When you plan a passage, it's crucial to ensure you set up your plan to be dynamic so you can easily adjust for updated departure and arrival times. This episode takes you through how to manage avoidable slippage with your departure timing and the considerations for your ETA changing while you are on a passage. Online Skipper Course - Strategies for successful passage planning and implementation RYA Essential Navigation and Seamanship - Navigation and meteorology for local adventurers RYA Day Sk...
Mar 28, 2023•14 min
When you are out at sea, many scenarios can arise where you may need to know and transmit your position. You may also need to be able to receive, record and navigate a position to assist. This podcast examines your options for getting a quick and accurate position. We also provide some ideas to help upskill people who are boating with you to assist with this to keep you free to manage the boat and any other situations that need your attention at that time. what3words > Learn more about our co...
Feb 28, 2023•15 min
Without leaving your comfort zone, you can't develop your skills. This podcast has five ideas that you can implement to help to leave your boating comfort zone and keep developing your skippering skills. You can use the links below to learn about our courses, logbook and ABB TV. > Courses > Logbook > ABB TV...
Feb 06, 2023•12 min
This episode of Boating Insights will help you to prepare for the voyage of a lifetime. John Hembrow joins Neil to share some of his extensive knowledge. John has been full-time cruising since 2009, created the Down Under Rally in 2014, and has led a range of yacht rallies in the SW Pacific and Australia since then. Learn more about the Down Under Rallies and membership Learn more about the Blue Water Skipper Course Package...
Jan 09, 2023•33 min
Changing some of the habits you have onboard can significantly impact the skill development of all involved. This episode takes you through some of the options you have for implementing changes through a typical day on the water that can help you explore more destinations, average more days on the water and avoid the issues that can come with skill fade and perishable knowledge. The training courses we mentioned in the episode are all on this link aabboating.com/learn...
Dec 12, 2022•9 min
For all coastal boating adventures, you will likely need an understanding of the tide. This Boating Insights video podcast episode takes you through some essential considerations to help make tide your friend. The episode begins by looking at the potential impact of the tide on a passage plan. The tidal situation can impact the flow and depths, or both. There are other localised impacts, such as on/offshore winds, heavy rain and flooding. You must know how to check and interpret how the range of...
Nov 14, 2022•13 min
When boarding a boat from the land, a dinghy or the water, there are many details you can adjust to make it easier and safer for all involved. As part of this episode, we look at some ideas if you accidentally find yourself in the water whilst boarding to help make sure you can get back on board or onto the dock again.
Oct 17, 2022•19 min
In this episode, we catch up with David Hows, the founder of Ocean Sailing Expeditions and the Ocean Sailing Podcast. David's a self-confessed sailing addict who loves introducing new people to his love of all things - sailing. David shares fantastic information about the options for gaining offshore sailing experience, training crews for emergency procedures at sea, buying boats overseas and some of his favourite destinations, which you can only reach by boat. The Sea, Safety and Survival Cours...
Sep 18, 2022•26 min
This episode looks at some of the key need-to-know features of your marine electrical system. We go through the options of how you generate and store power on board, understanding the amount of power being used at all times, and how to avoid accidentally wasting power or avoiding being caught out by the batteries being run flat and not available when you need them.
Aug 22, 2022•14 min
For many boats, toys are a key part of the activity. This episode takes you through some of Neil's favourite boating toys, for swimming, fishing, towing, snorkelling, and paddle boarding, with tips on how to avoid your boat becoming overrun with toys and keeping everyone safe whilst you're using them.
Jul 25, 2022•19 min
Finding ways to make your boat safer and easier to use should always have a positive impact on how often and safely you can use your boat. This episode takes you through some of the options you could use to help keep the boat running smoothly and simplify your job of skippering and maintaining a boat.
Jun 27, 2022•17 min
The covers on a boat are usually there to protect the boat, crew or both. Having covers set up correctly and making them simple to use will save money on maintenance and simplify the setup and pack up time whilst providing excellent protection. This episode takes you through the steps you can take to look after existing covers, adapt them to make them easier to use, and consider critical areas when purchasing new or replacement covers for your boat.
Jun 03, 2022•14 min
Emergency Position Indication Radio Beacons which are usually referred to as EPIRBs play a huge role in the safety of a modern vessel. This episode looks at if you need to carry one, the differences between GPS and non GPS enabled models, considerations for your registration and why it's important, what the differences and similarities between a Personal Locator Beacons (PLB) and an EPIRB are, stowage and the adaptations for your boat set up if you are single or short-handed.
May 06, 2022•13 min
Boating Holidays can be some of the most fantastic opportunities to enjoy being out on the water. This episode looks at the destinations, the different options available including bareboat charters, skippered charters, flotilla holidays, live-aboard boating courses and the options available for having a sail guide or skipper join you onboard. The course we mention in this episode is the Online Skipper Course: aabboating.com/online
Apr 08, 2022•15 min
How can you factor in taking a break for your passage as a local adventurer, coastal explorer or blue water skipper? This episode looks at some of the ideas you can build into your passages now so that if you need to help manage fatigue, seasickness or a maintenance issue at sea you have some transferable skills to draw on.
