NAUTICED SAILING BLOG POSTS

Explore the breathtaking Aeolian Islands in Sicily on a sailing vacation. Experience a mix of adventure, relaxation, and cultural immersion.

Discover the beauty of the Greek Riviera on a sailing vacation. Explore the Argo Saronic area, a Mediterranean gem recommended by NauticEd's Staff.

Stay safe on the water by understanding boating give way rules. Learn essential navigational rules to prevent collisions and sail smarter.

It is with heavy hearts during this holiday season that we share the news and toll the 8 Bells for the passing of Captain James (Jim) Waddell from Satori Sailing, a beloved member of our extended NauticEd family.

Party the night away on a yacht charter in the Mediterranean. Visit the top party islands and immerse yourself in the vibrant nightlife and local culture.

The traveler and the mainsheet work dynamically together. Sail like a pro by properly trimming the mainsail using the mainsheet and traveler.

Find the Wally and his friends who can't trim the sails.

Discover the top sailing apps for iOS and Android. From charts and GPS tracking to weather forecasts, these apps have everything sailors need.

Discover the remote beauty of Newfoundland through sailing. Explore untouched anchorages and fulfill your adventurous spirit.

Meet instructor Audrey Allgood in Florida. Audrey's awesome - USCG licensed, highly experienced, and loves sharing her passion of sailing.

Take a vacation to New England and get skipper or bareboat certified, or just charter a day-sail, with Satori Sailing on the famous New England North Shore.

NauticEd Sailing Vacations Yacht Charter Agents really help sailors have amazing sailing vacations! Get to know NauticEd's Charter Agents.

There is one situation where you are just going to have to suck it up, admit defeat, and work with the forces of nature.

Come join the NauticEd September 2024 Ionians Greece sailing flotilla! View all the details and register here...

As now learned, Cats can turn inside their own length, they can vector sideways, and using the bulldozer effect you can instantly rotate the Cat to point in any direction, you can do almost anything.

Coming up to a Tee-head is more the situation where you need to spring on. The need for accuracy in your maneuver is heightened when the space is tight.

There are two combined reasons that work in unison to create propwalk.

Like a work of fine engineering, a spring maneuver requires a design. The key is to plan the maneuver by considering the wind, current, and other obstacles, then design the placement and directions of the forces and moments.

Another factor when Mediterranean Mooring with an anchor is that the wind direction determines who is in control...

It is important that the person deploying the anchor and the helmsperson are in agreement about the anchoring plan first. Discuss the placement, the direction, the depth, the desired scope, and the setting plan.

There are several methods to top-off your energy on a sailboat.

You don’t actually run all of the electron charge out of a battery when it is considered empty.

Air conditioning is an enormous energy drain.

Many charter companies can stock and provision your boat before you arrive. This is a good idea for the basics but there is usually little imagination in the food that is supplied.

Many modern sailboats are equipped with integrated engine throttle and transmission shift systems; called the push-pull cabling system. 

It’s a given, we can’t live without electricity. At home, we have all the conveniences and all the chargers we need. But what about on a boat on a sailing vacation? What can I charge and what voltage is available?

While it is reasonably rare to have a fuel problem on a charter it can certainly happen and you should be prepared to apply the (sometimes simple) solution below.

You don’t need trouble with the waste system, especially when on vacation.

Prior to releasing the boat to you, the charter company will give you a reasonably extensive walk through the boat.

Freezers are typically top-loading and very deep. Take from home 4 -5 fabric shopping bags to stow similar items in the freezer. In doing this you...

Without proper knowledge of how the boat reacts to the wind and propwalk, anchoring can be a real challenge.

Join NauticEd for an exclusive Catamaran Vacation Training event in the stunning waters of Puerto Rico, and discover a world of excitement and learning like never before. Boat:  Saba 50.  This stunning large Fountaine Pajot Catamaran has plenty of space inside and out.  3 cabins (double occupancy) are reserved for students/guests; each guest cabin has its own ensuite bathroom.  One cabin is for the Instructional Skipper and one is reserved for the host/chef. Participants:  Sailors looking to gain experience and informal training while on vacation as well as their significant others (or friends).  Those wanting to learn will have ample opportunity to learn the intricacies of catamaran chartering while those wanting to relax can easily find a relaxing space to kick back and enjoy and good book, cruise the waters via SUP, or simply enjoy a tasty libation on board.

