Knowledge

- Careful preparation of anchor, chains/lines, connections, spare parts, anchor ball, anchor light and weather data is essential.
- Standard manoeuvres: explore the area, turn into the wind, drop the anchor in a controlled manner, insert a sufficient length of chain/ropes, bury the anchor slowly.
- To increase safety: limit the swinging circle, use second anchor variants, shore lines, skerry and single-handed manoeuvres and electronic drift controls.

Anchoring special: Better anchoring, episode 3: safely run in the ground anchor - 9 manoeuvres

- El Niño will dampen hurricane activity in the Atlantic in 2026, while the most active typhoon season in a decade threatens in the Northwest Pacific.  
- Caribbean sailors will benefit statistically from fewer storms, but will still have to observe hurricane belts, safe harbours and strict insurance requirements.  
- Pacific sailors and yachts remain bound to restrictive cyclone zones despite a calm forecast; only minor El Niño effects are expected for the North and Baltic Seas.

El Niño expected: calmer Atlantic, extremely stormy Pacific

- A suitable anchorage requires a leeward position, suitable water depth, a flat bottom structure and compliance with prohibited zones and protected areas.  
- Sand offers the best holding power; seaweed, clay, silt and stones are problematic; a second anchor is sometimes recommended to distribute the load.  
- Weather developments, alternative locations and emergency launch manoeuvres must be considered in advance in order to avoid lee shore situations and stress.

Anchor special: Better anchoring, episode 2: 6 tips for the ideal anchorage

- New EU guideline specifies when recreational craft are Union goods, but does not replace the obligation to provide evidence in the event of customs doubts.
- Organised documentation on ownership, acquisition, import, moorings, voyages and refits is essential to prove status and treatment of returned goods.
- Leaving EU waters terminates the Union goods status; return within three years can be considered as returned goods if identity and person can be proven.

Proof of VAT: EU publishes guidelines for recreational craft

- On German waters, the general rule is 0.5 per mille, on Lake Constance 0.8 per mille; in the case of signs of impairment, 0.3 per mille everywhere.  
- When transporting passengers or hazardous goods, a strict limit of 0.0 per mille applies for those involved in shipping traffic.  
- Violations between 0.5 and 1.09 per mille lead to high fines, and from 1.1 per mille there is a risk of a criminal offence, a fine or imprisonment and driving licence revocation.

Fines: Watch out with alcohol - the drink-drive limit on the water

- The BVKatBin-See regulates extensive warnings and fines for various offences on inland and maritime waterways.
- In inland navigation, fines range from 25 to 5,000 euros, for example for alcohol, lack of a driving licence, speeding offences or nature conservation offences.
- In maritime shipping, the fines are usually between 35 and 500 euros, e.g. for not having a driving licence, running the lights, giving way and speeding offences.

Fines: Breaking the rules on the water can be expensive

- Aqua Map Chart Viewer is a free, web-based online nautical chart with basic functions and worldwide coverage, except Danish waters.  
- Users can call up navigational aids, depth and harbour information and display wind, wave and current data via a weather overlay with a 48-hour slider.  
- Route planning, synchronisation with the mobile app and offline use are only possible in the paid version with premium access.

Navigation: Aqua Map Chart Viewer, free online nautical charts - tall ship event as a live example

- Passage Planner extends Windy with favourable weather routing with multi-planning and uses several global weather models, but only a simple map.  
- In the practical test, the calculated routes showed implausible loops and return routes; Navimetrix was faster and provided more comprehensible routes.  
- The lack of nautical charts with depths, fairways and buoys makes a comparison with real nautical charts necessary and limits the practicality.

Navigation: Passage Planner - Weather routing plugin for Windy

- On 10 August 2025, 64 million cubic metres of debris in Tracy Arm Fjord triggered a landslide and a 481-metre-high tsunami.  
- The wave was caused by abruptly displaced water, shaved off vegetation up to 481 metres high and is the second highest run-up on record.  
- Researchers see glacier retreat due to climate change as a destabilising factor and expect similar events with potential danger for cruise ships.

