Seamanship

W

ho hasn’t looked enviously from the deck of their laid-up boat in a yard on a
gently by, a steaming mug of tea in the owner’s hand. In the right conditions, crisp, sunny winter’s day at a boat sailing
winter sailing can be a joy.small, and you need to act fast if you want to make the most of a day on the water. But winter weather windows can be
Your reward will be a low sun, flat water and deserted cruising grounds. reduced rates and learn to sail or do their Many sailors make the most of
Yachtmaster exams in the winter, when the sailing schools take advantage of empty cruising grounds and long nights to school their students in the arts of
navigation and night sailing. water, you’ll extend your sailing season and be able to break the winter up with If you’re able to keep your boat in the
some truly memorable sails. But what should you do to keep your boat ready for the off... and do you need extra winter cruising kit?
you and your boat winter-sailing ready. Here are some tips and tricks to make

1. Keep your tanks topped off It’s worth filling
   up with fuel and water as often as you can in the winter: fuel berth
   reduced, and hoses may freeze or the water supplies may be turned off to opening hours are likely to be
   protect the pipes – which makes it tricky to refill your tanks!


2. Fuel tank Another reason to keep your fuel tank topped
   up for winter is to reduce condensation. A full tank has much less empty surface
   area for it to form, and thus less chance of diesel bug forming, especially if you also
   use an anti-diesel- bug additive.
   3. EngineFor boats left afloat in salt water, it’s unlikely that the temperatures will dip
   low enough to cause any water left in the engine to freeze, but it’s worth attending to if a particularly cold snap is forecast. Make sure the coolant is topped up with
   the correct mix of antifreeze, and if you’re really worried, run some antifreeze through the raw-water system.
   4. BatteriesStarting a diesel engine from cold in winter temperatures will require more power than
   it does in the summer, so it’s worth making sure your batteries are topped up – either by a small solar panel, or by taking them home for a recharge now and then.
   5. Bedding If you’re keeping your bedding on board so you can make a quick getaway,
   consider storing it in a vacuum bag. These keep linen and duvets dry and mildew-free: the air can be sucked out with a 12V vacuum cleaner if you’re not
   on shore power.

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Tips for winter
season sailing
Sailing in winter sounds like a tricky business – but if you take some simple precautions there should be nothing stopping you, says Ben Meakins

Water in a fuel tank can lead to a build-up of filter-clogging ‘diesel bug’ ➜

Ben Meakins