Lulls and Puffs As you sail along you may suddenly feel a dramatic drop in wind strength. You have sailed into a lull, and the apparent wind has gone forward…
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Interview With Steve and Doris Colgate in Annapolis Offshore Sailing School’s own Steve and Doris Colgate were busy at this month’s U.S. Sailboat Show in Annapolis. Here’s a recap of…
Rudderless Drill Reprinted from “Fundamentals of Sailing, Cruising, & Racing” by Steve Colgate; published by W.W. Norton & Co. Another drill one hopes never to have to use is sailing…
Grounding Tips for Sailors A slight miscalculation can lead to sudden stops. Use these tips for a speedy recovery back to safe water. As with any aspect of sailing, a…
Check the Little Things Before Setting Sail Here is an old proverb that seems so appropriate to sailing:
Sailing trivia is a great way to get your non-sailing friends interested in sailing. It’s also fun to challenge experienced sailors when you’re relaxing on deck or enjoying a beer…
As the velocity of the wind increases or decreases, you need to adjust the draft of your sails for the best efficiency. For instance, you set sail in a 10-knot…
Sailing Miles Out at Sea Requires Special Safety Considerations! Sailing in the infamous 1979 Fastnet Race, when an unforecast storm with 85 knots demolished the fleet and caused 15 deaths,…
Convenience, ease of operation and safety make roller-furling headsails popular with cruising sailors. Most cruising sailboats use roller-furling headsails. In this roller furling system, the jib is hoisted in a…
Using the Wind: Other Options for Depowering You might be out there alone or with inexperienced crew. Or you might be sailing a boat that doesn’t have sails you can…