Mega tsunami 2025: 481 metre high monster wave - horror scenario like in an eco-thriller

Navigation

- Advection fog occurs when warm, humid air passes over colder water; it can persist for days and often ends with a cold front and wind shift.  
- Radiation fog forms on clear, windless nights over land, flows down to the sea in depressions and dissipates in the morning as it warms up.  
- Frontal fog occurs during warm fronts, when stratus clouds reach the water surface, and disappears shortly after the front passes, provided no advection fog follows.

Safety: Three types of fog - how they appear and disappear again

- Distinguish between fog types: Radiation fog is usually short-lived, advection fog longer; if visibility is <1,000 m, it is better to stay in harbour.
- In the event of sudden poor visibility: reduce speed, set radar reflector, use lights and sound signals, secure and involve the entire crew.
- Use radar, plotter and echo sounder in a targeted manner, avoid large vessels, anchor outside the fairway if necessary and monitor traffic by radar and radio.

Safety: visibility gone! How to keep a clear view even in fog

- High-quality, sometimes high-resolution weather and routing apps with special models for certain areas are essential for safe cruise planning.  
- The 15 apps presented cover a range from free services to complex professional solutions with routing, satellite connection and plotter functions.  
- Price and subscription models vary greatly; users have to choose between one-off purchases, annual subscriptions and regionally limited packages depending on their needs and budget.

Apps for sailing: The best weather apps for the 2026 season

Meteorology

- Extreme waves accumulate in the Mediterranean, most recently almost 13 metres off Menorca and 16.6 metres during cyclone "Harry" between Sicily and Malta.  
- This is caused by long-lasting storms over unusually warm water; climate change increases the frequency and intensity of such events.  
- Satellite and buoy measurements improve cruise planning, but small-scale extreme events remain difficult to predict; experts advise increased caution.

Mediterranean: Monster waves off the Balearic Islands again

- Kirsten Harmstorf-Schönwitz reports in the sailing podcast about preparation and experiences with heavy weather sailing at sea.  
- She describes critical situations such as a grounding off Helsinki and the 2019 Fastnet Race with gusts of up to 120 knots.  
- Key topics include safety training, precise communication on board and prevention to prepare crews for heavy weather.

New podcast episode: How do you prepare for sailing in heavy weather?

- Around 14,800 visitors and 170 exhibitors at the Ancora Yacht Festival 2026, the target of 18,000 guests was missed and the downward trend continues.
- The in-water format focussing on cruising yachts is considered unique in Germany; numerous innovations such as the Linjett 36 and Bavaria Voyager 45 made their debut.
- Around 100 exhibitors showcased technology and over 90 presentations dealt with practical and safety topics; the next event is scheduled for 28 to 30 May 2027.

Ancora Yacht Festival: Fewer guests in Neustadt, but a good atmosphere

- According to Sven M. Rutter, marine radio remains essential, not only for emergencies, but above all to clarify uncertainties and avoid risky situations.
- Many skippers shy away from radioing for fear of making mistakes and strict radio discipline, but prepared radio messages and the use of channel 16 according to the standard can help.
- A radio certificate is mandatory as soon as a marine radio system is on board; in an emergency, however, anyone can use the radio, even without a corresponding certificate.

New podcast episode: Mayday and Pan-Pan - how to radio correctly at sea

- Timm Kruse obtains the internationally recognised RYA Yachtmaster Offshore in Malta, although this is not valid in France.
- The demanding training programme includes rigorous theory, intensive practical days, an English-language exam and a high level of experience.
- It costs around 5,000 euros and takes about two weeks; Kruse also wants to use the licence commercially as a skipper in the future.

Yachtmaster Offshore: "They want to get you through, but you have to perform"

Driving licence

- There is no universal anchor; size (weight) and soil type are decisive, the second anchor should not be lighter.  
- Rigid rules of thumb such as "five times the water depth" do not go far enough: wind pressure, chain weight, depth and dynamics of the Schwoien determine the required length.  
- A long, thin anchor chain increases the anchor depth in strong winds; rope strop, riding weight and chain/rope combination reduce load peaks and improve safety.

Anchor special: Better anchoring, episode 1: Chain or line, how long?

- It presents 14 apps for everyday life on board and cruise planning, from logbook and area guides to crew, community and cost tools.  
- Community-based apps provide sailing area information, berth reservations and logistics data, some with special maps for certain regions.  
- Prices and models range from free, donation-based offers to more expensive subscription and module systems with extended professional functions.

