What is a Martin Breaker?

The term Martin Breaker refers to a shackle tripping device to allow for remote release of a tack line under load during a spinnaker drop. There are a multitude of possible configurations and, like many things in sailing, the optimal setup will depend on the boat, the crew and a good bit of trial and error. In this blog we aim to give a general overview of some of the things to look out for.

When operating between sunset and sunrise, or in low visibility conditions, navigation lights are essential for every seagoing vessel. The International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGS for short) are the rules governing what lights are required on your vessel under different sailing conditions. In this blog we focus on an economical setup for boats between 7-12m (23-40ft), featuring Lopolight LED navigation lights.

Sailboats and ropes go hand in hand, from only a handful of control lines and halyards on smaller vessels to a whole array on larger racing yachts. However, all these lines would be of little use if we couldn’t secure them properly to hold the loads. Whilst on a dinghy you may get away with controlling the sheets by hand, but on bigger boats, this would be an impossible task.

© Antal

There are many different styles of deck organiser available on the market, each with their own advantages and disadvantages. In this blog post, we'll look at three general categories: friction fairleads, sheave organisers and winch feeders, and how they can help improve your sailing experience.

© Antal

What is the pit?

The pit is the nerve centre of a yacht, or at least all aspects that relate to sailing. The majority of lines on deck lead to the pit, including halyards, reef lines, tack lines, vang, outhaul and Cunningham to name some of the most common.

© Icom 

Being a sailor comes with a lot of responsibility of which a major requirement is to be able to communicate with other boats or services in case of an emergency. That’s why having a reliable and tough handheld VHF Radio is a must.