Safety & Seamanship

Our time spent testing anchors has prompted some important musings; we offer the following thoughts regarding the forces and factors to be considered before purchasing anchors and rodes.

The usual advice for anyone seeking all-rope anchor rode is usually to just get some three-strand nylon anchor. The makes sense. Three-strand nylon is inexpensive, wears best, and is easy to splice. But one size, or even one type of rope, does not necessarily fit all situations.

August through October are hurricane months in the Carolinas. While it’s almost always best to haul out for a hurricane, it’s not an option...

Last week, I covered some of the things I suggest you need to think through on the boat before heading out solo. Now, what...

Lots of skippers—in fact probably most—do not want to sail solo and I am the last person to try to encourage them to change...

A new generation of fire extinguishers, resembling a fat flare in appearance, promise to solve most of the problems of standard fire extinguishers. The biggest...

A test sail is a great way to weed out the painted vixens before spending your hard earned cash on a marine survey. Sure, you could ride around with a Mimosa in one hand while the broker regales you with tales of far away, exotic lands, but a smarter move would be to approach your test sail with planning and a critical eye. Heres how to glean as much info as possible about your potential purchase during a test sail.

You have probably heard people say sailing solo is dangerous or irresponsible. How can you keep a proper watch? What happens if you have...

Joe Cooper joins us for a full-length interview about safety at sea giving us advice he’s obtained from his decades of ocean sailing and racing including his experience in the America’s Cup, Bermuda 1-2 racing, and his teaching career. We discuss how to mentally prepare for passage-making on typical production-style boats including training seminars, the use of PFDs, jack lines, and crew overboard drills. Joe graces us with his knowledge of the sport and how to stay safe out there in the ocean.

Just another beautiful BVI day. The forecast was for  87 degrees and sunny and the weather Gods were in fine form, with a predictable...