With a tidal stream of 4 knots, would you set off on port or starboard tack from the Needles to Cherbourg? Credit: Graham Snook/Yachting Monthly

There is a strong tidal stream. Would you set off on a port or starboard tack? James Stevens answers your questions of seamanship

the Orca co-pilot supports wireless internet connectivity. Credit: Orca

The new Orca-co-pilot promises to go further than MFDs and chartplotters by displaying charts automatically, finding routes and notifying the user of weather changes and challenging situations

At night, judging distance from a single flashing light can be difficult. There are tricks to help you judge distance at sea by eye

Being able to accurately judge distance at sea is just as vital in the digital age as it ever was, says James Stevens. We look at how to refine your…