Sailing Tips Articles

Over the years American Sailing has promoted our Plastic Pollution Purge campaign. We have asked our fellow sailors to “bring back more plastic than you take to your boat”, and to have fun practicing your crew overboard drills as you recover trash on the water. But to break the vicious cycle of plastic pollution in the water we must prevent Read More >

It never fails, you are out for a daysail and another vessel decides that the great expanse of ocean is too small and they sail directly at you.  Do you know who has the right of away? Do you understand your responsibilities? These are the U.S. Coast Guard Inland Navigation Rules that specifically apply to sailing vessels. Navigation rules apply Read More >

 A sailor’s life revolves around the wind. Its direction and its strength govern where he can sail, with what degree of difficulty or comfort, and how quickly. Naturally, the language of sailing reflects how sailors orient themselves and everything around them with reference to the wind. Upwind and Downwind  The sailor’s world is roughly divided into two hemispheres: upwind and Read More >

The USCG requires certain safety equipment on a boat and it is imperative that you make sure that your vessel is properly outfitted with this equipment.  These minimum standards require U.S Coast Guard “approved” or “certified” equipment. This equipment includes: Life Jackets All recreational vessels must carry one wearable life jacket for each person on board. Any boat 16 feet Read More >

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 Read More >

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.” Read More >

“When in evening, say ye, ‘Fair weather, for the heaven is red’. And if in morning, say, ‘Today will storm, for the sky is red and lowering’.” – The Book of Matthew 16:2-3 In late winter and spring precipitation begins its transition from snow to rain. As rain clouds form, they become thicker and lower in the sky, usually as Read More >

As a kid, I never sailed. I lived close enough to the ocean that people I knew would go there, but my working-class father never really saw it fit to head to the shore for a day at the beach. He certainly did not need to be on a boat.  “I have legs that work perfectly fine on land. I Read More >

This Multi-Part Series will focus on what to expect when going out for a leisure sail with friends. This is different from what you might expect when taking your first sailing lesson or sailing with an instructor. Part #1 Getting To The Boat You arrive at the sailboat with excitement for your first day of sailing. You’ve listened to Jimmy Read More >