2016 March 1

Just Sail

Practical purists are sailing the world engine-free and finding a list of reasons why cruising sans iron genny is the way to go

When a cruising tale starts with the words, “We had no engine and ... ,” it usually means a disaster story is about to follow. Most sailors get a knot in their stomach at the thought of losing an engine while trying to anchor somewhere new, entering a busy harbor at night or attempting to dock their boat. Those are the panic-inducing moments that we prepare for but secretly hope never happen. There are some sailors though who go through these scenarios on purpose. Sailing without an engine is not a new idea, but it’s one that is catching on slowly but surely with long-term cruisers all around the world.

2016 March 1

How to be a great crewmember

Some of the best team leaders in the sport share tips on how to always get asked to sail again

By Chris Museler

Finding an opportunity to go racing, whether it be on a Hunter 336 for a weekly beer can series or a professionally crewed TP52, can be daunting. All the way through the ranks, most sailboat teams are tight little units with core groups of regulars. Standing on the dock with a sign, or registering with an online crewfinder are ways to get a spot on a boat. Word-of-mouth helps too. But it’s what you make of those opportunities that will determine your racing career trajectory, no matter how small your aspirations.

2016 March 1

Spinlock rigging gauge

By SAILING Magazine

Rig tuning relies on accurate, repeatable results. Spinlock’s Rig-Sense has a composite lead spring calibrated to output loads to a direct linear scale

2016 March 1

Wichard Hi-Tech Tether

By SAILING Magazine

New ProLine tethers from Wichard have innovative snap hooks made from forged aluminum, for strength and rust-resistance, while remaining extremely light.

2016 March 1

TackingMaster

By SAILING Magazine

The TackingMaster is a wrist-worn navigation device that helps racing sailors track wind shifts and trends to make educated tactical decisions.

2016 March 1

Garmin Smartwatch

By SAILING Magazine

Garmin’s Quatix 3 is the first general-purpose watch that incorporates navigational features and marine tools that sailors will appreciate.

2016 March 1

SOS Distress Light

By SAILING Magazine

The SOS Distress Light from Weems & Plath is approved by the United States Coast Guard for use in lieu of traditional pyrotechnic flares.

2016 March 1

Sailing at warp speed

By James Boyd

The warp factor speeds that the latest generation maxi multihulls can reach is hard to conceive of even for experienced performance sailors. For example the fastest offshore sailboat in the world, the French 130-foot trimaran Spindrift2, covered 908.2 nautical miles in one day in its previous incarnation as Banque Populaire V.

2016 January 25

Offshore sail repair

Arm yourself with a proper sail repair kit and a bit of knowledge to keep a passage intact when your sails aren't

By Bob Pingel

Sail repair is a crucial offshore skill, many times it can save a passage. It takes a little planning to build a kit and to study some basic skills, but it is manageable for anyone.

2016 January 1

The Comeback Kid brings the Cup to the masses

Conner brought the America's Cup back from Australia and introduced sailing to the masses

By Heather Steinberger

Any sporting event that stretches across more than a century is bound to have a certain watershed event, a historic turning point after which it is forever changed. For those who follow the venerable

2016 January 1

Straight up Harken history

Harken history straight from the source

By Charlotte Peterson

Olaf Harken, who was inducted to the National Sailing Hall of Fame last year, is half of the team responsible for Harken Yacht Equipment, a company known across the globe as a leader in sailing technology.

2016 January 1

The antidote for the sailing blues

We offer sailing experiences to do now that will tide over restless sailors until the season starts

By SAILING Magazine

But never fear; we’ve assembled a list of sailing experiences you can enjoy right now, all of which will help tide you over until it’s time to pull the sails out of storage and kick off the season.

2016 January 1

Cruising the big ditch

Knowing the ins and outs of a transit through the Panama Canal can make all the difference

By Betsy Crowfoot

Transiting the Panama Canal is a rite of passage that packs a lot into a 50-mile journey. Whether crossing from the Atlantic to the Pacific or vice versa, cruisers celebrate their arrival in Central America by taking this short cut that recently celebrated the 100th anniversary of the opening of a channel cut through mountain and jungle in an engineering feat for its time.

2016 January 1

A grand old time

Lake Ontario’s Thousand Islands in the St. Lawrence Seaway are teeming with local color and sublime cruising

By Mark Stevens

The winds were off the starboard stern at around 15 knots, steady and warm on a sunny July afternoon, blowing up Lake Ontario out of the southwest. The water was flat in spite of the long fetch, protected by Amherst and Wolfe islands off Kingston, Ontario, where the Great Lake flows into the St. Lawrence River, starting its 650-nautical-mile journey to the sea. We were bound for the Thousand Islands, a world-class cruising ground with a wealth of anchorages and a multitude of delights.

2015 December 8

Neptu Link

By SAILING Magazine

High-speed internet access while sailing is not always possible. The new Neptu Link offers a solution that they say is “as easy and affordable as at home.” The device incorporated two antenn

2015 December 8

Good To-Go

By SAILING Magazine

Typical onboard fare often consists of sandwiches and granola bars. The head chef at Good To-Go has a much better alternative for cold nights underway. The dehydrated meals consist of ingredient

2015 December 8

Spinnaker furling line

By SAILING Magazine

Top-down furling systems require specialized line to handle the torque from the system. New England Ropes has a new Spinnaker Furling Line that allows for better transfer of the furling drum’s rotat

2015 December 8

December / January 2016

The cruiser-racer revolution

The advent of production boatbuilding changed the face of dual-purpose sailboats, a concept that waxes and wanes but endures today

By Heather Steinberger

The cruiser-racer fleet grew in the 1908s and 1990s and the boats of that era continue to cruise and race successfully today.Erik Simonson photoYou still see them at local marinas and at popular dista

2015 November 20

Little lake, big fun

The 50th anniversary of the E-scow class Blue Ship Regatta brings the biggest names in sailing to Wisconsin's Pewaukee Lake

By Betsy Crowfoot

Maybe it had something to do with the bounty of food and drink served. Maybe it was the chill in the early autumn air or something in the green-tinted lake water. Whatever the cause, Blue Chip Fever struck Pewaukee, Wisconsin, in late September.

Practical purists are sailing the world engine-free and finding a list of reasons why cruising sans iron genny is the way to go

Some of the best team leaders in the sport share tips on how to always get asked to sail again

Arm yourself with a proper sail repair kit and a bit of knowledge to keep a passage intact when your sails aren't

Conner brought the America's Cup back from Australia and introduced sailing to the masses

Harken history straight from the source

We offer sailing experiences to do now that will tide over restless sailors until the season starts

Knowing the ins and outs of a transit through the Panama Canal can make all the difference

Lake Ontario’s Thousand Islands in the St. Lawrence Seaway are teeming with local color and sublime cruising

Table of Contents

The advent of production boatbuilding changed the face of dual-purpose sailboats, a concept that waxes and wanes but endures today

The 50th anniversary of the E-scow class Blue Ship Regatta brings the biggest names in sailing to Wisconsin's Pewaukee Lake

Perry on Design

A svelte cruising cat that has performance front and center

This cruising cat’s palatial accommodations have sailors living in comfort

This raised saloon offshore cruiser offers comfort and performance

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