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blacknell.bsky.social
Trying something new. #learningtosail
April 11, 2026 at 8:02 PM
philipmrussell.bsky.social
Day 4 of our Croatian sailing adventure.
• Man overboard recovery drills
• Anchoring procedures
• Sail handling and winch operation
• Tacking under sail
• Stern-to mooring techniques
pmrsailing.uk/Holiday-2026...

#Sailing #CompetentCrew #Croatia #LearningToSail
May 7, 2026 at 1:31 PM
philipmrussell.bsky.social
River racing isn’t about holding one perfect tack – it’s about choosing the next one.
Tacking lets you work the bends, and out-think the fleet.
On a river, tacking is the strategy.
pmrsailing.blogspot.com/2025/12/why-...
#Sailing #RiverRacing #DecisionMaking #Tactics #LearningToSail
December 30, 2025 at 9:33 AM
philipmrussell.bsky.social
Ever tried sailing without using the rudder?
Boats don’t actually need a rudder to turn – sail trim and balance do most of the work.
A brilliant exercise for river sailors
Full article on pmrsailing.blogspot.com/2026/01/sail...
#SailingSkills #LearningToSail #RiverSailing #ContinuousLearning
January 26, 2026 at 8:49 AM
philipmrussell.bsky.social
The sailing world is full of magical words. Take LUFF.
• It’s the front edge of a sail
• It’s what happens when you turn too close to the wind
• And that flapping sound?
The boat saying “nope”. pmrsailing.uk/sailing-less... 
#SailingEducation #LifelongLearning #LearningToSail
December 24, 2025 at 8:45 AM
philipmrussell.bsky.social
“Ready to gybe?”
Too late… the boom already bit.
This week’s sailing lesson: never turn your back on a boom.
Full story pmrsailing.blogspot.com/2025/08/when...
#SailingFails #LearningToSail #BoomStrike #pmrsailing #SailingAt65 #RS_Toura
August 23, 2025 at 9:05 AM
philipmrussell.bsky.social
Smart buoys can now measure wind & relay live data across a race course.
Amazing tech — but should sailors be told where the pressure is strongest?
pmrsailing.blogspot.com/2026/01/tech...
#Sailing #SportsTechnology #DataInSport #DecisionMaking #LearningToSail
January 20, 2026 at 10:40 AM
philipmrussell.bsky.social
We cross the line first… …and 100 metres later we’re last

Sound familiar?

It’s not the start—it’s what happens next:

Clean air

Boat speed

A plan

Win the first 2 minutes, win the race

pmrsailing.blogspot.com/2026/03/how-...

