Sailing History Archives - American Sailing

Sailing Trivia

Zeke Quezada, ASA — Tue, 19 Dec 2023 14:14:07 +0000

So you are at a dinner party, and it comes time for some trivia. Are you prepared with some sailing facts that would stump the competition? Are you intrigued by tidbits of information that might spark a conversation? Take a look at some sailing facts that might get you the win on trivia night.

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Farewell and Fair Winds, Jimmy Buffett

American Sailing — Tue, 05 Sep 2023 20:20:32 +0000

The American Sailing crew was saddened along with the rest of the world to see a legend sail on from this life this past Friday. We tip our hats to the innumerable contributions Jimmy Buffett made to help make the cruising life what it is. He was a true embodiment of the spirit of freedom, friendship, and good times so many have come to know as the setting in which the sailing life is best lived.

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Barcolana – The Biggest Sailing Race Around

Zeke Quezada, ASA — Fri, 01 Sep 2023 16:52:27 +0000

The Barcolana is an annual sailing event and regatta in the Gulf of Trieste, located in the northeastern part of the Adriatic Sea. It is one of the largest and most famous sailing races in Europe and the world. Held during the first weekend of October, the regatta attracts thousands of participants and spectators, making it a significant cultural and sporting event in the region.

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40 Sailing Phrases to Know

American Sailing — Tue, 27 Jun 2023 20:50:03 +0000

Sailors have a way of speaking, and the sport has its own language. Some sailing phrases are common in everyday language, while others are only really used on a sailboat. The ones common in our everyday language have a nautical origin that will make you a more enlightened sailor, as well. The ones used only on a sailboat? Well, the sailing lifestyle lends itself to a specific language to describe situations and offer comedic relief when we are at the mercy of the conditions, and those will make you smarter and more adaptable in real life as well. Check out 40 sailing phrases you should know.

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Nautical Flags: Origins, Meanings, and Resources

Zeke Quezada, ASA — Wed, 14 Jun 2023 22:35:15 +0000

If you've ever wondered about the curious world of nautical flags, their origins, uses, and all of their various meanings, here's the primer to get you started and further resources to expand your horizons.

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Five Sailing Superstitions to Retire and One That Should Be Kept

Pat Reynolds — Wed, 27 Jul 2022 14:32:00 +0000

Sailing superstitions go back to the dawn of modern civilization - we take a look at some of them and decide whether or not there is any truth to them!

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History of the Yacht

American Sailing — Thu, 31 Mar 2022 14:29:00 +0000

When does a boat become a yacht? One answer has always been, you can tell a yacht when you see one. But, It really has nothing to do with size of the boat, weight of the boat, its style, sleeping quarters, heads, tillers, or a wheel. A yacht is a boat that was designed for the express pleasure of its owner. The yacht is an invention of the 14th century Dutch. The Dutch used small, fast boats for chasing smugglers, pirates and criminals. Rich ship owners and merchants began using these small “jaghts” to sail out to celebrate their returning ...

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10 Phrases You Never Knew Came From Sailing

American Sailing — Fri, 25 Feb 2022 16:07:00 +0000

Sailing was the hinge of western civilization for hundreds of years, as result sailors’ slang & terminology are rooted in the English lexicon and still exists profoundly to this day.

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Frederick Douglass: The Sailor You Should Know

Zeke Quezada, ASA — Wed, 23 Feb 2022 21:39:00 +0000

In October of 2021, I sailed on the Chesapeake Bay on an American Sailing Charter. As with all of these charters, I am fortunate enough to meet many great people who love to sail. We anchored in Cambridge, Maryland, on this particular charter and went ashore. I am almost embarrassed to admit to this, but I never really understood the history of this area. Unfortunately, American history often dilutes the important stories ingrained in our geography. We know something about North and South, but on this day, on the Choptank River, just off the Chesapeake Bay, I learned so much ...

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Let’s Talk About Sextants!

American Sailing — Sat, 07 Nov 2020 16:47:58 +0000

Ah, the sextant… that odd magical contraption that sleeps in an aged wooden box and stored in a seldom-used locker. Every once in a while you break it out and it’s glorious to behold – there’s poetry in its very existence. You look at the curves and the shiny mirrors, then you spin the dials – they feel substantial and real. You gaze at the increment markers and numbers and hold it in your hand just as Captain Cook’s navigator did with something oh so similar. As you feel the weight of this incredible innovative invention you mutter, “I wish ...

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