Boat Handling

Stern Anchor Dinghy Bracket

by Zuzana Prochazka, Posted March 22, 2013

Setting a stern anchor is not for the faint of heart and can be a real pain. My friend Maurice Roper belongs to a club that always anchors in the same cove where anchors fore and aft are mandatory.

Get the Best Out of Your Furling Headsail

by Peter Nielsen, Posted March 14, 2013

Getting set for the first sail of the season? Here's a quick guide to getting the best out of your furling headsail.

Ring Around the Headstay

by Charles J. Doane, Posted February 28, 2013

The first bareboat I ever hired in the Virgin Islands, many moons ago, was from a small hole-in-the-wall charter outfit with a rather motley fleet of vessels.

Voice of Experience: Up Against It

by Duane Bennett, Posted February 27, 2013

The wind was too light to sail, so we started out motoring. Soon, however, my buddy’s motor started heating up. The access hatch was buried under camping gear, and he didn’t want to investigate right then, so he shut his engine down, and I took his boat in tow.

The Art of Motorsailing

by Charles J. Doane, Posted February 4, 2013

It never fails to amaze me how many jerry jugs of fuel some bluewater sailors are willing to carry on deck. Once I spotted a boat at the fuel dock in St. Georges with 16 jugs open on the quay waiting to be filled...

Cruising Tips: Heaving-To

by Andy Schell, Posted January 21, 2013

During the 2011 edition of the Caribbean 1500 cruising rally, nine yachts of the fleet of 62 broke off after crossing the Gulf Stream and sailed toward Green Turtle Cay in the Abacos.

Parbuckling Dock Lines

by Tom Cunliffe, Posted January 14, 2013

If ever you find yourself with a heavy boat tied to a dock or wall, blowing off so that no amount of heaving will bring her in, you can always use the simple principle of parbuckling on your docklines.

Voice of Experience: Knockdown on Lake Ontario

by Joe Higgins, Posted January 10, 2013

“We’ll only be out for an hour,” he promised, and I decided to believe him. The wind out on Lake Ontario was light, the seas were calm, and despite there being some dark clouds in the distance, it looked like a great afternoon for a sail.

Compass Mask

by Connie McBride, Posted December 18, 2012

Sunlight is not good for your compass. The liquid inside gets cloudy over time, making it hard to read a heading.

Clearing an Anchor Rode

by David Emsellem, Posted December 6, 2012

Here’s a simple trick I’ve used many times to clear a rope anchor rode caught on a keel. First, I get out my 15lb mushroom dinghy anchor and attach it to the snap shackle...