Sailing History

Sailing History

An online visit to the Maritime Museum Greenwich

An Online Visit to a National Maritime Museum

May 18, 2013 in Featured, Sail Blog, Sailing History   |  be the first to comment
You do not necessarily have to travel to Greenwich to visit the National Maritime Museum. An online visit can also be quite interesting. We have picked 3 links to the website, which we like: Follow James Cook Route Did you know that during Thomas Cook’s expedition in  ... [read more]
Nautical Flags

Boat Flags – and How to Fly Them

January 22, 2013 in Featured, How to Sail, Sail Blog, Sailing History   |  be the first to comment
There are many different types of maritime flags. The four flags, mostly used on a sailing boat are the following ones:   Ensign (the national flag – of the boat, not the owner). You fly it from sunrise to sunset, usually from stern. Except when racing.  Note: The  ... [read more]

The Good Old Magnetic Compass

October 03, 2012 in Featured, Sail Blog, Sailing History   |  be the first to comment
  The Chinese invented the compass by around 1110. It improved the safety and efficiency of sailing greatly. The dry mariner’s compass was invented in Europe around 1300. It consists of a freely pivoting needle on a pin enclosed in a little box with a glass cover  ... [read more]

Why is the Right of a Ship called Starboard?

September 25, 2012 in Sailing History   |  be the first to comment
  Because of the Vikings! The Vikings were famous for their boat and shipbuilding. The ships were usually pointed at each end and wide in the middle. This meant, that they could sail in relatively shallow waters.   At the right side of the ship, near the back, was  ... [read more]
Lighthouses_Sailing

People Love Lighthouses

July 21, 2012 in Sail Blog, Sailing History   |  be the first to comment
Nowadays, electronical systems, like GPS are widley used for navigation instead of the light list to indentify a lighthouse, estimate the distance and the positions of the boat.  Light lists are still available and hopefully, some sailors make still use of them. Due to the  ... [read more]

Lifesaving Medal – U.S. Coast Guard Award

February 01, 2012 in Sailing History   |  be the first to comment
Did you know that the gold and silver lifesaving medals are one of the oldest medals in the United States? They are a civil and military decoration of the United States Coast Guard which was first established in 1874.  The medals were meant for people who rescued or  ... [read more]