The best way to deal with strong winds is to avoid sailing when winds are dangerously strong, as discussed earlier. However, if you do find yourself in high winds, you will need to reduce sail area to prevent the boat from being overpowered. Reefing is the process of lowering the Read more…
On a cruiser, the sails are typically down at the dock and they stay down until the boat is at sea. Of course, if you have no motor, the sails must be used to cast off, but we’ll discuss that later. For now, we’ll assume that the boat is out Read more…
Motors and Propellers A motor drives a boat by turning a propeller which displaces and redirects water underneath the boat. Much like our earlier discussion of wind aerodynamics, this movement of water creates forces that are reacted by the boat, propelling it through the water. The movement of the propeller Read more…
The man overboard drill is perhaps the most important skill you should know as a sailor. What’s the second most important skill? Teaching your crew the man overboard drill so that if you should fall overboard, they can get you back in the boat! The figure below illustrates the procedure Read more…
A winch is a spool-shaped device used to aid in bringing in the sheets on larger boats. The sheet is wrapped around the winch, which is cranked using a detachable handle connected to the top. The winch is made to turn in only one direction and the handle acts like Read more…
Unfortunately, helming a sailboat requires constant attention. Some mechanical or electronic autopilot devices exist, but these are typically either expensive or of limited usefulness. Fortunately, there is an option for when the captain must leave the helm and there is no crew available to substitute. Heaving to is a maneuver Read more…
If you do end up in irons, you can simply wait until the wind and current pushes you one way or the other and you’re able to fill your sails again. You can also speed things along by turning the rudder hard to one side. The wind will tend to Read more…
Towing a Dinghy The tow line should be adjusted so that both the towing boat and the dinghy reach the crest of successive waves at the same time. When maneuvering in close quarters or backing, the dinghy can be secured amid ship to the towing boat to avoid fouling the Read more…
Anchoring a boat is a bit more precarious than tying up to a mooring. If you don’t know what’s on the seafloor, it’s easy to get your anchor stuck, or fouled. It can also be illegal to anchor near coral reefs or other marine habitats. For these reasons, it’s best Read more…
Seasickness is not as serious a condition as hypothermia, but it can spoil a fun day. Being seasick will also make a person more prone to hypothermia if they should be unfortunate enough to fall overboard as well. Some people are more prone to seasickness than others, but no one Read more…