Cruising Tips: The Big Question & Make a Note
August 14, 2026
Twist: The Big Question When asked to help out onboard, I’m sometimes surprised to find how many skippers only have a vague notion of how
Twist: The Big Question When asked to help out onboard, I’m sometimes surprised to find how many skippers only have a vague notion of how
Log the Glass These days with weather forecasts available wherever there is WiFi, it doesn’t do to forget the old ways. Last season I was
Do away with mean reef points I’m always pleased to be on a boat with reef points for the mainsail. Without a stack pack, tying
I wrote recently about my ongoing project to redesign the mast and sailplan on our family boat, a 1971 OE 36 called Spica. I’ve agonized
Ditch the Squeaky Rope Look at the illustration and guess which rope kept me awake one night. It was, of course, the skinny one. The
For some, steering by compass comes easily; for others, it takes a little getting used to.
Don’t clutter out all the rain Radar is great for micro-weather forecasting. With a modern set you can see instantly where it’s raining in your
The first day of any charter means a mountain of responsibilities for the skipper and extended periods of hurry-up-and-wait for the rest of the crew.
A Rough Ride Near Home The image above is an extreme, if small-scale, example of what happens when a sea hits a harbor wall. As
It’s a well-accepted truth of offshore sailing that things get more dangerous the closer you get to land. An extension of that axiom in chartering
The 2026 Newport International Boatshow is underway now. Here’s what to look forward to.
A new documentary relives the 1995 America’s Cup, as told by the American teams vying to defend the Auld Mug.
My parents, who have been collecting SAIL since I started working here like they did with my childhood artwork, are running out of storage space.
Team United by the Ocean took first place in the inaugural transatlantic race, with American-flagged 11th Hour Racing in a close second.
The temperatures are starting to cool off, the days are getting shorter, and your October issue is on its way. Here’s what’s coming up.
Offshore and offline go hand in hand.
Small electric outboards are becoming increasingly popular for everything
from dinghies to small race boats. We put three new models to the test.
The first days of the inaugural Ocean Race Atlantic test the fleet with sporty conditions.
Though they’ve made sailing easier and more accessible, electric winches must be treated with appropriate caution.
Sometimes it’s the imperfections that make things perfect.