I started sailing when I was 10 years old with my uncle on Lake Ponchartrain in New Orleans. It is then I realized my passion for sailinng. Forty years later I finally took a Formal Sailing Class. I thought I knew a lot, and I did, but did not realize how much I did not know

I think my favorite part about teaching sailing for a living is the perpetual goal to "teach myself out of a job." Just recently, I received a video from former students who did their first bareboat charter in Antigua. I love it when my graduates stay in touch and continue to update me as they charter, purchase a boat, etc.

NauticEd, the global leader in sailing education, has taken a giant leap forward in the world of maritime education with the introduction of Alex, an innovative AI-powered digital human designed to enhance the learning experience of sailing enthusiasts worldwide. NauticEd has become one of the pioneering marine-associated companies to harness the power of artificial intelligence (AI) in its educational programs.

Sometimes it is a good idea to get nasty stuff out of the way first as well as prepare your boat and crew.

Solar panels produce DC power and are used to charge the batteries. A relatively small solar panel such as 1 square foot (0.1 m2) can produce about 1½ amps at...

Anchoring is not simply throwing a “hook” and letting out a line. However, after watching some sailors, this seems to be their theory. Successful anchoring requires a plan considering all the factors.

The following diagram shows how you can tow another vessel. Form a “bridle” from the rear cleats...

An emergency bilge pump(s) is a very significant electrical device on any vessel. This pump is used to pump out water that may collect, for whatever reason, in the bilge.

The procedure for tying to a mooring is theoretically very easy. You simply motor up and using a boat hook, grab the float and attach to it to your boat. It sounds simple but you will see many dismal failures when watching others try it.

Winds can be gentle, hardly felt, like zephyrs flitting about in a local area, or they can be vast movements of air moving swiftly across oceans and continents at low and high altitudes.

Putting out fires quickly is essential. The sooner you find the source the quicker the fire can be extinguished.

The character MacGyver in the TV show of the same name would have made a great sailor. Why? Because he could fix anything and a boat is a concoction of a kajillion gadgets busting to rot...

If the wind is light and your time is short you might want to consider motor-sailing—using your auxiliary engine...

Sailboat Instrumentation can be very sophisticated and intelligent. Most electronic displays provide a wide range of menus of useful information...

“Weighing the anchor” simply means raising it. If raising the anchor is to be done by hand...

As the skipper of a vessel, you are expected to be able to handle situations thrust upon you at a moment’s notice. Many of these situations are boat-related issues, but there are also crew injury issues for which you should be prepared to assess and handle at least enough until professional assistance arrives.

We begin with a phenomenon called magnetism. This phenomenon was known thousands of years before electricity. Magnetism was discovered...

Raw-water means that the water is straight from outside the boat. It might be seawater - it might be

The history of navigation is fascinating and dates back to as many centuries as we can imagine.

After safely and securely anchoring your vessel, there are certain factors to contend with - most are common sense.

As you sail along, the water flowing over your propeller will cause it to spin. Some sailboats are fitted with a special alternator that will create electricity...

Finally, there is something called a “sea anchor.” These can be a variety of devices used to slow down a vessel caught in high winds and turbulent seas.

While we have touched on weather concepts in this Module, no one can expect you to be a meteorologist (unless you are one) and do a good enough job at predicting the weather with enough quality to guarantee your safety.

Nighttime can be a beautiful time to sail. However, night vision is not the same as day vision and so rules have been established to ensure safety.

When you have successfully hove-to (heaved-to), your sailboat will be in a stable situation with the mainsail and headsail still up. Your forward speed will be minimal and...

Sail the Saronic Islands, Argolic Gulf & Peloponnese in Greece for a perfect blend of relaxation & exploration. Book a yacht charter today!

Sailing serves as a poignant example of the synergy between theory and experiential learning. While theoretical knowledge sets the stage, experiential learning takes center stage, shaping sailors into confident, capable, and passionate mariners.

When overtaking another vessel, we quote the rules exactly because they are incredibly clear...

Whether the sailing adventure is bareboat or captained - everyone will have fun discovering the best family-friendly charter destinations.

The Rule of Risk of Collision is that every vessel shall use all available means appropriate to the prevailing circumstances...

When you reach the section on who is responsible to give way to whom - in certain circumstances...

Luffing is when the sail is flapping in the wind. Back winding happens usually right before luffing occurs.

Professional sail trimmers deal with high winds and gusts by managing the traveler and mainsheet simultaneously. The fairlead position...

Lifts and Knocks are technical terms for how the direction of the wind changes, requiring changes in how you respond while sailing...

FREE Webinar on how to use weather data to stay safe on the water. Navigating the Weather – Essential Tips & Tools for Safety.

How to maneuver a catamaran in a marina with rudders forward and aft of the propellers, including animations on how the Catamaran responds.

