Over a quarter of UK sailors set off without charts or even having listened to a weather forecast. Many of these have no knowledge of ‘ even basic navigation’ or boat safety, claims a group called the Marine Support Services.

MSS has teamed up with the RNLI in a bid to educate people before they set sail to combat the potential calamities which put extra pressure on the rescue services.

In the July issue of Yachting Monthly we talk to Sea Start, the marine equivalent of the AA and also the RNLI to assess their greatest call out bugbears.