Calculating the True Wind and Why it Matters
WEBMay 9, 2017 · There are several ways to define the wind. For weather work at sea we care only about the true wind. This true wind is the speed and the direction of the wind relative to the fixed earth under the ocean. Tied up at the dock, we feel the true wind. Once we get underway, however, our own motion changes the wind we feel, and then it is called the ...
A Guide to Life Rafts, Their Equipment, Storage and Deployment
WEBJan 21, 2015 · By Administrator · On January 21, 2015. Here’s the first part in a two part series on life rafts: Nationally known safety-at-sea expert Chuck Hawley gives us a comprehensive guide on life rafts, their equipment and care…. Life rafts are designed to keep the crew of a vessel alive for a short period of time after the vessel becomes ...
Blue Water Sailing | Sailing Stories | Art of Crusing | Sailing Gear
WEBMar 17, 2024 · boot Dusseldorf Celebrates 50 Years of Being the Greatest (boat) Show on Earth. Electronics. Blue Water Sailing offers great sailing stories from cruisers and real world solutions for offshore sailors. Learn more about crusing and sailing gear with us.
Should You Consider Installing a Prop Shaft Line Cutter?
WEBSep 23, 2015 · The Prop Protector is another dead simple line cutter that can be installed on your shaft by a diver while the boat is in the water. British designed and manufactured, this cutter has a straight cutting edge that is honed to a razor finish and will cut quickly through anything it comes in contact with. Unlike the serrated blade cutters, the ...
A Guide to Equipping Your Boat with a Windvane
WEBSep 10, 2015 · A Guide to Equipping Your Boat with a Windvane. By Administrator · On September 10, 2015. Daniel Collins provides a summary of the major choices involved in the purchase of new self-steering gear. A common piece of equipment found on the modern offshore cruising sailboats is the autopilot. Whether it is …
Choosing the Right Fabric For Your Sails: Part One
WEBAug 31, 2016 · The real advantage of a laminate, other than the fact that it’s a lot lighter and stronger for the same strength and stretch resistance as Dacron, is that you can use the fabric to build a radial sail, either a bi-radial or a tri-radial sail. This way you can use fabrics of different weights in the same sail.
Heaving-To: a Useful Maneuver Worth Practicing
WEBAug 26, 2015 · Simply put, heaving-to is a maneuver used to slow a sailboat’s progress and calm its motion while at sea. When successfully “hove-to,” a sailboat will gently drift to leeward at a greatly reduced speed. The reasons for heaving-to are numerous and often situational. When teaching students the maneuver, I impart the three Rs of heaving-to ...
Cruising Guide to the Western Caribbean - Blue Water Sailing
WEBOct 12, 2018 · One of the greatest aspects of this itinerary is that most of this sailing route takes advantage of favorable winds and currents. This is a key difference between this Western Caribbean route via the “Thornless Path” of traveling upwind from the Bahamas to the BVI via Turks and Cacaos, Dominican Republic, and Puerto Rico. That can be a real ...
Understanding the Ins and Outs of Thru-Hulls
WEBJul 29, 2015 · The American Boat and Yacht Council (ABYC) has developed standards for the installation of thru-hulls. These state, in part: “When installed below the maximum heeled water line, a thru-hull must have a valve mounted so that the system will withstand a 500-pound static force applied for 30 seconds to the inboard end of its connecting fitting.”.
Cruising the Windward Islands - Blue Water Sailing
WEBAug 10, 2018 · The Windward islands, the southern portion of the Lesser Antilles, was Brenda’s and my destination for the 2017/2018 cruising season. They are a chain of islands running north-south for a distance of approximately 200 miles, south of the Leewards. The main islands of the chain, north to south are Martinique, St. Lucia, and St. Vincent.