The RYA Yachtmaster is a good test of advanced seamanship, but the best sailors know that there will always be lessons to be learned from experience
Practical seamanship
Crash Test Boat – Gas explosion
How safe is your gas system? Do you make regular checks? Chris Beeson and the Crash Test Boat team create a gas explosion to show you why you should never…
Crash Test Boat – Fire
How would you deal with a fire in the galley or the engine room? What’s the best way to prevent fires onboard? Chris Beeson and the Crash Test Boat Team…
Crash Test Boat – Broken seacock
You’re about to leave the boat. As you remove the log impeller, the whole fitting comes away and water gushes in. Chris Beeson finds out what to do next
Crash Test Boat – Holed and sinking
You’ve hit something and you’re holed. What do you do next? Chris Beeson and the Crash Test crew smash a hole in the hull to test 10 ways of saving…
Crash Test Boat – Jury Rig
After finding out what it’s like to be dismasted, Chris Beeson and the Crash Test Boat crew explore how to jury rig the remaining wreckage to sail back to safety…
Crash Test Boat – Dismasting
What do you do when your sailing world crashes round your ears? Chris Beeson and the Crash Test crew created a ‘controlled’ dismasting in a gale and put eight rig-cutting…
Crash Test Boat – Capsize
What really happens during a capsize? How can we make the saloon safer? Chris Beeson and the Crash Test Boat crew recreate a capsize with chilling results
Crash Test Boat – Aground
Crash Test Boat – Aground Provided you refloat without any damage, it doesn’t much matter how, but the aim of this test was to go step-by-step through the various methods,…
Practical seamanship: Leadlines
Why most cruisers still need a leadline – and how to use it. We’ve had echosounders for decades, but leadlining is still an essential cruising skill.