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Practical guides, sailing tips, marine weather and regulations — everything you need to sail with confidence.

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Practical guide
Spinnaker and Light Sails: Practical Guide
Choosing between spinnaker, gennaker and Code 0 by wind angle, hoisting and dropping safely, avoiding classic mistakes.
May 26, 2026 8 min read Read →
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Practical guide
Reefing a Sailboat: Techniques and Timing
When to reduce sail, how to reef in 6 steps and the mistakes to avoid for safe sailing in strong winds.
May 20, 2026 8 min read Read →
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Practical guide
Watch Keeping on Board: the Complete Guide for Your Crew
Watch systems, ideal durations and golden rules for effective watch keeping and safe offshore sailing.
May 19, 2026 8 min read Read →
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Practical guide
Freshwater Management on Board: Tips and Savings
Calculate your daily consumption, optimise your tanks and discover all the tips to never run out of water while sailing.
May 18, 2026 7 min read Read →
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Practical guide
Emergency Repairs at Sea: The Complete Guide
Hull leak, engine failure, broken rigging, torn sail… How to handle boat damage at sea with the right repair kit on board.
May 18, 2026 9 min read Read →
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Practical guide
Boat Propeller Maintenance: Cleaning, Protection & Replacement
Learn how to clean, protect and diagnose your propeller to maintain your boat's performance and avoid costly repairs.
May 13, 2026 8 min read Read →
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Practical guide
Marine Radar: How It Works, Installation & Settings
PPI display, X-band vs S-band, GAIN/STC/FTC settings, ARPA and COLREG rules — everything to navigate safely in fog.
May 12, 2026 9 min read Read →
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Practical guide
Tacking and Gybing: Mastering Sailing Maneuvers
Step-by-step techniques for changing tack safely: tacking, gybing, common mistakes and weather conditions to watch.
May 11, 2026 8 min read Read →
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Practical guide
Electric Propulsion for Boats: The Complete Sailor's Guide 2026
Electric motor, hybrid or diesel? Range, costs, marina charging, solar integration: everything you need to choose the ideal propulsion system.
May 10, 2026 8 min read Read →
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Practical guide
Catamaran vs Monohull: How to Choose Your Ideal Sailboat
Full comparison: stability, price, space, handling, maintenance. All criteria to choose between catamaran and monohull.
May 7, 2026 9 min read Read →
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Practical guide
Seasickness Prevention & Remedies for Sailors
Medications, natural remedies, on-board positioning and behavioural tips to overcome marine motion sickness.
May 6, 2026 9 min read Read →
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Practical guide
Planning a Sailing Cruise: Complete Preparation Guide
Destination, documents, crew, safety, provisioning and weather: the 6 steps to organise a successful cruise.
May 5, 2026 9 min read Read →
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Regulations
Mandatory Documents on Board: What the Law Requires at Sea
Registration certificate, boat licence, RC insurance, distress equipment… Everything the law requires on board in France by navigation zone.
May 4, 2026 7 min read Read →
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Practical guide
Running Rigging: Halyards, Sheets & Lines — Complete Guide
Everything about your sailboat's running rigging: materials, maintenance, replacement and practical tips for cruisers.
May 3, 2026 9 min read Read →
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Practical guide
Catamaran vs Monohull: Which Sailboat to Choose for Cruising?
Stability, performance, budget, living space... The complete comparison to choose between a catamaran and a monohull for your sailing profile.
May 3, 2026 9 min read Read →
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Practical guide
Towing at Sea: What to Do When Your Boat Breaks Down
Emergency procedures, coastguard, commercial tugs and tow line techniques to get home safely when your engine fails at sea.
May 3, 2026 8 min read Read →
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Practical guide
Nautical Charts: How to Read, Understand and Navigate Safely
Master nautical chart reading: symbols, depth contours, scales, paper and electronic charts to navigate safely.
May 3, 2026 9 min read Read →
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Practical guide
Life Jacket & Safety Harness: The Complete Sailor's Guide
Choosing the right life jacket (150N, 100N, 50N), using your harness and safety line, maintaining your CO₂ cartridge: everything about personal safety on board.
April 19, 2026 8 min read Read →
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Practical guide
Osmosis on Polyester Hulls: Detect, Treat and Prevent
Blisters below the waterline? Learn how to detect osmosis with a moisture meter, apply an epoxy treatment and protect your hull long-term.
