Have you ever considered becoming a sailing instructor? Why or why not?

Sailing instructors help students build confidence as they undertake their journey from newbie to experienced sailor. Read more in the article by American Sailing instructor Michael Sotir.

Read more here: https://americansailing.com/articles/educating-influencing-and-inspiring/

From childhood pool days to becoming a wake surfing coach, Sarah Beatie shares how her love for the water shaped her skills, confidence, and career path. Her journey reflects growth, resilience, and the power of following what excites you. Read more about Sarah’s story in her article Lessons Learned.
https://americansailing.com/articles/lessons-learned/

Do you have experience with trailer sailing? What do you think are the pros/cons?

Read more about trailer sailing, including myth busting and lessons learned by a landlocked captain: https://americansailing.com/articles/encouraging-landlocked-sailors-to-embrace-traillor-sailing

What is your favorite BVI sailing memory? If you haven’t been before, is this sailing destination on your list?

Read more about chartering a sailboat in the BVI, including best snorkeling spots, route planning and mooring tips here: https://americansailing.com/articles/set-sail-for-caribbean-bliss-with-sunsail-the-ultimate-bvi-sailing-charter/

In the article Hoist the Sails: Women Who Sail, women from across the sailing world share their stories, highlighting how growing participation and mentorship are shaping a more inclusive future for the sport: https://americansailing.com/articles/hoist-the-sails/

Performance Race Week 2026 in St. Thomas brought together sailors for five days of focused racing, coaching, and real performance development on the water. From teamwork and boat handling to strategy, starts, and distance racing, each day built on the last to help crews sail faster and make better decisions under pressure.

In this recap,…

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Grace Lockhart captures the spirit of these cold-weather sessions in her article Frostbiting: Late Season Laser Racing and the Ritual of Sailing Through the Cold, sharing what makes these late-season sails so rewarding. https://americansailing.com/articles/frostbiting/

After losing steerage 75 miles off Cape Hatteras, Captain Bob Butchko and his crew were forced into this controversial heavy-weather tactic. Read his firsthand account in Lying Ahull Off Hatteras: A Night in the Graveyard of the Atlantic: https://americansailing.com/articles/a-steer-less-night/

Spite Sailing is about expanding access, leadership, and opportunity in offshore racing. Read more about Emma Rosenbaum and Marianna Fleischman’s campaign in Welcome to Spite Sailing: Two Women, One Mini, and a Mission to Redefine Offshore Racing: https://americansailing.com/articles/welcome-to-spite-sailing/

Have you ever experienced a moment on the water where concepts like lift, balance, weather, or navigation suddenly made sense? Sailing turns wind and water into a real-world STEM classroom. Read more in Simon Horwith’s article Sailing Into STEM: How Wind, Water, and Navigation Turn Sailing into a Real-World STEM Classroom…

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How prepared were you to handle it?

Read more about this instructors article on nighttime MOB drills and steering failure during ASA 106 and share your offshore lessons learned: https://americansailing.com/articles/terror-at-night/

What lessons did you learn about preparation morale and leadership?

Read more about Karissa Lewes article on Sailing in Force 8 and join the discussion on heavy weather seamanship: https://americansailing.com/articles/sailing-in-force-8/

Many new sailors feel unsure before their first course, but ASA 101 is designed to give beginners a clear and confident starting point. Read more in Diona Young’s article Anyone Can Be a Sailor. Start Here. to see how taking that first step can open the door to a lifetime on the water.
https://americansailing.com/articles/anyone-can-be-a-sailor-start-here/

From standout seminars to the schools and instructors we are most excited to see this year read more in our latest article by the American Sailing and North U team on the Seattle Boat Show and why it remains a must attend event for sailors and boaters alike.
https://americansailing.com/articles/seattle-boat-show-2026/

How do challenging conditions and shared problem-solving at sea build trust, resilience, and camaraderie among a crew? Read the story about a difficult offshore delivery sailing up the U.S. West Coast from San Francisco to Portland (often called the “wrong way” because wind, waves, and current are against…

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How can instructors balance safety and independence when empowering students with physical or cognitive differences to take the helm? Read more in the article by Giovanni Profeta

https://americansailing.com/articles/learning-to-sail-beyond-limitations/

Read the article: https://americansailing.com/articles/sailing-beyond-asa-104/

Rachel Clarke writes about the 10 things she wish she knew as a new sailor:

https://americansailing.com/articles/10-things-i-wish-id-known-as-a-new-sailor/

https://americansailing.com/articles/growing-sailors/

https://americansailing.com/articles/the-sailors-sidekick/

Captain Lisa Batchelor Frailey from Kinetic Sailing breaks down her 10-step method to passage planning here: https://americansailing.com/articles/10-step-methodology-for-effective-passage-planning/

David Polakoff’s take on what matters most in a beginner’s sailing class:
https://americansailing.com/articles/centered-on-effort/

What is everyones favorite gear to wear sailing and why. Do you prefer mens gear over womens? What sailing gear do you rely on the most?

https://americansailing.com/articles/sailing-gear-for-women/

Share your Favorite poems and check out Karen Haver’s Christmas Poem here: https://americansailing.com/articles/cruisers-christmas/

Have you ever experienced a sudden, extreme weather event like a Nevera or microburst while sailing?

Jean De Keyser writes about facing a rare Nevera in the Adriatic and the critical decisions that helped save crew and vessel:

https://americansailing.com/articles/nevera

Share your experience.

