Digital communication is making yachting safer and new laws have banned the sale of out-dated marine radio technology.

Nigel Luke, manager of Russell Simpson Marine at Brighton Marina, is a supplier of marine electronics and has been sailing for more than 20 years.

He said: "When I started sailing, the only information for yacht skippers was the Radio 4 shipping forecast.

"Now we have digital links to the Coastguard and other ships as well as GPS (global positioning satellite) technology and round-the-clock shipping warnings.

The yachting community is taking notice of all the changes since the Government changed the telecommunications laws earlier this year.

"It is now illegal to fit new radios which do not have the capability to send and receive on the digital channels."

Digital radios for modern yachts have a dedicated channel reserved for distress signals, Channel 70.

The radio equipment is linked to a GPS system.

Mr Luke said: "The GPS pinpoints the location of the distress call so anyone receiving the message knows exactly where the person in trouble is.

"This is much better than the previous system which relied on senders being able to communicate their position.

"The digital signal has much more scope than the former VHF transmission system which only worked on a line-of-sight basis, ranging anything from ten to 50 miles.

"With digital technology a distress call will be sent up to 50 per cent further using Channel 70 to reach all boats in the area with the ability to receive the signal and the coastguard on land."

A digital warning system can also be used to gain more information while at sea.

Mr Luke said: "An extra device many yacht skippers find vital is the Navtex black box.

It is not a legal requirement to have one installed but it can provide life-saving warnings."

The Navtex is a message receiver for all types of maritime warnings sent by coastguards, covering ice warnings in the North Atlantic to buoys out of position in the Channel.

Instead of the occasional shipping forecast, today's sailor can tune in to the latest warnings as they are issued and have plenty of time to head for shore if needed.

Mr Luke is a keen yachtsman and his own boat, Lara, which he built seven years ago.