April 19, 2026 8 min read Read →
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Practical guide
Sailing in Fog: Sound Signals, Radar and Vigilance
Mandatory COLREGS sound signals, radar use and safety checklist for navigating with confidence in reduced visibility.
April 17, 2026 8 min read Read →
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Practical guide
Harbor Maneuvering: Docking, Mediterranean Mooring & Reversing
Master Mediterranean stern-to mooring, reverse docking at a pontoon and mooring buoy pickup. Techniques, common mistakes and illustrated YachtMate tips.
April 16, 2026 8 min read Read article →
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Regulations
Distress Signals at Sea: Flares, EPIRB and Procedures
Parachute flares, EPIRB, PLB, VHF channel 16: everything you need to know about maritime distress signals, their ranges and legal requirements on board.
April 16, 2026 8 min read Read article →
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Guide · Weather & Communications
NAVTEX: Receiving Weather Forecasts at Sea Automatically
Frequencies, message codes, range and installation — everything you need to know about NAVTEX to never miss a weather or navigation warning offshore.
April 16, 2026 8 min read Read article →
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Practical guide
Understanding AIS: Complete Guide for Recreational Sailors
Class A, Class B, receiver-only: everything about the Automatic Identification System for safer navigation. YachtMate displays real-time AIS data on your chart.
April 15, 2026 9 min read Read article →
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Practical guide
How to Choose a Motorboat: Complete Buying Guide 2026
Open, RIB, cabin cruiser or offshore: how to make the right choice? Budget, engine type, new or used — YachtMate guides you step by step.
April 12, 2026 8 min read Read article →
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Practical guide
Marine Autopilot: Complete Guide to Choosing, Installing and Using One
Tiller pilot, linear drive or hydraulic: how to choose, install and calibrate your marine autopilot for stress-free sailing. YachtMate tips included.
April 12, 2026 8 min read Read article →
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Practical guide
Man Overboard (MOB): Recovery Procedures
Alert, maneuver, recover: the 3 MOB maneuvers (Quick Stop, Bear Away, Williamson Turn) and the right reflexes to save a life at sea with YachtMate.
April 10, 2026 8 min read Read article →
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Practical guide
Compass Navigation: Heading, Declination and Deviation
Master the conversion compass heading → true heading: magnetic declination, deviation and the formula TH = CH ± d ± D. Essential even with YachtMate.
April 9, 2026 8 min read Read article →
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Practical guide
Hull Antifouling and Maintenance: Protect Your Boat's Hull
Bicomponent or ablative antifouling, DIY or boatyard haul-out: everything you need to protect your hull.
April 9, 2026 8 min read Read article →
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Practical guide
How to Choose Your First Sailboat: The Complete Guide
Keelboat or dinghy, monohull or catamaran, new or used: the guide to choosing your first sailboat.
April 9, 2026 8 min read Read article →
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Practical guide
GPS, AIS, Depth Sounder: Essential Boat Navigation Instruments
Integrated VHF, chart plotter, depth sounder: understand and choose your navigation instruments.
April 9, 2026 8 min read Read article →
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Practical guide
Preparing an Offshore Passage: The Complete Guide
Weather, provisioning, night watches, safety equipment: everything to plan before casting off for an offshore passage.
April 9, 2026 8 min read Read article →
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Practical guide
Cooking Aboard: Tips and Recipes for Sailors
Gimbal stove, provisioning, food conservation at sea: practical tips and simple recipes for eating well aboard.
April 9, 2026 8 min read Read article →
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Practical guide
Boat Winterization: The Complete Checklist
Engine, rigging, electronics, hull: the complete checklist to winterise your boat without nasty spring surprises.
April 9, 2026 8 min read Read article →
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Practical guide
Anchoring in the Mediterranean vs Atlantic: Key Differences
No tides vs big tides, sand vs rock bottom: how to adapt your anchoring technique to each sea.
April 9, 2026 8 min read Read article →
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Practical guide
First Aid at Sea: What to Do in a Marine Emergency
Man overboard, hypothermia, injuries: life-saving actions and mandatory medical equipment on board.
April 9, 2026 8 min read Read article →
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Practical guide
Fishing from a Sailboat: Techniques and Tips
Trolling, bottom fishing, size and species regulations: fishing from your sailboat with the right gear and reflexes.
