Sailing

Typically, a sailboat harbor race lasts no longer than a day, and you may never even lose sight of the shoreline. Yet it is still necessary to prepare for a harbor race. It is always important to...

While sailboat inshore racing typically ranges from one to three days, the event still requires preparation. Although inshore racing is typically much less severe than offshore racing because...

You've checked out your boat and your passengers are ready. Now all you have to do is figure out how to leave the marina without crashing into a dock, or worse, another boat. The key is learning...

Heeling a sailboat is a delicate art. Too great a heel, and the boat can get out of control or even capsize. Too slight a heel, and the sailboat will be sluggish and unwieldy. Here's how to...

Sailing a yacht is one of the great thrills of life. It's important to keep in mind, however, that a yacht is basically a floating island that keeps you and your crew from the danger of drowning....

A catamaran is designed to sail fast. Sailing into the wind and off the breeze frequently requires the use of a trapeze harness. The trapeze apparatus is designed to move the crew weight...

A jibe is a very fast and sometimes violent turn of a sailboat's stern through the wind. Since the wind instantly catches the sails and throws them onto their new tack, the boom, sails and lines...

Proper weight distribution is a key factor to getting the most out of your sailboat. An improperly balanced sailboat unnaturally hampers its own design, creating turbulence in the water and...

With the right approach and information, you can successfully race almost any sailboat. Paying careful attention to the boat's design, the weather conditions and your crew's experience will give...

The Royal Yachting Association is the most widely recognized international sailing authority. Competent Crew Certification from the RYA allows you to show any skipper, captain or boat owner that...

Ask any sailor who's moored a sailboat in the Mediterranean about the tricky operation and you'll probably get a sigh in response. Crowded harbors, anchor-laden bottoms and "passionate" locals all...

Jibing a sailboat correctly takes a good amount of knowledge and practice. Not only does the heavy, swinging boom present a safety hazard, but just getting the boat through the jibe and back into...

A man overboard is one of the most common causes of injury and death in sailing. Unlike a powerboat, a sailboat can't just whirl around to pick the man up. The crew must follow a choreographed set...

As the skipper of a catamaran your job is to manage the crew and take responsibility for the safety and course of the boat and people on board. Sailing a catamaran requires that you manage your...

Being on a sailboat in a storm is a harrowing and potentially dangerous situation. Howling winds can tear parts off the boat, while waves the size of three-story buildings can easily capsize a...

Sailboats move fastest when the wind is behind them, pushing them along (this is known as "running"). When a boat sails into the wind, it does so by "tacking" back and forth across the gusts in a...

Maybe it's movies about pirates. Maybe it's because you want to find a way to get away from it all. When you decide that you want to learn to sail, here are some steps you can take.

Always wanted to enter your sailboat in a race? There are two vital elements to starting a racing career. First, read the latest edition of Understanding the Racing Rules of Sailing, by Dave...

"There is a small circuit of international sailing events. Once you're a part of that circuit, you have a shot at being recognized as a potential crew member," advises Tucker Thompson, who runs...