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Should You Wear A PFD?

The question that is asked most often when going on a daysail has to be: Should I wear a lifejacket? The answer is YES, you should wear a life jacket or Personal Flotation Device (PFD) while sailing. Is the answer clear? The data suggest that drowning is the leading cause of death aboard vessels. An overwhelming majority of these victims

Charter Yachts and Bermuda Racers Gather to Race and Mingle in Newport

Writer, Editor and Sailor, Bob Curley, is a Rhode Island Expert who contributes to American Sailing on sailing New England and the Caribbean. The beauty, glory and occasional danger of sailing were all on display the third week of June in Newport, R.I., as the city hosted both the Newport Charter Yacht Show and the Newport Bermuda Race. A total

Planning a Daysail

As you embark on a daysail you might need a checklist of the things that you must have to make the day more enjoyable. First, you have the knowledge that you have already garnered from ASA 101, so you would have decided where to go, how to get there and when the optimal time to sail is. Sailing is about

Tips From 106: Handling An Emergency

Thes tips are excerpts from ASA Advanced Cruising & Seamanship book. The textbook is the official manual for ASA 106 Advanced Cruising. The textbook was produced as a collaboration between the American Sailing Association and North U. A central facet of risk management is prevention. As the old navy expression states so well, “The price of safety is eternal vigilance.”

How To Sail a Boat

You want to learn how to sail a boat and ASA has taught over 500,000 thousand sailors how to toss the lines and set off on a sailing adventure.

What Does That Mean on a Boat?

Confusing Boat Vocabulary Inevitably you will have a non-sailor on your boat and you’ll ask them for something or you will refer to something else and they will stare at you with bewildered eyes. That is why boat terminology is so fun because it is meant to confuse the non-sailor and make the sailor appear to be all-knowing. Well, that’s

What’s in a Name?

One of the cool things about sailing is the age-old traditions such as naming your boat - it can be quite the process & doing it wrong might bring bad luck!

The Best Gifts For Sailors This Father’s Day

Don’t go shopping for a tie this father’s day. This year your father’s day gift is going to be meaningful. Every sailor likes getting gear so why not get a fathers day gift that is perfect for every sailor. ASA members enjoy discounts on sailing gear and apparel. Already a member? Access Your Benefits Ronstan Quick Lock Winch Handles The Ronstan

How Much Does It Cost to Learn to Sail?

Frankly, there is no way to value the cost of sailing lessons, instead, the best way to consider what you want from a sailing school and how much you will pay is to consider just how much you will get from the school you plan on attending. The needs of the experienced sailor who owns his or her own boat

World Ocean Day: Ocean Facts You Need to Know

We all know that most of our planet is covered by an ocean. Often referred to as the world ocean this massive body of water covers upwards of 70% of the surface of the earth. While most of us have that fact in our arsenal of tidbits to talk about at dinner parties the ocean is a much more

WOW-WAH 2022

Women on the Water – Woman at the Helm August 6-7, 2022 The WOW-WAH regatta has taken place every year since the early 1970s, with one exception: In 2020, the Covid-19 pandemic caused a disruption in the yacht racing season, and the WOW-WAH 2020 was canceled. But, in 2021, WOW-WAH commenced, with safety precautions in place, and we had a

Operating a Dinghy Safely and Responsibly

Dinghies are an integral part of sailing for the charter customer or for the cruiser who hopes to step onto shore once they reach their desired destination. However, do you know the rules and the etiquette that are the best practices with regards to dinghy use? Those sailors who have earned ASA 103 and ASA 104 certifications have learned about

Your First Charter – Catamaran or Monohull

The American Sailing Association believes that a great charter experience is truly the reward of a superior sailing education.

Top 5 Ways You Know You’re a Cruiser Not a Racer

Two common types of sailor are "The Racer" and the "The Cruiser" and there are some clear distinctions that separate the two...

Newport for Sailors

Writer and Editor, Bob Curley, is a Rhode Island Expert who offers up some tips for your visit to New Port, Rhode Island. Don’t let the mansions and the parade of summer visitors trolling the boutique shops of Thames Street fool you: Newport, R.I., is first and foremost a sailing town, and that’s been the case since the city was

Summer Sailing

Summer approaches and all you can think of is the warm weather and being on the water. Yes, that is exactly how we feel. If you are looking to optimize your time on the water we want to help you find the resources to spend as much time on a sailboat as possible. This summer, achieve your goals when it

Bareboat Charter Checklist

It was not that long ago that I boarded my first ever bareboat charter. The excitement with which we approached the catamaran is something I still feel today. This was to be the greatest vacation of our lives. The top of the bucket list was going to be checked off. A bareboat charter with my family. The dream of this

The Sailor’s Bucket List

The bucket list is that imaginary document in your head that holds your fantasies. What is on your sailing bucket list? We share ours with you, share yours with us.