April 9, 2026 8 min read Read article →
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Practical guide
How to Save Fuel When Boating: 10 Effective Tips
Optimal engine RPM, trim, hull cleaning, route planning: 10 concrete tips to reduce fuel consumption.
April 9, 2026 8 min read Read article →
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Regulations
Maritime Flags and Signals: The Sailor's Complete Guide
National flag, yellow Q flag, signal code: which flags to fly and when? Regulations explained simply.
April 9, 2026 8 min read Read article →
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Practical guide
Choosing and Maintaining Sails: The Complete Guide
Mainsail, genoa, spinnaker: how to choose your sails and maintain them for lasting performance.
April 9, 2026 8 min read Read article →
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Practical guide
The Most Beautiful Coastal Cruises in France
Brittany, Côte d'Azur, Basque Country, Corsica: the most beautiful French coastal routes for sailors.
April 9, 2026 8 min read Read article →
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Practical guide
Choosing a Dinghy and Outboard Motor: Buyer's Guide
Semi-rigid or inflatable, 2 or 4-stroke, electric: how to choose the dinghy and motor suited to your sailboat.
April 9, 2026 8 min read Read article →
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Practical guide
Galvanic Corrosion: Understanding and Protecting Your Boat
Zincs, galvanic isolators, sacrificial anodes: understand galvanic corrosion and effectively protect your boat.
April 9, 2026 8 min read Read article →
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Practical guide
Standing Rigging: Inspection and Complete Maintenance
Shrouds, forestay, backstays, rigging screws: how to inspect and maintain standing rigging for safe sailing.
April 9, 2026 8 min read Read article →
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Practical guide
Watermaker on Board: Buying and Maintenance Guide
Membrane osmosis, capacity, power consumption, maintenance: everything to know before buying a watermaker.
April 9, 2026 8 min read Read article →
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Practical guide
Sailing with Children: Safety Tips and On-Board Advice
Appropriate life jackets, safety lines, on-board activities: how to sail with children safely and happily.
April 9, 2026 8 min read Read article →
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Practical guide
Best Corsica Anchorages and Stopovers for Sailors
Bonifacio, Girolata, Scandola, Porto-Vecchio: the guide to the most beautiful Corsican stopovers for sailors.
April 9, 2026 8 min read Read article →
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Regulations
Boat Insurance: What Your Policy Really Covers
Third-party liability, hull coverage, assistance, agreed value: decode your boat insurance policy.
April 9, 2026 8 min read Read article →
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Practical guide
Anchoring in Strong Winds: Advanced Techniques
Double anchor, kedging, chain length, seabed types: advanced techniques to hold in heavy weather.
April 9, 2026 8 min read Read article →
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Practical guide
Marine Radar: How to Use It Effectively
Range, gain, rain clutter, sea clutter, MARPA, AIS targets: master your marine radar for safe navigation in low visibility.
April 9, 2026 8 min read Read article →
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Regulations
Marine Sanitation: Black Water Rules and Solutions
Protected areas, holding tanks, separators: understand black water regulations and equip your boat.
April 9, 2026 8 min read Read article →
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Practical guide
Optimising Sail Performance: Tuning and Techniques
Cunningham, vang, outhaul, leech line tuning: the key adjustments to optimise your sailboat's performance.
April 9, 2026 8 min read Read article →
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Practical guide
Boat Fenders and Mooring Lines: The Complete Guide
Mooring line diameter, materials, fender size, mooring knots: everything to know for correct docking and mooring.
April 9, 2026 8 min read Read article →
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Practical guide
Solo Sailing: Essential Safety Precautions and Equipment
Autopilot, safety harness, radar watch, MOB alarm: essential equipment for sailing solo safely.
April 9, 2026 8 min read Read article →
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Regulations
Fire Safety on Board: Prevention and Action
Mandatory fire extinguishers, smoke detectors, evacuation procedure: fire safety regulations and the right reflexes on board.
April 9, 2026 8 min read Read article →
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Marine weather
Mediterranean Weather: When to Go Sailing?
Mistral, meltemi, tramontane, libeccio: understand Mediterranean winds and choose the best sailing season.
