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
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
A handy technique for rereeving lost halyardsBy Ann HoffnerWith our Peterson 44, Oddly Enough, snug in a slip in Darwin, Australia, we stripped the gear off her deck before flying home for an extended visit. I bought three small bales of light polypropylene line and rigged messenger lines so I could rereeve the halyards when we returned. But I was distracted by the
By Peter NielsenBoats tend to get a thorough inspection in the spring, when commissioning demands the attention of the owner, the yard, or both. It happens again in the fall, when everything is being winterized. Problems, however, dont usually have the good grace to wait until the end of the season. Some pre-emptive action during the summer could save you a big headache. Why not
Every sailor yearns to voyage beyond the horizon, but most of us have to settle for an annual cruise of a week or two. Make sure your boat is well prepared, and youll go far toward guaranteeing that youll spend your time trimming sails, chilling out in quiet anchorages, and enjoying early-morning swims rather than visiting the nearest boatyard. Know your boat As a rule, every
MAKE A PLANNING SPREADSHEETI use Microsoft Excel spreadsheets for my planning documents, and I use four different worksheets. The main sheet covers a full year of sailing (I know, that sounds llke a lot of planning but I have found that it is very helpful to me) while the other sheets detail my plans for a long trip in the spring, plus shorter weekend trips and another long trip
I have not used and we do not carry either a drogue or sea anchor. This is not that we are opposed to these devices, it is just that when we started out cruising we didn’t know what we wanted, we didn’t have a budget for everything, and ‘these were not high priority. Plus, there is a storage issue; we don’t carry anything on deck or on the cabin sole and all the below deck lockers were full. For
Five pirate attacks in 24 hours? Thats the report from Dolphin skipper Johan Lillkung, en route north through the Gulf of Aden and bound for home port in Palma de Mallorca. Are the waters off lawless Somalia so dangerous that the international community will be forced to intervene in this tragic country? Lillkung expresses hope for intervention in this missive, which he seeks to have widely
With boats going back in the water in the northern parts of the country and marinas further south beginning to fill up with the summer regulars, it’s time to make sure the dock lines you’ll be using are going to keep your boat in its designated spot. Carefully inspect the condition of all these lines, and if any show signs of chafe or abrasion, replace them. Once the wind has
It was a beautiful afternoon with a gentle breeze from the southeast. My wife, Catherine, and I were out for a romantic sail. What could go wrong?I was eager to set off in our recently acquired boat, Ruach, a 13.5-foot trailerable Expo Solar Sailer designed by Garry Hoyt, Ted Hood, and Everett Pearson. Cath, a first-timer, was nervous, but throwing in a picnic
A cruise through the Pacific islands of Panama reveals another side of the country known mostly for its canal.
Against the backdrop of a lush and vibrant Caribbean island, this regatta offers fierce competition, challenging conditions, and a friendly social scene.
The sailing scene in Antigua is fantastic, but head to shore and check out this island’s history, stunning nature, and vibrant culture.
A first look at the stunning new Dufour 48, which SAIL had the opportunity to be the first U.S. magazine to test and review in Palma de Mallorca. The boat will be making its U.S. debut at the Annapolis Sailboat Show this October.
The national governing body for sailing in the United States has announced that Zhik will be its official technical apparel supplier.
Your Majesty, there is no second… In 1851, the schooner America won the first 100 Guineas Cup, which was later renamed the America’s Cup. Upon
The Hawaiian voyaging canoe Hōkūle‘a celebrates 50 years of voyaging,
education, and heart with the people who made it all possible.
Craig Wood, a British sailor and triple amputee, is currently crossing the Pacific Ocean solo. After two gennaker failures, he’s racing to arrive in Japan before typhoon season sets in.
Catalina Yachts and its sister company, True North Yachts, have been sold to Michael Reardon, founder and CEO of Daedalus Yachts.
Over the weekend, we’ll be celebrating the birthdays of two of yacht racing’s greats: Sir Thomas Lipton and Charlie Dalin.
