Home ⁄ Sailing Tips

Articles in the category "Sailing Tips"

View All Articles

How to Sail The West Coast of Vancouver Island

Hidden coves, towering cliffs, and untamed seas promise adventure to those bold enough to seek it.

Self-Taught or School-Taught Sailing: Which is Better?

When it comes to learning to sail, this old saying rings especially true. Whether you’re nervously approaching a crowded dock or reefing a mainsail as a squall builds, the ocean doesn’t wait for you to figure it out. So should you teach yourself, learn from friends, or take a course at a sailing school?

From 7-Up to Nuns in Red

Understanding the U.S. Aids to Navigation System (ATONs) is essential for safe and confident navigation. In this guide, you’ll get a clear explanation of how to distinguish channel markers, interpret their shapes and numbers, and remember their placement whether you’re sailing up the East Coast or out to sea.

Understanding Lift

If you’ve ever wondered how a sailboat moves forward – even when it’s not running with the wind – you’re not alone. It seems almost magical: a boat with no engine gliding to windward under nothing more than a sheet of cloth. But there’s a beautiful explanation behind it all, rooted in physics and refined by sailors over centuries. The secret? Lift.

Things a Marine Survey Can’t Tell You

Enhance your sailing skills by engaging all six senses—sight, hearing, touch, smell, taste, and intuition—to navigate, troubleshoot, and fully experience life on the water.

Sailing Through Stress: Understanding the Stress Continuum at Sea

Enhance your sailing skills by engaging all six senses—sight, hearing, touch, smell, taste, and intuition—to navigate, troubleshoot, and fully experience life on the water.

How to Be a Great Sailing Crew in 3 Steps

Steve Hunt, professional sailor and high school sailing coach, distills decades of experience into three essential characteristics that define a great crew: mindset, skill, and communication.

So You’ve Taken a Sailing Course… Now What?

You passed a sailing course. Now what? Explore some real-world, practical ways to stay on the water, build your skills, and become a confident sailor – no matter where you’re starting from.

The Six Senses of Sailing

Enhance your sailing skills by engaging all six senses—sight, hearing, touch, smell, taste, and intuition—to navigate, troubleshoot, and fully experience life on the water.

Taking Your Yacht Abroad For The First Time

Sailing to a foreign country can entail a maze of paperwork and procedures, a stark contrast to the simplicity of air travel. Understanding each destination's unique requirements is paramount and preparation is key when navigating passport control, customs, and regulations demands. Luckily, Noonsite.com is here to offer some guidance on simplifying the intricate process of international sailing.

Taking Your Yacht Abroad For The First Time

Sailing to a foreign country can entail a maze of paperwork and procedures, a stark contrast to the simplicity of air travel. Understanding each destination's unique requirements is paramount and preparation is key when navigating passport control, customs, and regulations demands. Luckily, Noonsite.com is here to offer some guidance on simplifying the intricate process of international sailing.

The Best Advice You Can Get About Sailing

Sailing can be a thrilling and rewarding experience, but it requires skill, knowledge, and attention to safety. From understanding windds and tides to learning to communicate with crew, here are some common pieces of advice for sailors.

Free PDF Download: A Guide to VHF Channels

For coastal cruising sailors, the VHF radio serves as the foremost lifeline. It also plays a crucial role in sharing safety-related information both with fellow vessels and the shoreline. Check out this helpful guide to become proficient with VHF channels and message protocols.

How and Why to Heave To

"Heaving-to" is a classic technique employed to endure severe weather conditions while at sea. Heaving-to is an essential skill for all mariners, as it proves valuable in various situations. This maneuver allows you to delay your arrival at a port until more favorable light or tide conditions prevail or simply "park" the boat while attending to necessary repairs.

Your Sailboat Engine Won’t Start. Now What?

Sailing is a captivating and rewarding endeavor that allows individuals to connect with nature and challenge their skills on the open water. However, even the most well-maintained sailboats can encounter mechanical issues, and one of the most frustrating scenarios is when your boat engine refuses to start. Whether you're a seasoned sailor or a beginner, knowing what to do when your motor doesn't start can make all the difference in turning a potential disaster into a mere hiccup.

How To Toss a Line: A Critical Aspect of Docking Done Well

Tossing a line is the critical point at which your sailboat makes connection with land. The toss itself is an art and science that can make this a seamless or stressful situation. Read this how-to guide to refresh your skills and keep everyone smiling when it's time to go ashore.

Do I Need An IPC?

If you plan to charter a yacht in Europe, the International Proficiency Certificate offers US-based sailors an equivalent to the ICC, which is a requirement by charter companies. Apply online in minutes and set your sights on a Mediterranean dream vacation!

Sailing Tips From American Sailing Textbooks

American Sailing textbooks provide you with the basis of knowledge required to earn your sailing certifications. If you want to begin your journey to becoming a certified sailor through American Sailing, take a look at our textbooks and begin your journey to becoming a competent sailor.