April 9, 2026 8 min read Read article →
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Marine weather
French Coastal Winds: Mistral, Tramontane and More
Mistral in Provence, tramontane in Languedoc, marin in the Gulf of Lion: understand and anticipate French local winds.
April 9, 2026 8 min read Read article →
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Regulations
The Offshore Boating License: Everything You Need to Know
Theory and practical tests, eligibility, programme content: the complete guide to obtaining your offshore licence.
April 9, 2026 8 min read Read article →
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Regulations
COLREGS: The Rules of Priority at Sea
Starboard priority, sail vs motor, constrained vessels… The complete guide to COLREGS rules for safe navigation with YachtMate.
April 8, 2026 8 min read Read article →
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Practical guide
Night Sailing: Rules and Safety Tips
COLREGS navigation lights, watch organisation, essential equipment: everything you need to sail safely at night with YachtMate.
April 8, 2026 9 min read Read article →
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Practical guide
Marine VHF Radio: How to Communicate at Sea
Channel 16, MAYDAY, DSC, MMSI, weather channels — everything you need to know to use your marine VHF correctly and sail safely with YachtMate.
April 8, 2026 10 min read Read article →
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Practical guide
Boat Electricity: Batteries, Solar Panels and Alternator
AGM or lithium batteries, solar panels, optimised alternator: everything you need to know to be energy-independent on board. YachtMate helps you plan your stopovers.
April 7, 2026 9 min read Read article →
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Practical guide
Essential Sailing Knots Every Boater Should Know
Bowline, cleat hitch, figure-of-eight, clove hitch… master the 10 essential boating knots. Practical tips for mooring, sailing manoeuvres and navigating safely with YachtMate.
April 6, 2026 8 min read Read article →
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Practical guide
Maritime Buoyage: Understanding Buoys and Lights
IALA, lateral marks, cardinal marks, navigation lights — everything you need to read buoys at sea and navigate safely, day and night. YachtMate displays all marks on your offline charts.
April 6, 2026 10 min read Read article →
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Practical guide
Understanding tides and currents for better sailing
Coefficients, rule of twelfths, flood, ebb, slack water… Everything you need to know to anticipate tides and use currents on your coastal passages.
April 5, 2026 10 min read Read article →
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Practical guide
Getting your boat ready for the season: the complete spring checklist
Hull, engine, rigging, safety, electrics — the complete checklist to not miss anything before your first departure of the season. YachtMate manages your maintenance reminders.
April 4, 2026 10 min read Read article →
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Comparison
Best boat navigation apps in 2026: complete comparison
Navionics, iSailor, OpenCPN, SailGrib, YachtMate — full comparison of navigation apps with feature table and recommendations by sailor profile.
April 4, 2026 12 min read Read article →
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Regulations
Coastal boating license: the complete 2026 guide
Syllabus, exam, cost, differences with the offshore license — everything you need to know about the French coastal boating license in 2026.
April 4, 2026 10 min read Read article →
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Regulations
Anchoring regulations in France: what the law says in 2026
Restricted zones, wild anchoring, ZMEL, posidonia, fines — the complete legal framework for anchoring legally in French waters.
April 4, 2026 9 min read Read article →
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Practical guide
Marine diesel engine maintenance: the complete guide
Oil changes, impeller, filters, anodes — everything you need to know to prevent engine failure at sea. YachtMate helps you stay on top of maintenance.
April 4, 2026 11 min read Read article →
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Practical guide
How to drop anchor properly? Complete anchoring guide
From choosing the right spot to chain length, everything you need for a successful anchorage — and how AnchorFix helps secure your night.
April 3, 2026 8 min read Read article →
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Marine weather
Reading a marine weather forecast: the sailor's guide
Wind, swell, atmospheric pressure — learn to decode weather bulletins and plan your sailing trips safely.
April 3, 2026 10 min read Read article →
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Regulations
Mandatory boat safety equipment: complete 2026 checklist
Flares, life jackets, fire extinguishers — all mandatory equipment by navigation zone and how to manage expiry dates with YachtMate.
April 3, 2026 12 min read Read article →
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Guide
Getting Your Boat Ready for the Season: The Spring Checklist
Complete checklist to prepare your boat for the sailing season: hull, engine, safety, electrical, and fittings. Don't miss anything before your first departure.
04/04/2026 10 min Read article →

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