Read about Bob Butchko’s Misstep at Sea: https://americansailing.com/articles/a-misstep-at-sea/

Docking can be one of the most stressful parts of sailing, especially in tight spaces or windy conditions. Fabio Matijević emphasizes preparation, communication, and understanding how your boat handles. What habits or techniques have helped you stay calm and dock more confidently, and what mistakes do you see that make docking harder than…

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For families who cruise with kids, what strategies have made your time on the water both safe and genuinely enjoyable? This article highlights lessons from 20 years of New England family cruising—finding an affordable boat, staying patient as a skipper, building traditions, and balancing sailing time with time ashore. What approaches, routines,…

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At LTD Sailing’s Instructor Development Week in Grenada, instructors spend seven days sailing together, sharing techniques, testing skills under real conditions, and building camaraderie. What activities, teaching approaches, or team dynamics do you think make an instructor development week most effective for strengthening both skills and…

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Completing your first sailing course is a big accomplishment, but as this article points out, it’s only the beginning. Seamanship isn’t just about sail trim or perfect tacks—it’s about awareness.

Rick Robey describe situational awareness as being “tuned in to everything happening around you at all times.” That means noticing,…

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Leadership on the water isn’t just about issuing orders—it’s about how we guide, influence, and support those who sail with us. In “You Are the Skipper… But Are You a Leader?” the author explores seven leadership styles and how they show up aboard: autocratic, democratic, laissez-faire, transformational, transactional, servant, and…

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The ocean is full of amazing life — colorful fish, curious mammals, and mysterious creatures that live far below the surface. This crossword celebrates the incredible variety of ocean wildlife we share the planet with.

🧩 Click here to play the crossword.

Once you’ve solved it, share below:

• What’s your favorite ocean creature to…

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Sometimes a day on the water delivers more lessons than you ever asked for. In this story, one sailor faces two collisions in a single day on San Francisco Bay — each one a reminder that even experience doesn’t make us immune to chaos.

Read the full article here: Two Collisions, One Day

This story isn’t just about what went wrong — it’s…

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Sailing alone isn’t just about handling the boat — it’s about finding that quiet rhythm where every sound and decision is yours. Whether you’ve solo sailed or not, most of us have felt that mix of confidence, focus, and a little vulnerability that comes with being completely in charge.

This article dives into what that experience looks like…

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How do you create harmony, communication, and equality on board—whether cruising or racing? Have you seen differences when more diverse crews sail together? Share your experiences, challenges, and strategies for building stronger, more inclusive teams on the water.

https://americansailing.com/articles/balanced-crew/

How do you balance planning, packing, and flexibility when cruising with kids or loved ones in a small space? Share your favorite lessons, challenges, or memorable family moments on the water — we’d love to hear how you make it work!

https://americansailing.com/articles/sailing-small-living-large/

Have you ever tried destination-based training like Dave’s “Destination, Destination, Destination” or “Back to the Mooring” exercises? Share your favorite teaching methods, tips, or memorable lessons that helped you or your students grasp key sailing concepts!

https://americansailing.com/articles/destination-destination-destination/

If you’ve ever stepped below deck and felt that queasy, off-balance sensation, you’re not alone. In my recent article, Finding Relief from Motion Sickness On and Off the Water, I shared my experience testing the Reliefband and how it’s helped me manage motion sickness both on boats and on long drives.

Read the full article:… Read more

The sea has its share of mysteries… and not all of them are charted! This Halloween, test your knowledge of maritime myths with our Ghost Ships & Legends Crossword. From the Flying Dutchman to haunted lighthouses and lost crews, it’s a chilling mix of history and legend that every sailor will love.

🧩 Click here to play the crossword.

Once…

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I’m curious how other sailors incorporate this framework into their own sailing habits. Do you consciously follow a similar step-by-step process during maneuvers like tacking, reefing, or anchoring? What’s your version of “tidy up” after a big maneuver?

Share your tips, checklists, or real-world examples of how P.E.T.T. has helped you (or how…

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Each year, Athens Sailing Academy hosts Mile Building Weeks for sailors ready to go beyond the bay and experience true offshore sailing. The September trip covered more than 450 nautical miles from Poros to the Dodecanese and back—complete with night watches, heavy weather, and lessons learned at every turn. What began as a group of strangers…

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Did you make it to the 2025 Annapolis Sailboat Show this year?
It was one for the books — record crowds, an incredible lineup of new boats (including 23 premieres!), and a clear message that the future of cruising is here.

We’d love to hear from you:

• Did you join any of American Sailing’s events or presentations during the show?

• What…

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Whether you’re using lead-acid, AGM, or lithium batteries, what methods have helped you get the most life out of your battery bank?

Do you keep a log, use smart monitoring tools, or have a favorite charging strategy?

Share your setup, lessons learned, and any tips for maintaining reliable power while cruising! ⚡️

Gio & Julie Cappelli of Pelagic…

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St. Augustine Sailing’s partnership with the Florida School for the Deaf and Blind shows how powerful sailing can be when it’s made accessible to everyone. Programs like this not only change lives—they strengthen the entire sailing community by reminding us that the water welcomes all.

How do you think inclusive sailing programs like this…

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Cool breezes, pine-covered islands, and rugged coastline — sailing in Maine and New England is pure magic. This word search is filled with the places, terms, and experiences that define cruising in the Northeast.

🧩 Click here to try the word search.

Want to dive deeper into this classic sailing region? Join Ben and Teresa Carey on October 16…

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“The Art of Anchoring” by Rick Franke talks about how many boaters misunderstand proper anchoring — especially the importance of lowering (not throwing!) the anchor and using the right scope and rode materials.

What anchoring techniques have worked best for you in different bottom conditions (mud, sand, grass, or rock)? Do you prefer a plow…

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Bruce Liese writes about the importance of letting guests take part in sailing rather than doing everything yourself. How do you balance being in control as skipper with giving others the chance to learn and make mistakes? Where’s the line between good leadership and micromanaging on a sailboat?

Read Bruce’s Article…

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