ONLINE ONBOARD
Some readers will relish the idea of dropping the mobile phone right to the bottom of their kit bag, where it can’t be heard for a few days, and setting off for a sail. But the reality of life is that we all need the internet close at hand, even on the boat.
Myriad navigational tools are available online, from charting apps to weather, and even if you don’t always use them, it’s good to know they are there. These days, the mobile phone is considered the number one piece of safety kit aboard – it's a key means of raising the alert if something goes wrong. And those who sail with children will testify to the balm-like effect of having some electronic entertainment on hand.
Phones work well on board as long as you remain within sight of a cell tower. But nestled in under the cliffs of a wild anchorage, or cutting across Lyme Bay for instance, you might struggle to find enough network to
