Cruising Most Commented

Which Sail to Reef First?

Peter Nielsen
Jun 18, 2013

Which sail should you reef first when the wind gets up—your genoa or mainsail?

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SAIL's Tip of the Week

SAIL Editors
Jun 18, 2013

It doesn’t matter how scrupulous you are about keeping your heads compartment clean if you leave your intake hose and toilet bowl filled with seawater when you leave the boat.

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The Essence of Seamanship

Tom Cunliffe
Jun 14, 2013

“Send me an article on the essence of seamanship,” was the editor’s brief. I wonder what you would have included in this article if he had asked you. I can tell you, it isn’t easy.

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Staying Clean and Green

by Sail Staff, Posted August 22, 2008

Start using cleaning products that don’t damage the environment or your pocketbookBy Bob Tigar

Some “marine” cleaning products are specifically designed for marine use, but most are repackaged household products that are sold at significantly higher prices. When we kept our Morgan Out Island 33, Diversion, on Lake Michigan, cleaning and maintaining the boat wasn’t

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The Shipping News

by Sail Staff, Posted August 21, 2008

When our wind generator stopped spinning in Fiji, we wanted to have parts sent to us by the manufacturer. Then several friends told us they were having trouble getting gear sent from overseas; the problems ran from having packages stopped in customs to shipments that never even showed up. So instead of having our purchases mailed directly to us at our marina, we asked a local chandlery that
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Diesel in the Air

by Niels R. Jensen, Posted August 21, 2008

Spilled diesel fuel leaves an unpleasant odor that can nauseate some people, especially if they have to be down below in heavy weather. It’s tough to get rid of the odor once it takes hold. When the diesel in the fuel tank aboard Freelance, my Pearson 36 cutter, became contaminated, my fuel filters clogged and disabled the engine. I changed the primary and secondary filters and bled the
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Nets Work

by Don Casey, Posted August 21, 2008

Providing proper stowage for clothing often seems to be way down the priority list on a cruising boat; most cruisers give a higher priority to stowing food, spare parts, and tools. But what happens to your clothes if there is no closet, dresser, or even a single drawer for them to occupy? Often they wind up in a locker with a front-opening door and lie there, loose on the shelf. While you may
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Keep Your Eyes Moving

by Charles Mason, Posted August 21, 2008

SailsBecoming a good helmsman is similar to becoming a skilled driver or pilot. In all three cases the best operators follow a routine that lets them continuously check many variables: the outside environment—the road, the airspace around them—the navigation instruments, and other important inputs, such as how much "pull" the machine might have when it goes into a
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