59 low cost upgrades to enhance your boat; How to reduce weather helm; Boat repairs in a Force 9 storm; Designing and building your own…
Practical Boat Owner
April 2026 issue – out 12 February
Sailmaker tips for getting new life out of old sails; NMEA wifi gateways tested; Wayfarer Weekended on test; Cruising hacks from liveaboard sailors; Solo skipper’s…
R
Romeo (phonetic) Romeo in the phonetic and .-. in Morse. No meaning in the International Code. Race A fast-running stream or current, usually caused by the tide and occurring where…
S
Sierra (Phonetic) Sound signals – One to starboard, two to port, and three astern. The single letter S means, ‘My engines are going astern’, thus matching three hoots nearly (and…
T
T – tango T – tango 1) The single-letter signal means, ‘Keep clear of me, I am engaged in pair trawling’. This is an important signal for pleasure-craft skippers, and…
U
U – Uniform U – Uniform The single-letter signal is one that every skipper should know because it may be of some importance to him. If U (dot-dot-dash) is made…
V
V – Victor V – Victor V Signalled by any means, this one letter tells the world, ‘I require assistance’, Compare with W, and also note that this is not…
W
W-whiskey W-whiskey As a single-letter the signal means, ‘I require medical assistance’, and could therefore be one worth committing to memory. The Morse code .- – may be made by…
X
X (X-ray) X (X-ray) The single letter, which may be signalled by any means, conveys the message, ‘Stop carrying out your intentions and watch for my signals’. In phonetic it…
Y
Y (Yankee) Y (Yankee) Means ‘I am dragging my anchor’, and that could be very significant if you yourself should be lying astern of a large vessel making Y. The…
Z
Z (Zulu) Z (Zulu) As signal it means, ‘I require a tug’. But when shown by a fishing vessel (which you will recognise by her lights or shapes), it means,…
£5.5million RYA payout to injured powerboater
The mother of injured powerboater Ben Ridd sued the Royal Yachting Association to cover the cost of his care
The 13th International Sailing Summit goes live
International Sailing Summit's ‘Waking up the sailing industry - how sailing needs to modernise, diversify and develop to attract and retain participants'
Photo released of missing sailor
Enquiries continue into the disappearance of missing sailor Leonard King on Sunday
Family’s concern over missing sailor
The missing sailor from Alfriston, East Sussex hasn't been seen Sunday
ARC+ 2014 Sets Sail
ARC+ is part of the World Cruising Club's Atlantic Rally for Cruisers
Bound for the UK: 250 kilos of cocaine seized from yacht in the Caribbean
Two Jersey men arrested after cocaine seized from yacht, estimated street value of £30-40million
Navitus Bay ‘fewer wind turbines’ option announced
Plans have been submitted for a smaller South Coast wind farm scheme with fewer turbines
Navitus Bay ‘fewer wind turbines’ option announced
Plans have been submitted for a smaller South Coast wind farm scheme with fewer turbines
December issue out now!
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Angel of the North creator sets sights on new sites
Antony Gormley‘s new LAND project celebrates 50 years of the Landmark Trust
Deal signed for Blyth offshore wind test site
The East Coast site is the largest consented offshore wind testing facility in the UK