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Safety & Seamanship

Carey checking out the collision damage. (Photo/ Bert Vermeer)

Collision at Anchor

It was a bright mid-summer afternoon as we sailed towards our favorite local marine park only a few miles from our home port of...

Reading the Telltales on Your Sails

Even the most laid-back cruiser has days when he would like to get there an hour sooner. But speed is not the only reason to fine-tune sail trim. Proper sail trim can often eliminate the noise of motoring. Properly trimmed sails last longer.
Companionway stairs are a logical first step in a non-slip makeover.

Non-Skid Tapes for Boats

Slips and falls will probably always be the greatest hazard on a sailboat, whether the result is a trip over the side, a knee slammed into the deckhouse, or a tumble down the companionway.
DonJoy Performance Bionic FullStop Knee Brace

Five Best Old Fart Tips

Sailing is actually getting easier as I get older, in part because I make fewer mistakes, but also because I’ve added some old fart...
Exhibit 1. NASA Global Lightning Average 1995-2002. Image source: NASA

Lightning Protection 101

We now have permanent research satellites in orbit whose sole function is to monitor and study global lightning activity. Like so many areas of...
A properly cleated line is not only a matter of style, but of safety. This is a correctly cleated line, with no additional, unnecessary flourishes. (Photo/ Marc Robic)

How to Cleat Your Lines—Properly

I never thought I would be motivated or feel the need to write an article, let alone a video, on how to properly cleat...
Navisafe light mounted in the company's proprietary mount on a dinghy. (Photo/ Todd Vorenkamp)

Navigation Light Solutions for your Dinghy

Many of us have seen it—nighttime running of unlit dinghies in full stealth mode (minus the sound of a full-throttle outboard) ripping through mooring...
Often we think about harnesses and tethers for on deck safety, but even more important is to figure out ways to stay on the boat.

Not Falling Off: A Guide

We spend a lot of time talking about PFDs, man overboard procedures, jacklines and tethers. But those are all safety measures intended to help...
The CMC Atom Global Harness is a more comfortable, safer alternative to the traditional bosun's chair. (Image source: CMC)

The Best Bosun’s Chair Might Not Be a Bosun’s Chair at All

I’ve long thought there must be a safer, more comfortable way to go up our mast than a Bosun’s Chair. When I criticized our...
If you don't know the answer to this question, or even if you do, NauticEd has free course offerings to keep your sailing knowledge up to date. (Photo/ NauticEd)

NauticEd: The Best Way to Learn Sailing’s Rules of the Road

If you grew up sailing small boats, the basic rules about “when yachts meet” are now part of your DNA. Upwind, a boat on...

Why This $1M+ Sailboat Might Be The Best Bluewater Cruiser in...

The Bluewater 56 is one of the most misunderstood offshore cruisers in the sailing world — and today we’re diving deep into what makes...

Latest Sailboat Review

Rethinking Sailboat Structure

When it comes to describing a sailboats most valuable attribute, its surprising how varied opinions can be. Staying afloat should be our first priority, and although you seldom read or hear much about it at boat shows, the structural elements that hold a sailboat together are an all-important consideration.