Meet top sailing instructor Merilee Wright. Merilee brings an amazing level of enthusiasm and passion to sailing training.

NauticEd and MarineVerse today jointly announced the launch of the world's first-ever Virtual Reality Navigation Rules Training Course. This fully immersive VR course is designed to make learning navigation rules both enjoyable for users and effective for educators, using gamification techniques to entertain and increase knowledge retention.

Learn how to raise or unfurl sails in this brief glimpse into one of our introductory sailing courses.

Master anchoring with lines ashore - essential for boat owners and on charter boats, especially the Mediterranean.

Yacht Club and yacht club member special discounts and discounts on booking sailing vacations when booking through NauticEd.

Thinking of a USVI yacht charter and sailing vacation? We have got some of the answers and suggestions for you here.

The virtual reality sailing training is expected to revolutionize sailing education by better preparing and entertaining sailors.

If you have ever wanted to cruise the Greek islands, look no further than a charter out of Athens and a week sampling the many quaint destinations of the Saronic Gulf and eastern Peloponnese. This itinerary and trip recap comes from NauticEd member James Brown.

Nautical language has a long and storied history, with many basic sailing terms that can completely confuse the newcomer.

Together, we can help to solve pediatric brain cancer. We are proud to launch today, a "help fight childhood cancer donation" option...

Your VHF radio is your best way to communicate with other boats on the water, with marinas, and with the coast guard, if necessary. Learning to use it, however, is a little like learning a new language.

Thinking about chartering in central Croatia? This is a practical guide of everything we did with hidden secrets and a great suggested itinerary. Learn what you need to know here.

The principle is simple - motor downwind past your selected mooring ball and back up to it. Run a line from the forward cleat outside the stanchions...

Learn the basics of a yacht charter sailing vacation and a sailing flotilla.

The Top 10 Best Sailing Movies, in our humble opinion. In no particular order, and with a mix of action, romance, drama, documentary, and comedy.

The Caribbean is a sailor's paradise and year-round sailing destination. Explore top Caribbean sailing vacations island and charter bases.

Here is a simple navigation practice exercise to practice sailing (navigating) to a waypoint. The exercise is for you to plan to sailing upwind and to a waypoint with 2 tacks.

The Salty Seamen share their sailing vacation to the Canary Islands. A fun and informing blog written by Joseph Dieber and the intrepid Salty Seamen Sailing Team's adventure sailing the Canary Islands.

A sailing yacht charter in Turkey includes beautiful turquoise waters, history and a rich and varied Mediterranean culture.

Light winds and sunshine make the Ionian an ideal cruising ground for sailors and families. Located on Greece's west coast, the Ionian Sea boasts turquoise waters, protected moorage, beaches, and long summers - and many tavernas!

Recently, our Client Michael L. and friends went a Yacht Charter Saint Martin for a 1-week yacht charter on a Lagoon 42 ft Catamaran. We asked Michael to do a write-up of the area and his vacation.

NauticEd has been operating as a premier sailing training body…

At NauticEd, we treat the word COMPETENCE very seriously. We…

Before you leave/approach a dock, pick up a mooring ball, or drop anchor, you must know what the wind and current will be doing to your boat.

The barber hauler owes its name to the Barber brothers, who introduced it for the first time in the 1950s to move the jib clew laterally and inwards to close the jib-mainsail channel and get a tighter angle on the wind. Over the years it has undergone a remarkable development....

Wow – I mean who would have thunk it? Why do people fly right…

Neil and Sam share their sailing experiences up and down the Caribbean - including a FREE Sailing Guide & Itinerary for St Vincent & The Grenadines.

Seemingly slightly off NauticEd’s beaten track is a Power Canal Boat trip through the Holland canals.

NauticEd Sailing Vacations Agency is the North American agency for  Spartivento, an Italian Yacht Charter Company. At NauticEd, we have personally chartered from Spartivento twice in Italy, once in Sicily and once in the Amalfi Coast and we can report from personal experience that they are a professional company with a modern fleet and good customer service.

❝At the moment of the creation of our planet, the most beautiful…

Perhaps you are a little intimidated by the process of how to charter a sailboat? Don't worry, here are all the facts.

The NauticEd team sailed the Aeolian Islands of Sicily in June 2017. Subsequently, we are rating Sailing in Sicily as the number one sailing vacation destination in the world - read why.

One of our NauticEd students (Doug) called us today asking where to go on a sailing vacation. In particular, he was asking about a Bareboat Yacht Charter in Tonga or Tahiti. He had been to the Caribbean plenty of times and was looking for something a little different.