Fun and seriousness sometimes go hand in hand. While some of the crew enjoy it when the boat is lying on its side, the foot rail is dragging through the water and the spray is splashing into the cockpit, other sailors may find such a situation threatening. Anyone who has ever travelled with unsafe sailors knows this. Fear can block and paralyse.
My mum, for example, doesn't like heavy heeling. It's not as bad on tall ships as it is on dinghies. We had situations where she was so tense that she did exactly the opposite of what she should have done: jibing the jib sheet instead of hauling tight. We were in the water and had to right the boat.
Fear is not a bad thing. You just have to know how to use it to your advantage
Almost every sailor has situations in their head where the fear was suddenly there. I'll never forget a bora storm in the middle of the Adriatic that came out of nowhere and bombarded our three-man crew on the 28-foot Tri with over 40 knots and a lightning storm that made me seriously worry about whether it could end well. In any case, the life raft was ready before I hoisted the trysail. Rarely has arriving in harbour been as nice as after that night, when the crew worked with impressive focus.
In the new issue of YACHT, we take a closer look at this topic and reveal why fear is important and what methods there are for sailors to deal with this basic emotion. I wish you an insightful read!
Martin Hager, YACHT Editor-in-Chief
The new YACHT 6/2025 is now available at newsagents and newsagents, as well as in the Delius Klasing App ready for download. Or you can simply order them directly here...
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All topics of the new YACHT at a glance:
PANORAMA
Horizon
Rush across the Atlantic in a mini speedster.
Current
The most frequent rescue operations in 2024;
Shipyard boss indicted;
sustainable boatbuilding.
Journey
Patrols in Mallorca's bays;
Antifouling information from the BSH;
Family discount in Croatia.
New boats
Tiwal 2XL inflatable dinghy;
Touring boat Maxus 31;
Cruising cat Fountaine Pajot 44;
Flagship Grand Soleil 80.
Sport
Bitter SailGP result for the German team;
Promising Admiral's Cup revival.
Gotland
Endless beaches, imposing cliffs, medieval towns:
The sunny island is a great cruising destination. We show you what you shouldn't miss.
Maritime history
A spectacular shipwreck exhibition has opened in Helsingør with brand new, sometimes breathtaking underwater photos. Insights.
Justine Mettraux
The Swiss was the fastest woman at the Vendée Globe. Interview.
Shetland
The archipelago far out off Scotland's coast is rugged, barren and barely populated.
This is precisely what makes it an exciting cruising destination.
Psychology
A storm, an accident or even just the next harbour manoeuvre:
Even experienced sailors sometimes fear certain situations.
How to deal with them.
Adventure
Why a 19-year-old wants to travel the world alone.
TEST & TECHNOLOGY
Boat building
Why the hull shapes of cruising yachts are also increasingly changing.
Large technology report.
Test
Initially, the Deltania Mini was only intended as a true-to-scale exhibition piece for a larger ship from the shipyard. But then it proved to be a speedy runabout in its own right. We tested the sea dwarf.
SKIPPERS MAGAZINE
Antifouling
Which products are best for preventing fouling on the propeller? A product comparison.
Equipment
Tried and tested: Compressor cool box.
Also: Dinghy e-motor; boat heater; radio-AIS combination unit.
Pantry
How to stow crockery to prevent breakage and cook pasta faster at sea.
Water sports exchange
Used boats, purchase requests, broker and insurance offers,
school and charter advertisements, specialised market, price puzzle.
The special boat
The "Calabash" is almost 24 metres long, and every one of them is worth seeing.
You can find out why on a tour of the ship.
Wake
How Katharina Kneip wants to turn sailing into an art form.
