https://sailingmagazine.net/articles.sec-120-1-technique.html Fri, 26 Apr 24 00:00:00 -0400 en hourly 1 https://sailingmagazine.net/article-2553-how-to-start-sailing-shorthanded.html It’s another beautiful weekend; the wind is steady at 8 to 10 knots, the water is calm, the boat is rigged, and your friends just called to say they can’t make it this afternoon. You ask yourself,...]]> https://sailingmagazine.net/article-2543-winch-servicing.html Winches are amazing pieces of equipment. They last for years providing a crucial mechanical advantage that makes sailing possible.  And because they require little in the way of everyday maintena...]]> https://sailingmagazine.net/article-2530-repairing-delaminated-core.html It’s not unusual for boats, particularly those of a certain age, to have some areas of wet core and delamination. This is often found near deck hardware, often because of poor mounting and bedding p...]]> https://sailingmagazine.net/article-2528-splicing-dyneema.html Dyneema is seriously strong, but a very slippery fiber. The slipperiness means that you can’t efficiently use knots to terminate it. Even the best knot will degrade the ultimate strength of the rope...]]> https://sailingmagazine.net/article-2518-diy-custom-bug-screens.html As sailors, we’re often drawn to the sea by the promise of adventure, the thrill of exploration, and the beauty of untouched landscapes which is how my husband Chris and I ended up sailing our 1979 ...]]> https://sailingmagazine.net/article-2512-anchoring-and-mooring-a-catamaran.html You can’t beat a catamaran for liveability, and no monohull can stand up the comfort provided by a catamaran in a beautiful anchorage. But before you can get to the part where the water toys come ou...]]> https://sailingmagazine.net/article-2498-co-owning-a-boat.html The lucky boat owner is one who enjoys a boat partnership. Owning alone (or with a non-interested co-owner) versus owning a boat with another passionate sailor is like the difference between a dead we...]]> https://sailingmagazine.net/article-2491-installing-a-steering-wheel.html Sometimes a new steering wheel is called for. Changing to a wheel that’s a slightly different size than the existing wheel, or a different design, such as a foldable wheel that allows easy access th...]]> https://sailingmagazine.net/article-2487-helming-skills.html Just about every crew position on a sailboat comes down essentially to one word: concentration. I became a decent helmsman from my years of concentrating on spinnaker work. The spinnaker is very capri...]]> https://sailingmagazine.net/article-2476-captain-your-own-charter.html The waters are teeming with sailors who own and handle their own boats with aplomb. But all too often, these same sailors who skillfully ply their local waters, reject the idea of chartering, over dif...]]> https://sailingmagazine.net/article-2463-asymmetric-spinnaker-skills.html For many sailors spinnakers conjure thoughts of mayhem, chaos and shouting. Anxiety reigns over some at the prospect of the windward and leeward marks approaching and the skipper calling for a set or ...]]> https://sailingmagazine.net/article-2453-multihull-sailing-for-monohull-sailors.html A sailboat is a sailboat, right? In general, the answer is yes, but if you’re looking to maximize performance and sailing pleasure the differences between monohulls and multihulls, make a big d...]]> https://sailingmagazine.net/article-2444-installing-a-boiler-for-cold-weather-sailing.html Many sailors dream of sailing in the islands with sandy beaches and warm trade winds, but some of the most exciting and rewarding sailing is found in colder climates. Sailing was never meant to be com...]]> https://sailingmagazine.net/article-2440-race-your-cruising-boat.html Almost every local weeknight racing series has a cruising division filled with sailors looking for an excuse to get out on the water and away from life’s demands. The idea of racing might seem daunt...]]> https://sailingmagazine.net/article-2430-diesel-engine-care.html The marine diesel engine is an amazing piece of machinery. These engines are reliable, safe and require minimal maintenance. If you look after just a few things, your engine can easily run for 10,000 ...]]> https://sailingmagazine.net/article-2415-how-to-get-help-in-an-emergency.html Days on the water are often great, but things can go wrong. When they go wrong, your ability to get help is determined by your communication ability, and it’s important to know  the gear and co...]]> https://sailingmagazine.net/article-2407-get-new-crew-and-be-great-crew.html Sailing is haunted by a problem that, on its face, seems very easy to solve. Many owners have a hard time finding people to go sailing with them and sailors new to the sport have a hard time finding b...]]> https://sailingmagazine.net/article-2397-make-the-most-of-a-charter-briefing.html Charter briefings—those meetings with charter base staff that help familiarize you with the boat and the cruising grounds—can feel like a hurdle that has to be overcome to get underway, but it’s...]]> https://sailingmagazine.net/article-2392-new-season-new-paint.html A protected and fair boat bottom looks good, but it’s the performance-related benefits that make a good bottom job worth the work, and the price.The first step in any bottom job is choosing the...]]> https://sailingmagazine.net/article-2375-replacing-standing-rigging.html Quetzal is ready for thousands more miles of ocean passages following a standing rigging refit.Standing rigging is not set it-and-forget-it equipment; it requires maintenance. All that shiny stainless...]]> https://sailingmagazine.net/article-2359-reduce-the-roll.html Every time we post a photo of our boat at anchor we immediately get asked “What’s that off of your spinnaker pole?” The answer is simple: it’s insurance that we will get a good night of sleep....]]> https://sailingmagazine.net/article-2365-splicing-three-strand-line-to-chain.html The best way to attach three-strandline to chain is with a thimble and screw-pin shackle. The shackle provides a large, smooth radius for the rope, as well as providing chafe protection. A shackle can...]]> https://sailingmagazine.net/article-2349-jury-rigging-steering.html Losing steering is an emergency, but it’s one that you can prepare for by having a plan tucked away in the back of your head. When a boat loses steering you know it quickly. Sometimes there’s clun...]]> https://sailingmagazine.net/article-2336-understanding-sail-trim.html If music is how we feel math, then sailing is how we live physics. And sail trim, like playing an instrument, is our touchpoint with the medium. In fact, apart from steering a sailboat, which is one o...]]> https://sailingmagazine.net/article-2324-selecting-the-right-propeller-for-your-boat.html Should you ditch your fixed propeller? If your goal is to sail or motor to your destination more quickly, whether to the anchorage for cocktails or to your first waypoint on a passage, then a folding ...]]> https://sailingmagazine.net/article-2302-diy-canvas-repair.html Canvas doesn’t last forever. UV rays, wind and regular wear take their toll on sail covers, biminis, dodgers and more. Replacement is an investment, but there’s a good chance your canvas work can ...]]> https://sailingmagazine.net/article-2285-sailing-safe-on-a-multihull.html There was a time when multihulls were enough of an oddity that they’d routinely turn some heads as they entered the harbor. Sailors have now embraced the many benefits of multihulls, and more and mo...]]> https://sailingmagazine.net/article-2271-seeing-better-at-night.html Although night-vision technology has been available to sailors for many years, most people find their first purchase a bit daunting. And for good reason: there’s a great deal to know and understand....]]> https://sailingmagazine.net/article-2259-how-to-polish-a-hull-back-to-a-super-shine.html Marine paint has come a long way. Modern paints are amazing, they are shiny and colorful, abrasive resistant and survive many years under the punishing rays of the sun. They stand up well, but over ti...]]> https://sailingmagazine.net/article-2252-how-to-charter-safely.html Like everything else, chartering has changed in the pandemic. Charter companies have adapted to help keep customers and staff safe, but more importantly they have found ways to help sailors feel comfo...]]>