#Sailing #RaceTactics #DinghySailing #LearningToSail
March 19, 2026 at 9:11 AM
philipmrussell.bsky.social
Laylines on a river are never straight.Bends, trees, banks and stream all move the goalposts. Commit too early and you’re pinned with nowhere to go.On rivers, laylines are moving targets — delay, observe, adapt
pmrsailing.blogspot.com/2025/12/how-...
#RiverSailing #LearningToSail
December 28, 2025 at 12:42 PM
philipmrussell.bsky.social
You’ve learned to sail. You can tack, gybe, and get back safely. But you don’t want to race…
That’s not the end of the journey. It’s the start of your sailing.
pmrsailing.blogspot.com/2026/01/ive-...
#LearningToSail #LifelongLearning #SailingSkills #PersonalDevelopment #OutdoorLearning
January 8, 2026 at 11:55 AM
boatandsailboat.bsky.social
Your First Sailboat: A Beginner's Compass to Choosing, Owning, and Enjoying the Journey
#beginnerSailingGuide #choosingASailboat #cruisingSailboat #daySailer #firstSailboat #learningToSail #sailboatMaintenance #sailboatOwnership
Your First Sailboat: A Beginner's Compass to Choosing, Owning, and ...
Ready to buy your first sailboat? This comprehensive guide for beginners covers everything: choosing the right vessel, understanding ownership realities, and truly enjoying life on the water.
www.boatandsailboat.com
June 20, 2026 at 6:03 AM
philipmrussell.bsky.social
Sprint racing in gusts up to 25–26 mph taught us a few things:
We still came last.
The boom deserves respect.
A 360 camera mount is not enough without a backup line.
The river now owns one of our cameras.
pmrsailing.blogspot.com/2026/06/spri...
#Sailing #DinghySailing #LearningToSail
Sprint Racing, Sudden Gybes and the Camera That Went Swimming
Sprint Racing, Sudden Gybes and the Camera That Went Swimming When Moderate Wind Becomes Quite Exciting Sprint racing always sounds simple...
pmrsailing.blogspot.com
June 29, 2026 at 10:10 AM
philipmrussell.bsky.social
Knot of the Week: The Clove Hitch Quick to tie, easy to adjust, and very handy for fastening a rope to a post or rail. Brilliant for temporary jobs, though not always the knot to trust for heavy loads.
pmrsailing.blogspot.com/2026/03/knot...
#Sailing #Seamanship#LearningToSail #Knots
March 14, 2026 at 8:53 AM
philipmrussell.bsky.social
Sailing term of the day: Cunningham It’s not just another rope — it controls where the power sits in your mainsail.
On rivers, a quick tweak can mean the difference between smooth progress and wrestling the boat.
pmrsailing.uk/sailing-less...
#SailingEducation #LearningToSail #DinghySailing
February 7, 2026 at 9:05 AM
philipmrussell.bsky.social
Best racing advice I’ve learned so far?
Don’t sail where the problems are.
Clear air beats perfect trim every time.
pmrsailing.blogspot.com/2026/02/lear...
#Sailing #DinghyRacing #LearningToSail #RiverSailing #LifelongLearning
February 4, 2026 at 9:18 AM
philipmrussell.bsky.social
Nearly every dinghy today uses a Bermuda rig.
But rivers aren’t the sea — shifty wind, trees, bridges, dead patches.
Is the “best” rig really best for river sailing?
pmrsailing.blogspot.com/2026/02/near...
#Sailing #RiverThames #DesignThinking #LearningToSail #PMRSailing
February 2, 2026 at 8:59 AM
philipmrussell.bsky.social
The most essential bit of dinghy sailing kit isn’t sold in a chandlery.
It’s situational awareness — knowing what the wind, water and other boats are about to do next.
Especially on rivers.
pmrsailing.blogspot.com/2026/02/the-...
#SailingSkills #LearningToSail #RiskAwareness #DinghySailing
February 1, 2026 at 9:31 AM
philipmrussell.bsky.social
“In a 2-handed dinghy, the crew isn’t a passenger – they’re half the control system.”From balance and jib work to spotting gusts on a river, good crew work makes all the difference.
pmrsailing.blogspot.com/2026/01/the-...
#SailingLife #CrewRole #LearningToSail #DinghySailing #RiverThames
January 29, 2026 at 9:25 AM
philipmrussell.bsky.social
Small movements. Big gains.
Getting the seating position right in a sailing dinghy can transform performance — speed, balance, and control all improve before you even touch the sails.
pmrsailing.blogspot.com/2026/01/gett...
#LearningToSail #SailingSkills #DinghySailing #PerformanceSailing
January 28, 2026 at 9:31 AM
philipmrussell.bsky.social
Tacking and gybing feel terrifying…Until you practise them on dry land. No wind. No waves. Just muscle memory. Honestly, this is where sailing confidence is built.
pmrsailing.blogspot.com/2026/01/lear...
#LearningToSail #AdultLearning #SailingConfidence #LifelongLearning
January 27, 2026 at 9:32 AM
philipmrussell.bsky.social
Your buoyancy aid should fit you — not just the label.

If you’re very small or very large, standard sizes often ride up, twist, or restrict movement.

Comfort = safety.

pmrsailing.blogspot.com/2026/01/choo...

#Sailing #SafetyAtSea #Watersports #LearningToSail
January 25, 2026 at 9:07 AM
philipmrussell.bsky.social
Buying a sailing dinghy is just the first step
The boat is only the beginning – trailers, sails, covers, ropes, safety kit and club fees soon add up.
Cheap hull ≠ cheap sailing.
Condition and completeness matter more than price
pmrsailing.blogspot.com/2026/01/buyi...
#Sailing #LearningToSail
January 24, 2026 at 9:52 AM
philipmrussell.bsky.social
Sailing term of the day: The Forestay
It doesn’t get trimmed. It doesn’t get adjusted much. But without it… your mast won’t stay where you expect it to.
What is a forestay and why does it matter?
pmrsailing.blogspot.com/2026/01/the-...
#SailingEducation #LearningToSail #pmrsailing
January 22, 2026 at 9:48 AM
philipmrussell.bsky.social
Launching a Toura without slipping She’s a fantastic dinghy – but she’s heavy. On a slippery slipway, the winch isn’t optional, it’s essential.
Slow release, clear roles, no heroics. Gravity always wins.
pmrsailing.blogspot.com/2026/01/laun...
#SailingSafety #LearningToSail #RSToura
January 6, 2026 at 9:49 AM