Everyday life on board & cruise planning: The 14 best apps for sailors 2026

Mooring at the skerry: Why Swedes complain about crooked bolts and Norwegians

Anchoring

- Ancora Yacht Festival in Neustadt: 8-10 May, Germany's largest in-water trade fair with 170 exhibitors and around 18,000 expected visitors.  
- Highlights: World premieres Linjett 36 and Bavaria Voyager 45, numerous other yachts, catamarans and "European Yacht of the Year 2026" award winners.  
- Supporting programme: test drives, lectures, rescue cruiser tours, water sports area for beginners, trade fair daily 10 am - 6 pm, tickets from 10 euros.

Ancora Yacht Festival: premieres at Germany's largest in-water trade fair

- Correctly trimmed rigging with sufficient shroud tension is a prerequisite for sailing performance and prevents dangerous load peaks and mast breakage.  
- Before the start of the season, systematically check the mast drop, lateral alignment, mast bend and shroud tension and use a test run upwind for fine adjustment.  
- Adjust the shroud tension using a tension meter or folding rule method, change the trim in pairs and in small steps and check regularly during the season.

Rig trim in spring: these mistakes can be expensive

- Check the slipway in advance for length, gradient, risk of slipping and end edge and ask the harbour master about its suitability for your boat.
- Carry out preparations on land, set up the mast in advance if possible and leave the trailer coupled up until the slip to prevent tipping.
- Steep, slippery or very shallow ramps require special care; rope extension can protect towing vehicle, exact boat position when slipping out is crucial.

Start of the season: What really matters when slipping

Manoeuvre

Seamanship: This wind pressure is generated on yachts during storms

Knots: Sailors must be able to do these six knots

Rope customer: Make your own soft shackles from Dyneema

Sailor's knot

New podcast episode: What should sailors look out for in yacht insurance?

Winter storage: When snow becomes a burden

New podcast episode: The right insurance for an ocean crossing - with Timo Elfes from Pantaenius

Insurances

Sailing knowledge - simply explained: sailing law, meteorology & co. ✅ Learning to sail: manoeuvres & navigation ✅ Tips for sailors ✅

Sailing knowledge: Tips & info about sailing!

sailing knowledge

sailing knowledge:meteorology

sailing knowledge:manoever

sailing knowledge:navigation

sailing knowledge:insurances

sailing knowledge:licence

sailing knowledge:sailor's knots

sailing knowledge:anchoring

sailing knowledge:law

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Sailing knowledge: Tips & info about sailing!

Anchoring special
Better anchoring, episode 3: safely run in the ground anchor - 9 manoeuvres

El Niño expected
Calmer Atlantic, extremely stormy Pacific

Anchor special
Better anchoring, episode 2: 6 tips for the ideal anchorage

Law

Proof of VAT
EU publishes guidelines for recreational craft

Fines
Watch out with alcohol - the drink-drive limit on the water

Fines
Breaking the rules on the water can be expensive

Navigation

Navigation
Aqua Map Chart Viewer, free online nautical charts - tall ship event as a live example

Navigation
Passage Planner - Weather routing plugin for Windy

Mega tsunami 2025
481 metre high monster wave - horror scenario like in an eco-thriller

Meteorology

Safety
Three types of fog - how they appear and disappear again

Safety
Visibility gone! How to keep a clear view even in fog

Apps for sailing
The best weather apps for the 2026 season

Mediterranean
Monster waves off the Balearic Islands again

New podcast episode
How do you prepare for sailing in heavy weather?

Driving licence

Ancora Yacht Festival
Fewer guests in Neustadt, but a good atmosphere

New podcast episode
Mayday and Pan-Pan - how to radio correctly at sea

Yachtmaster Offshore
"They want to get you through, but you have to perform"

Anchoring

Anchor special
Better anchoring, episode 1: Chain or line, how long?

Everyday life on board & cruise planning
The 14 best apps for sailors 2026

Mooring at the skerry
Why Swedes complain about crooked bolts and Norwegians

Manoeuvre

Ancora Yacht Festival
Premieres at Germany's largest in-water trade fair

Rig trim in spring
These mistakes can be expensive

Start of the season
What really matters when slipping

Sailor's knot

Seamanship
This wind pressure is generated on yachts during storms

Knots
Sailors must be able to do these six knots

Rope customer
Make your own soft shackles from Dyneema

Insurances

New podcast episode
What should sailors look out for in yacht insurance?

