When it comes to bluewater sailing, having a reliable sail furler is essential. Furling systems allow sailors to quickly and easily reef or unfurl sails as needed, even in adverse weather conditions. In this article, let us explore the different types of sail furling systems commonly found on bluewater sailboats and the factors to consider[Read More]
Videos
Cost of Living on a Sailboat
The cost of living on a sailboat is typically lower than that of living on land, but it is not entirely free of expenses. Sailing has long been considered a romantic and adventurous way of life, with the freedom to explore the world while being one with nature. For many people, it is an alluring[Read More]
Sailboat Mast Inspection
No sailor wants to experience a demasting. Make sure to complete a sailboat mast inspection, as part of your overall rigging inspection, at least once a year. Have you ever seen a sailboat with its broken mast hanging precariously over the bow of the boat. The sails are trailing in the water and the boat[Read More]
Am I Too Old For Sailing?
One of the most popular questions we get asked is, Am I too old for sailing? With our decade of sailing experience behind us, we’ve met sailors of all ages. One of the first couples we met were in their 80’s. That was eight years ago and they’re still going strong. Sailing has no boundaries –[Read More]
How Can I Crew on Britican?
A question we get asked often is ‘How can I crew on Britican?’ Since 2015 we’ve taken volunteer crew for as short as a few weeks and as long as several months. Our volunteer crew learn all about the sailing lifestyle in return for offering their time, energy, and any special skills. We’ve had electricians,[Read More]
How Do I Get Sailing Experience?
One of the biggest questions we get asked is, ‘How do I get sailing experience?’ Aside from joining a sailing club, offering to crew for boat owners, or chartering a vacation boat for a week, you can join Simon on Britican. Why Britican? With Simon you can learn not just to sail but how to[Read More]
Learn to Sail – Tacking
Guests join Britican to learn a wide variety of skills and gain real-life cruiser experience. Learn to sail – tacking is one of the fundamental basics that we teach, practice, and improve on. Tacking is turning the boat while allowing the sails to move from one side to the other. Tacking is done while the[Read More]
The Reality of Long Passage Sailing
After a weather window opened, Captain Simon and five crew left Hampton, Virginia, and sailed to Bermuda. The reality of long passage sailing isn’t champagne and sunsets! The voyage took four days and started off with rough seas. Four of the crew were seasick but eventually recovered. Some were shocked at the size of the[Read More]
Pre Sailing Passage Preparation Video
Before heading out into the open ocean we do a variety of tasks to prepare ourselves and Britican. In this pre sailing passage preparation video, you’ll discover what we did prior to sailing from Hampton, Virginia across the Atlantic Ocean, to Bermuda. The voyage to Bermuda is estimated to take around 100 hours and around[Read More]
Sailing Family Separate
Things feel very official now – sailing family separate. Two days ago Simon and I went to the boat and offloaded the few remaining things that signified Britican as a family sailboat. Watching the Christmas tree and festive collection bag leave the boat felt poignant. It wasn’t much, but it provided years worth of monumental[Read More]
