You drop it overboard, hope it sets, and trust it to keep you exactly where you want to be. But how well do you actually know your anchor?

Our latest crossword takes a closer look at anchor anatomy and the different parts that work together to help keep a boat secure.

🧩 Try the crossword here

Once you’ve finished, tell us:

⚓ What type of…

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For today’s sailors, checking your position can be as simple as glancing at a screen. GPS has completely changed marine navigation, giving us incredibly powerful tools for planning routes, tracking progress, and navigating unfamiliar waters.

Our latest word search is all about the terms and technology behind the GPS systems we use on board.

🧩 …

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Choosing the right headsail isn’t just about size. Materials, construction, design, and trim all play a role in how your sail performs, how long it lasts, and how well it handles the conditions you encounter while cruising.

Join Erica Georgaklis for a deep dive into understanding headsails and making smarter choices for your boat and the way you…

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Replay Now Available! ⛵

Ready to get more speed, control, and confidence when the wind is behind you?

The replay of Downwind, Reaching & Sail Trim with Kristen Berry of North U and American Sailing Performanceis now available on demand!

Kristen breaks down reaching and running, sail trim, apparent wind, boat balance, spinnaker basics, smooth…

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Ask an experienced sailor what they watch most closely, and chances are they’ll say the weather. Reading the sky, understanding forecasts, and recognizing changing conditions are all part of making safe and enjoyable decisions on the water.

This crossword explores the language and concepts of weather at sea, challenging you to think like a…

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Want to point higher, sail faster, and better understand what your sails are actually telling you?

The replay of Upwind Sail Trim & Balance with North U’s Kristen Berry is now available on demand!

This course breaks down the fundamentals of sailing efficiently upwind, starting with how the wind interacts with your sails and building into practical…

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How fluent are you in race-day lingo?

Test your racing vocabulary with our newest word search, then take your skills to the next level with American Sailing + North U’s upcoming performance racing courses and clinics.

🧩 Play now 

🏆 Learn more about Need for Speed, Strategy on the Racecourse, Racing Tactics, and Performance…

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Replay Now Available

If you missed our live session with Captain Rick Robey, the replay is now available!

Learn when to reef, how to depower your sails before conditions become challenging, and the sail trim techniques that help keep your boat balanced, comfortable, and under control in stronger winds.

Here’s what one participant had to…

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One of the simple joys of sailing is watching the wildlife around you, and birds are often some of the first companions you’ll notice. Whether they’re soaring overhead, perched on channel markers, diving for fish, or gliding alongside your wake, coastal birds are part of nearly every day on the water.

This crossword celebrates the…

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One of the best things about sailing is that there’s a boat for everyone. Whether you’re drawn to classic wooden vessels, sleek performance boats, comfortable cruising yachts, or spacious multihulls, every design has its own story and purpose.

This word search celebrates the many types of sailboats and vessels that have carried sailors…

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Every safe passage starts with good weather decisions. With today’s forecasting apps, routing software, and satellite technology, sailors have more information than ever before. The key is knowing how to use it.

In this on-demand course, Craig “Smilie” Smith, Weather Routing Specialist at PredictWind and an offshore sailor with more than…

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Ask ten sailors about their favorite onboard meal, and you’ll probably get ten different answers. Some swear by simple one-pot dinners, while others turn the galley into a gourmet kitchen. No matter your style, sharing food is one of the best parts of spending time on the water.

This crossword is inspired by the foods, drinks, and…

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July is National Learn to Sail Month, and there’s no better time to discover why millions of people have fallen in love with sailing.

Whether you’re brand new to boating or have been sailing for years, every sailor remembers the excitement of learning something new. This word search celebrates the skills, terminology, and adventures that…

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Your dinghy is more than just transportation to and from shore. It’s one of the most important tools you’ll use while cruising, and mastering it can make every adventure safer, easier, and more enjoyable.

In this on-demand course, Jeff and Jean Grossman share practical, real-world advice on choosing the right dinghy, launching and retrieving…

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Ask a group of sailors about their favorite knot, and you’ll probably get a dozen different answers. While every knot has its purpose, knowing when and how to use them is what builds confidence on the water.

This crossword puzzle celebrates one of the oldest and most practical skills in sailing: tying secure knots and handling lines…

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Every sailor hopes for fair winds, but every sailor should prepare for the unexpected. Understanding how to think ahead, prepare your boat, and respond when conditions change is an important part of becoming a confident sailor.

This word search is inspired by the skills, equipment, and strategies that help sailors safely navigate…

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Earning your ASA 104 Bareboat Cruising certification is a milestone for many sailors. It’s where everything starts coming together — passage planning, anchoring, crew management, navigation, provisioning, and the confidence to take responsibility for both the boat and everyone on board.

This word search celebrates the knowledge and experiences…

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What makes cruising enjoyable isn’t just sailing skills. It’s the habits, systems, and mindset you develop along the way.

In this popular online class, veteran cruisers Jeff and Jean share practical lessons learned from decades of cruising. From provisioning and boat organization to docking, maintenance, weather, and teamwork aboard, they…

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Storm Tactics Replay Now Available On Demand

What happens when the forecast changes and you’re already offshore?

In this popular online class, offshore sailing legend John Neal shares lessons learned from more than 412,000 miles at sea, covering storm preparation, weather planning, crew safety, and heavy-weather decision-making.

