Cruising Tips

Stability is the Key

October 10, 2004

For multihulls, there are four important indicators of performance and stability: the Bruce Number; the Real Performance Index; the Stability Number; and the Stability Factor.Bruce NumberBruce Number is another form of the sail area-displacement ratio (a power-to-weight ratio). It shows how much sail area relative to displacement (weight) a boat has, but tells nothing about a

Anchoring Principles

July 20, 2004

In the July issue of SAIL we published Jim Hancock’s Scope for Improvement?” in which the author argues that the traditional anchoring rules of thumb may need revision. More scope is almost always better, unless you don’t have the room to swing, or the bottom is foul.There’s more to know, however, and this is where Hancock lays out the facts surrounding the catenary curve, as we

The Perils of Towing

November 14, 2003

Bill Springer discussed the difference between towing and salvage in the July 2003 SAIL. For more information log on to the following sites.SeatowMembership provides:24-hour/7 day-a-week dispatch, Unlimited service area towing, Soft ungrounding assistance, Fuel drops, Jump starts, Prop disentanglements, Reimbursed world-wide/out of service area coverage, Optional trailer assistance.

Sailing Schools

April 22, 2003

There are courses to help racers move up in the standings, courses that teach the skills needed for chartering or overnight passages, and even courses where students learn celestial navigation and passagemaking while sailing offshore with an instructor.Most sailing schools are affiliated with an umbrella organization that issues certification. The web sites of these umbrella groups have