American Sailing Journal

American Sailing Journal

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Volume 37, Issue 9

September 2020

Hello ASA friends and Family,

Labor day weekend often signals the end of the sailing season for a lot of sailors but this year is different. Schools are still scheduling classes and there is a good chance you will see boats out on the water right up until the first day that snow is in the forecast. Extend your sailing season as long as you can and look up your local sailing school to keep your sailing chops sharp. At ASA we will be working through the fall and winter to increase the benefits of being an ASA member. Take a look at our redesigned website at ASA.com and then navigate to the member’s pages to examine the benefits of being part of the largest sailing education organization in the US. If the sailing season is in fact over for you, consider some of our online course offerings.

Stay Safe and extend your sailing season!

Cindy Shabes, ASA President

National Online Learning Day

As the world changes, so do the ways we deliver instruction. Teachers, students, and schools are adopting more online/interactive media options, and ASA is evolving and celebrating online learning. ASA has been offering various ways to learn online for years. From webinars to free videos on everything from knots to bite-sized lessons ASA has plenty of interactive media options for sailors. You can supplement your sailing education with online learning resources from the American Sailing Association.

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Tips from the Text

The Lookout Rule

“Every vessel shall at all times maintain a proper lookout by sight and hearing as well as by all means available appropriate in the prevailing circumstances and conditions so as to make a full appraisal of the situation and of the risk of collision.” – Rule 5 from the Navigation Rules (International-Inland) from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security United States Coast Guard.

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What is Seamanship?

Seamanship is the art of operating a vessel. Specifically, it is a compilation of the skills and knowledge entailed in navigation, boat handling, maintenance, and the law of the sea. It involves working as part of a crew and, when the occasion arises, leading a crew in the role of a skipper.

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ASA Featured Instructor: Marc Gonsalves ASA Instructor & Owner Cruise Abaco

Growing up in the windward Islands didn’t just prepare Captain Mark Gonsalves of Cruise Abaco for a career in sailing; it guaranteed he would share his passion for the lifestyle with as many people as possible.

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What Flag Are You Flying?

Recent travels during the COVID-19 Pandemic have made sailors more aware of the Q Flag. This International symbol of “health” is the flag that alerts officials that your vessel is “healthy and requests free practique.” This permission allows the captain to enter port with the assurance that the vessel is free of contagion. The “Q” flag is flown to alert authorities to your arrival and it is flown until the vessel is cleared, after which the crew is free to go ashore.

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Inside Sailing with Peter Isler

With the Inside Sailing series with Peter Isler, ASA is helping sailors build upon sailing certifications with the details that fill in the gaps in your sailing education and provides information about the sailing world that is not always covered in conventional instruction.

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You can find more online resources to improve your sailing skills & knowledge on our Sailors Resources page.

KEEP IN TOUCH…