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May 2023 Sailor of the Month: Mark Hejtmanek

This month we were inspired by Mark Hejtmanek's story and he is our May Sailor of the Month. We sat down with Mark and asked him a few questions about how American Sailing has played a role in helping him establish his dream of a sailing lifestyle. His story resonates and shows so much ambition met with swift accomplishment!

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.

Featured Instructor: Captain Chris Cooper

Meet this month's American Sailing featured instructor, Captain Chris Cooper, of Anchors Aweigh Sailing School in New London, Connecticut. He has been sailing for more than 40 years on all styles of boats, from a 14-foot Sunfish to a 48-foot catamaran. He has his 100-ton Near Coastal Captain’s License, and he is a retired Navy Commander.

Parts of a Sailboat – The Deck

Understanding the deck of a sailboat is all part of learning to sail. Essentially, the deck of a boat is both your office and your supply cabinet, from the helm, to the cockpit and stowages, the sidedeck, foredeck where the anchor is stored, and obstacles on the deck that need to be navigated as you sail.

The American Sailing Mother’s Day Gift Guide

This Mother's Day give women who sail the gifts they really want — Somand jackets, Sperry topsiders, Nomadix blankets, and Stream2Sea beauty.

Celebrating 40 Years with 40 Reasons to Sail

Do you love sailing? Do you need some inspiration to get out on the water? We're celebrating our 40th anniversary by listing 40 reasons to sail. From thrill to freedom, from adventure to beauty, you’ll find plenty of reasons to raise your sails and join the sailing community.

Featured School: Anchors Aweigh Sailing School

Anchors Aweigh Sailing School in New London, CT, is located on the Thames River. Their goal is to help you reach your sailing potential while introducing you to their philosophy that sailing is also a connection with the environment.

Who is Kirsten Neuschäfer and Where is She Sailing?

The Golden Globe Race is currently winding down, and the sailors are headed back to Les Sables-d’Olonne, France. In fact, they are a few days out from returning. The race is fairly basic in nature as it began in Les Sables-d’Olonne, France, on September 4th, 2022, and the contestants sail solo, non-stop, around the world, via the five Great Capes

Earth Day 2023: American Sailing Launches Sustainable Membership Cards

As part of American Sailing’s ongoing commitment to our environment through the Plastic Pollution Purge Initiative, beginning this Earth Day, we are no longer issuing plastic membership cards. We are releasing newly designed, sustainable, print-at-home membership cards to reduce our use of plastic and so that our members and instructors can still enjoy the benefits of carrying a physical card

Should You Choose A Charter Sailing Vacation?

A great piece of advice given to me by American Sailing Founder Lenny Shabes, when considering sailing with others. Have six people over for dinner on your boat. 4 for a daysail and 2 for an overnight trip. These are words of wisdom when considering a chartered sailing vacation. How, when, and where you go decide on your sailing vacation

Handling Marine Emergencies

Emergencies at sea are extremely serious and require a prepared crew to take control of the situation. While you may take sailing courses to become proficient out on the water, emergencies can arise, and being prepared for anything that comes your way is essential. Experience will teach you how to determine whether an incident is an irritant you can remedy

Learn to Sail While On Vacation

What could be better than getting away and learning to sail to refresh your zest for life? If you have completed your ASA 101 training and have been sailing for a while, it might be time to move to the next level. This is the time to consider advancing your sailing education by earning your ASA 103 Basic Coastal Cruising

Summer Sailstice June 24, 2023 🔉

On Saturday, June 24, 2023, American Sailing is again a Gold Level Sponsor of the 23rd annual Summer Sailstice, the biggest sail event of the year where everybody everywhere sails at the same time! Founded back in Feb 2001 by John Arndt, Publisher of Latitude 38, Summer Sailstice is the annual global celebration of sailing held on the weekend nearest

How to Graduate from Cruiser to Racer — Steps to Start Racing Sailboats 🔉

So often in the sailing world, we’re presented with a question that takes binary form — “are you a cruiser or a racer?” Sure, people tend to have their preferences, but I’d like to propose one can embrace both dimensions of sailing in the same way one can appreciate both fine art and Formula 1. I have two boys who

Featured Instructor: Captain Cara Brown

Cara Brown is living your dream life. This American Sailing sailing instructor is teaching and sailing in the British Virgin Islands with Horizon Sailing School. Her life is about adventure and following a dream to work outdoors and share her passions. Ask her about it, and she’ll explain that she traded in her Giant Slalom skis and ski parka for

Steps to Buying a Sailboat

I will let you on a secret. I bought my first bought before I knew how to sail. But, I wanted to sail my entire life, and every time I walked through the marina, I would gaze at the sailboats. I would do my internal math to compute the affordability of owning a sailing vessel. I asked myself all the

Tying a Clove Hitch

A clove hitch is a knot commonly used in boating. It is named after its shape, which resembles a clove, a small aromatic bulb often used in cooking. How To Tie a Clove Hitch: The resulting knot is secure, easy to tie and untie, and can attach a rope to an object or join two ropes together. However, it is

Sail Trim for Cruisers: Why Trim Your Sails?

A rumor is going around the American Sailing offices that trimming your sails makes for more efficient sailing. That rumor is directed at my sailing technique. First, let me explain why I sail. On any given day, I can sail with no destination in mind. I have nowhere to go and nowhere to be. So, I raise the main and