Articles - American Sailing

Articles

Two boats making contact, crews gesturing

Racing Rules Applied

Think you know the racing rules? Even experienced sailors get them wrong. It takes effort to learn how to race with real confidence.

Across the Pacific, One Mile at a Time: What It Takes to Win the Pacific Cup

In this inspiring conversation, American Sailing's Kira Maixner shares the incredible story of her Pacific Cup victory aboard Dorado, an Express 37 that claimed first place in the ORR4 division after an 11-day crossing from San Francisco to Hawaii.

Boating Smarter

Before you untie the dock lines, make sure you're ready. Here's why boating safety education could be the most important thing you do this season.

How Savvy Navvy Smart Routing Helps Boaters Make Better Decisions at Sea

How Savvy Navvy Smart Routing Helps Boaters Make Better Decisions at Sea Learn how Smart Routing combines weather, tides, waves, and charts.
A sailor at sunset in San Francisco

Five Waters, Five Lessons

From Colorado reservoirs to ocean racing, every body of water teaches something different. Here’s what varied sailing environments can teach you.
colorful sailboats on the water under a blue sky

The Summer I Started Sailing

A sailor reflects on a transformative first summer learning the unglamorous realities of sailing — and discovering themselves in the process.

Your GPS Is Out – Now What?

Your GPS Is Out Now What? Learn the timeless navigation skills that keep you safe when electronics fail at sea.
sailboat racing in a storm

Storm Tactics

Legendary sailor John Neal shares 412,000 miles of hard-won storm wisdom: heavy-weather sailing starts with preparation, long before clouds appear.
fenders hanging over the side of a sailboat

Stow Your Fenders!

Your fenders did their job. Let them rest. Forgetting to stow your fenders while underway risks hull damage, safety hazards, and side-eye from every sailor you pass.

Dolphins, Whales, and Birds, Oh My!

Close Encounters with Wildlife While Cruising Discover unforgettable stories of dolphins, whales, birds, and magical moments at sea.
A sailboat on a sunny day

I Never Planned to Become a Sailor

One skeptical sail in Grenada turned into a passion for sailing and travel that reshaped her entire life—and now helps others find it too.

How to Choose the Right Cruising Boat for Your Sailing Goals

How to Choose the Right Cruising Boat for Your Sailing Goals Learn the key differences between catamarans and monohulls.

The Missing Piece Between Certification and Confidence

You Passed Your Sailing Course. Now What? Learn how a digital logbook helps build experience, confidence, and your sailing resume.

2026 Father’s Day Gift Guide for Sailors

Father’s Day is coming up, and if the dad in your life knows how to rig a reef, eyeball the wind, or crack a cold one after setting anchor, skip the usual socks and gadgets. Get him something that makes sense for the sailor he is—gear he’ll actually use, appreciate, and brag about on the dock.

World Ocean Day: Protecting the Waters That Connect Us All

For sailors, the ocean is more than a destination. Every sailor who hoists a sail becomes part of that system, whether they realize it or not.

Vermin & Bugs & Wildlife Aboard, Oh My!

From mosquito swarms and stowaway rodents to curious wildlife, learn how experienced cruisers handle nature’s unexpected visitors.

I Learned to Sail and I Love it, So What’s Next?

If you have fallen in love with sailing and aren’t the type to be satisfied with just visiting the beautiful places of the world and want more, there is now a pathway to make the arrangement permanent.
Route map with catamaran

Informed Passage Planning in Offshore Sailing

Single forecasts aren't enough offshore. Learn how comparing models, wave data, and routing tools leads to safer, smarter passage planning.