS data on your chart.

April 15, 2026 9 min read Read article →

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Practical guide

How to Choose a Motorboat: Complete Buying Guide 2026

Open, RIB, cabin cruiser or offshore: how to make the right choice? Budget, engine type, new or used — YachtMate guides you step by step.

April 12, 2026 8 min read Read article →

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Practical guide

Marine Autopilot: Complete Guide to Choosing, Installing and Using One

Tiller pilot, linear drive or hydraulic: how to choose, install and calibrate your marine autopilot for stress-free sailing. YachtMate tips included.

April 12, 2026 8 min read Read article →

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Practical guide

Man Overboard (MOB): Recovery Procedures

Alert, maneuver, recover: the 3 MOB maneuvers (Quick Stop, Bear Away, Williamson Turn) and the right reflexes to save a life at sea with YachtMate.

April 10, 2026 8 min read Read article →

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Practical guide

Compass Navigation: Heading, Declination and Deviation

Master the conversion compass heading → true heading: magnetic declination, deviation and the formula TH = CH ± d ± D. Essential even with YachtMate.