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Soft-Sided Travel Bags for Sailors

There are many benefits to learning how to pack for the unique needs of traveling on a sailboat. We present a selection of our favorite soft-sided and water-resistant or waterproof bags to get you ready for travel season.

Interactive Media Classes (Online Learning)

It’s no secret that the COVID-19 crisis has changed our lives forever, and the sailing world is no different. From closed marinas to social distancing on sailboats, ASA has begun to re-examine what the new normal will look like once we are all allowed to return to our daily routines. One thing that ASA did learn is that there is

Product Review: Ronstan Rope Bag, Winch Handle Pocket & Drink Holder

I don’t enjoy admitting this, but I am a messy sailor. I don’t always coil the lines correctly, and my knots don’t look as good as they should. In addition, my cockpit lacks organization, and when I look through some of the compartments on my boat, I start to rethink if I have what it takes to be called a

Product Review: Nomadix Towel

Don’t judge me but I used this towel for three weeks without washing it. Sometimes you have to sacrifice in order to get a full idea of what a product can do. Before we get into the thick of it, let me explain that I have had a second Nomadix towel in a drybag, on my boat for more than

Product Review: California Cowboy

American Sailing has a new partner in its member benefits program and it may be one of the most useful products that casual sailors will utilize. If you are a racer and you do not need superfluous stuff on your boat, you may think I am wrong. If you are a racer and you love to celebrate your Wednesday night

Product Review: Vanguard Binoculars

A couple of friends went sailing with me recently. They flew in from Texas and had never been to the Pacific Ocean. They had never been sailing. As the story has been told countless times now, I whispered into the wind and whales appeared. There, along the port side of my 33-foot sailboat, were a couple of Pacific Grey Whales

Book Review: The Ocean: The Ultimate Handbook of Nautical Knowledge

I have two boys. They have always been inquisitive. Being on a boat makes kids curious about the world around them. I had a lot of answers, but they had far more questions. The Ocean: The Ultimate Handbook of Nautical Knowledge by Chris Dixon and Jeremy Spencer is chock full of answers. If there is a book that every sailor

Product Review: The Boat Medic First Aid Kit by My Medic

We don’t aim to get injured while sailing but when you have the MyMedic first aid kit handy it’s as if you think, “long falls and sharp objects seem like a good challenge.” While we are joking about that. The My Medic first aid kit should give you some peace of mind. Go ahead. Use that dull knife to cut

Product Review: Gill Marine Tools

In an emergency, you need a tool that is fit for the job, easily accessible, and efficient. The Gill Marine Tools are compact and easy to store on your PFD for quick access. Gear is not just a guy thing. We all desire tools that are well designed and built for a purpose. Introducing the Gill Marine Tools. You can’t

Product Review: The Sømand Farallon Sailing Jacket for Women

Before I get thrown overboard for being a man doing a review of a woman’s sailing jacket it should be known that I am simply being a man who is doing what his wife is asking him to do. The sailing jacket review is really me taking dictation from my wife who is doing the heavy lifting on this review.

Product Review: Gill Marine Footwear

I don’t look good in boots. It’s a fact that boots on me look ridiculous and that is mainly because I sail in shorts year round. With that said when Gill Marine sent over some of their gear for me to test out I wondered if I would be willing to alter my appearance for a product review. Of course

Product Review: Lani Shades

If I am being entirely truthful I will tell you that I don’t wear sunglasses. My prescription glasses transition to sunglasses when I go outside and I am just lazy enough to believe that is all I need. Well, that may have changed. I put on my contact lenses and decided I would take the Lani Shades, Lani Ohe Aina

Plastic Items You Can Stop Bringing Onboard Today

Maybe our last article about plastic in the ocean scared you a bit, but now that you know what’s going on, it’s time to get motivated. The good news is that little changes in our day-to-day lives can have a big collective impact on reducing the plastic flowing into the ocean, and you’d be surprised how easy it is to

Toxic Sunscreen: A Sailboat Captain’s Experience

By Kim Walther, ASA Instructor Working as a boat captain, I see a huge variety of sunscreen brands. It’s always interesting to check out what my sailing school students or charterers bring with them. I like to read what’s on the front, and then look at the back. It’s absolutely incredible that some brands that we perceive as being very

Product Review: Gill Marine Gloves

How often do you think about your hands while sailing? Do you consistently wear gloves? Can you remember the first time a line raced through the palm of your hand and left you with a burning sensation that ruined your entire sail? Gill Marine sent us a number of their new gloves to try out. What we found out was

Product Review: Gill Marine Coastal Jacket

Sailing Gear by and for Women

Introducing Sømand, technical sailing apparel designed for women A new sailing apparel brand has arrived that aims to put women at the forefront in an industry that has historically catered to men. Sømand was founded by Bay Area sailors Noelle Brewin and Laura Levy, who set out to challenge the perception of what a sailor should look like and create