Feb 11, 2022•21 min
When you are looking at qualifications and training for young people in the marine environment, the list can quickly become quite extensive and confusing. In this episode, we help you understand how to evaluate what courses may be applicable and useful for a teenager and young adult, that will be enjoyable to study, useful, achievable, internationally recognised and explain which qualifications will not expire.
Jan 14, 2022•21 min
When you head out on a coastal passage there will need to be a junction point built into your passage plan, where the boat and crew adjust into the pilotage mode to prepare to enter the harbour, river or anchorage you are heading to. This episode looks at some of the factors to consider for selecting a junction point, what the actions you would need to take in the lead up to arriving there, as you arrive and what your plan is if things don't unfold as you are expecting as you arrive at the junct...
Dec 17, 2021•15 min
Getting a good sleep at sea can make a huge difference to how enjoyable and safe a multi-day passage will be. In this episode, we look at the bigger picture for your sea berths including setting them up. This includes the standing orders for when to wake up the skipper and how to convert your boat from a liveaboard cruising configuration to being in an on passage configuration with sea berths set up properly.
Nov 19, 2021•18 min
It can often feel that there is no time to think things through under pressure. Every time you guess without taking the time to think through the next steps, you have a 50% chance of hopefully making the right decision. You also have a 50% chance of making the wrong decision. One wrong decision can have a knock-on effect quite rapidly at times. Always try to take the time to think steps through and find a way to stabilise a situation, so these things are not getting worse. This will hopefully al...
Oct 22, 2021•15 min
When you turn the key and nothing happens, depending on a number of factors, the next few minutes could have a huge impact on the outcome of your scenario. One of the most common errors is to rush straight into fixing the issue without taking stock of the current situation, where you are, the traffic around you, managing your immediate hazards such as lee shores, rocks, bar crossings, breaking waves, shallow water etc. This podcast helps you factor in potential engine failure into your passage p...
Sep 24, 2021•22 min
This episode examines the details that can help make your first overnight passage safe, enjoyable and a positive learning experience so that they start well and just keep getting better and better. Through the episode we look at people, skills, the boat set up, the timing of watches and departure, how to get enough rest, managing food and hydrations, setting up your clothing for the conditions, safety considerations, navigation. We look at the tools you need to make sure you are properly prepare...
Aug 27, 2021•22 min
This episode offers some insights into the wider decisions that can lead into making choosing where to keep a boat and how that develops over time. Some of the considerations we look at include, the first year of boat ownership, the maintenance, costs, insurance, ease of use and the factors which can affect your skill progression.
Jul 30, 2021•17 min
Setting up your boat, your crew and yourself for successful passage making requires planning and an ongoing evaluation of what went well and where the areas to improve are. In this episode, Neil takes you through some of the main areas that you can help yourself prepare as a skipper or crew member. The podcast looks specifically at the consideration you might make regarding navigation, boat checks nutrition, hygiene and development.
Jul 02, 2021•17 min
The first year of boat ownership can be both daunting and exciting. This episode looks at some of the key ways to avoid making potentially expensive mistakes in your first year and how to keep making sure you are getting out on the water and having fun. Enjoy!
Jun 04, 2021•12 min
Most vessels carry a range of safety equipment, either through the personal choice of the skipper or due to the requirements they need to comply with within the areas they are boating. This episode helps you to understand when a marine radio, EPIRB, PLB, flare, V sheet, mobile phone or combination of these might be the most appropriate tool or tools to use for different situations you might have to manage over time.
May 07, 2021•18 min
The vessel navigation forms a huge part of any trip planning and implementation. In this episode we look at how you can use electronic and paper charts, tools and guides to appraise, plan, execute and monitor whilst your next adventure.
Apr 09, 2021•17 min
This episode will help you to look at the considerations that go into choosing a boat, mooring, crew and being clear on what you want to achieve from your boating.
Mar 12, 2021•15 min
This month's podcasts looks at the range of courses and services we have at Above and Beyond Boating to help achieve your next boating goal. The episode looks at the Log Book, skills and vessels management system, ABB TV and the range of E-Learning courses we have ready to support you to take your next steps. Logbook: https://logbook.members-only.online/get-started Courses: www.aabboating.com/learn ABB TV: www.aabboating.com/abb-tv
Feb 12, 2021•14 min
This podcast has some ideas for helping you make 2021 count for your skill development and help you to be better prepared should you find yourself trying to manage a situation such as a tricky marina spot, a person overboard, steering failure or even clearing a wrapped propeller.
Jan 08, 2021•12 min
In this episode, Neil is joined by John Naylor to look at the steps involved and options available as a skipper or crew member to get involved in offshore yacht racing and in particular how you could take part in the Rolex Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race.
Dec 11, 2020•28 min