Whether…

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Planning for offshore cruising means thinking beyond the sails you have today and considering the sail inventory that will carry you comfortably and safely through a wide range of conditions.

Join sailmaker and consultant Erica from Port Townsend Sails as she shares how cruisers can work with their sailmaker to develop a custom sail…

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“Which is better: a catamaran or a monohull?”

It’s one of the most common questions in cruising, but as Jeff & Jean of Two Can Sail explained during this class, the answer depends entirely on your goals, budget, and sailing style.

Drawing on more than 45 years of sailing experience and time aboard over 260 different sailboat models, Jeff and…

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Have you ever wondered how sailors navigated across oceans long before GPS, chartplotters, and satellite navigation?

Our popular Introduction to Celestial Navigation course with Ash Ashbaugh is now available on demand, allowing you to explore one of sailing’s oldest and most fascinating skills at your own pace.

In this course, you’ll discover…

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For many sailors, docking is one of the most challenging parts of the day. Wind, current, tight spaces, and an audience on the dock can all add a little extra excitement to the process.

This crossword puzzle is all about the fundamentals of docking and leaving the dock — the techniques, terminology, and skills that help boaters handle…

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Thinking about chartering, buying, or sailing a catamaran? Understanding how catamarans handle differently from monohulls is one of the biggest keys to building confidence aboard these popular cruising boats.

In this comprehensive on-demand course, Captains Lisa & Andy Batchelor share practical techniques for operating cruising catamarans…

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At some point, many sailors begin wondering what lies beyond the coastline. An overnight passage turns into a longer voyage. A dream becomes a plan. And suddenly, offshore sailing doesn’t feel impossible — it feels exciting.

This crossword puzzle is inspired by the ideas, preparation, and experiences that shape offshore dreams, from planning…

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Thinking about moving from sail to power, or simply curious what changes when you trade wind for horsepower?

Join Captain Rick Robey for Sail to Power, an online class designed specifically for experienced sailors who want to confidently expand into the world of modern powerboats.

This course explores the practical and mental shifts that come…

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Ever dreamed of sailing from Grenada back to Florida, exploring the Caribbean one unforgettable stop at a time?

Now available on demand, join experienced cruising couple Jeff & Jean of Two Can Sail as they share practical guidance, route planning strategies, and real-world lessons for making the journey north through the Caribbean to…

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Sailors are always paying attention to the wind. Its direction, strength, and shifts influence nearly every decision made on the water. Learning to understand and respond to it is one of the first steps toward becoming a confident sailor.

This crossword puzzle focuses on the language and concepts sailors use when thinking about wind…

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Learn what it’s really like to sail one of the world’s most sought-after cruising destinations with our on-demand course, Sailing French Polynesia.

From planning and provisioning to anchorages, local experiences, and unforgettable scenery, this course offers practical insights alongside stunning visuals that bring the islands to life. Whether…

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In this session, legendary offshore sailor John Neal shares practical strategies for safer, smarter sailing with a small crew. Drawing from more than 400,000 offshore miles and six Cape Horn roundings, John covers the systems, habits, and techniques that help couples, solo sailors, and short-handed crews sail more confidently.

Topics include:
•…

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Sailing is built on a series of simple actions that, once combined, make everything come together on the water. Learning how the boat responds, how to move with the wind, and how to work as a crew all starts with mastering the basics.

This crossword puzzle is all about those core sailing actions that every sailor learns early on and keeps…

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There’s something exciting about the first sails of spring. Boats are coming out of winter storage, docks are getting busy again, and sailors everywhere are looking forward to longer days on the water.

This word search is inspired by the sights, sounds, and feelings that come with spring sailing season.

🧩 Try the word search here

After you…

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Navigation isn’t just about charts or electronics, it’s about knowing how to use everything together when it counts. In this online class, Captain Rick Robey breaks down how to combine modern navigation tools with traditional seamanship skills to make smarter, safer decisions on the water.

Known for his practical and thoughtful teaching style,…

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A sail may look simple from a distance, but every section has a purpose. Understanding the different parts of a sail helps sailors communicate more clearly, trim more effectively, and better understand how the boat moves through the wind.

This crossword puzzle is all about sail anatomy — the terms sailors use when talking about shape,…

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Join Cliff & Rachael Wilson of Belize Sailing Vacations for an online class exploring one of the world’s most unique cruising destinations.

Belize offers incredible sailing, remote cayes, vibrant marine life, and the second-largest barrier reef in the world, but it also comes with navigation challenges and local knowledge that can make a huge…

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Belize offers some of the most unforgettable sailing in the Caribbean — protected waters, incredible snorkeling, and laid-back island stops along the way. This word search is inspired by the sights and experiences that make sailing here so memorable.

🧩 Try the word search here

Want to learn more about what it’s really like to sail Belize?…

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Buying a boat is exciting, but the process behind it can feel a lot more complicated than most people expect. Between budgeting, surveys, negotiations, insurance, and closing paperwork, there’s a lot to navigate before you officially become an owner.

That’s exactly what was covered in:
The Boat Buying Process

This on-demand class walks through…

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Knowing your way around a boat is one of the first steps to becoming a confident sailor. From the areas where you handle lines and sails to the spaces where you rest, store gear, and manage systems, every part of the boat has a purpose.

This crossword puzzle is all about the parts you’ll find both on deck and below — the layout, the spaces,…

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