Winter storage
When snow becomes a burden

New podcast episode
The right insurance for an ocean crossing - with Timo Elfes from Pantaenius

Sailing knowledge: Tips & info about sailing!

Anchoring specialBetter anchoring, episode 3: safely run in the ground anchor - 9 manoeuvres

El Niño expectedCalmer Atlantic, extremely stormy Pacific

Anchor specialBetter anchoring, episode 2: 6 tips for the ideal anchorage

Law

Proof of VATEU publishes guidelines for recreational craft

FinesWatch out with alcohol - the drink-drive limit on the water

FinesBreaking the rules on the water can be expensive

Navigation

NavigationAqua Map Chart Viewer, free online nautical charts - tall ship event as a live example

NavigationPassage Planner - Weather routing plugin for Windy

Mega tsunami 2025481 metre high monster wave - horror scenario like in an eco-thriller

Meteorology

SafetyThree types of fog - how they appear and disappear again

SafetyVisibility gone! How to keep a clear view even in fog

Apps for sailingThe best weather apps for the 2026 season

MediterraneanMonster waves off the Balearic Islands again

New podcast episodeHow do you prepare for sailing in heavy weather?

Driving licence

Ancora Yacht FestivalFewer guests in Neustadt, but a good atmosphere

New podcast episodeMayday and Pan-Pan - how to radio correctly at sea

Yachtmaster Offshore"They want to get you through, but you have to perform"

Anchoring

Anchor specialBetter anchoring, episode 1: Chain or line, how long?

Everyday life on board & cruise planningThe 14 best apps for sailors 2026

Mooring at the skerryWhy Swedes complain about crooked bolts and Norwegians

Manoeuvre

Ancora Yacht FestivalPremieres at Germany's largest in-water trade fair

Rig trim in springThese mistakes can be expensive

Start of the seasonWhat really matters when slipping

Sailor's knot

SeamanshipThis wind pressure is generated on yachts during storms

KnotsSailors must be able to do these six knots

Rope customerMake your own soft shackles from Dyneema

Insurances

New podcast episodeWhat should sailors look out for in yacht insurance?

Winter storageWhen snow becomes a burden

New podcast episodeThe right insurance for an ocean crossing - with Timo Elfes from Pantaenius

Anchoring special
Better anchoring, episode 3: safely run in the ground anchor - 9 manoeuvres

El Niño expected
Calmer Atlantic, extremely stormy Pacific

Anchor special
Better anchoring, episode 2: 6 tips for the ideal anchorage

Proof of VAT
EU publishes guidelines for recreational craft

Fines
Watch out with alcohol - the drink-drive limit on the water

Fines
Breaking the rules on the water can be expensive

Navigation
Aqua Map Chart Viewer, free online nautical charts - tall ship event as a live example

Navigation
Passage Planner - Weather routing plugin for Windy

Mega tsunami 2025
481 metre high monster wave - horror scenario like in an eco-thriller

Safety
Three types of fog - how they appear and disappear again

Safety
Visibility gone! How to keep a clear view even in fog

Apps for sailing
The best weather apps for the 2026 season

Mediterranean
Monster waves off the Balearic Islands again

New podcast episode
How do you prepare for sailing in heavy weather?

Ancora Yacht Festival
Fewer guests in Neustadt, but a good atmosphere

New podcast episode
Mayday and Pan-Pan - how to radio correctly at sea

Yachtmaster Offshore
"They want to get you through, but you have to perform"

Anchor special
Better anchoring, episode 1: Chain or line, how long?

Everyday life on board & cruise planning
The 14 best apps for sailors 2026

Mooring at the skerry
Why Swedes complain about crooked bolts and Norwegians

Ancora Yacht Festival
Premieres at Germany's largest in-water trade fair

Rig trim in spring
These mistakes can be expensive

Start of the season
What really matters when slipping

Seamanship
This wind pressure is generated on yachts during storms

Knots
Sailors must be able to do these six knots

Rope customer
Make your own soft shackles from Dyneema

New podcast episode
What should sailors look out for in yacht insurance?

Winter storage
When snow becomes a burden

New podcast episode
The right insurance for an ocean crossing - with Timo Elfes from Pantaenius