Grant Headifen

About Grant Headifen

My vision for NauticEd is to ensure that families and friends get out on the water not only safely but with true COMPETENCE, confidently savoring every moment of their valuable time.

Achieving this means being the pinnacle of sailing and boating education—offering comprehensive multi-media theoretical instruction coupled with hands-on, on-the-water training through our global network of American National Standards Instructors. We steadfastly avoid becoming a mere certification mill; our focus is on delivering genuine competence, ensuring our students are well-prepared for enjoyable, real-world boating experiences.

Entries by Grant Headifen

Mast Head pull heeling versus wind heeling

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A few takeaways worth sharing:

Always invest in your rig. Standing rigging isn’t the place to economize. Spreaders, shrouds, terminals—they’re not just hardware, they’re load-management systems.
Use stretchy docklines for masthead pulls. We used a 3/4″ dockline, and that stretch mattered. Shock loads are the real killers. Even a small wave can create load multipliers that dwarf steady-state forces.
Smooth beats strong. Every time. No snatch loads. No jerks. Just steady pressure.

What is an American National Standards EDU-4 Instructor

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EDU-4 is the American National Standard that describes what high-quality on-water instruction must look like: clear objectives, structured lessons, appropriate safety and student ratios, objective assessment, and continuous improvement. NauticEd requires its instructors to follow these principles in every training session.

Fin Keel versus a Full Keel Efficiency

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Applying a bit of Newtonian physics says that the force on a keel is equal to half the water density x velocity squared x area. But wait – what if the fin keel area was the same as the full keel? All would be the same, right? And even so, usually a full keel would have a  larger area than a fin keel (despite the fin keel being a little deeper), so it would seem then that the full keel would do better, not worse.

Are You Really Ready for an Assessment?

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Before you ask an instructor for an assessment or certification sign-off, it helps to understand how learning actually works on the water. At NauticEd, we developed the S-E-A Learning Path.

How Does NauticEd Compare to ASA and U.S. Sailing

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NauticEd combines advanced digital learning with recognized industry standards. The only boating school with courses that are NASBLA-compliant, USCG-recognized, and RYA-approved. Receive top-quality boating education that meets charter industry-endorsed standards.

How to Dock a Catamaran on a T-Head (Complete Guide)

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Docking a catamaran on a T-head doesn’t have to be stressful. In this step-by-step video + transcript, Grant Headifen demonstrates five real-world approaches—45° drive-in, ferry-glide (crab), tailwind back-in, wind-on, and wind-off—showing throttle work, line order, and pro tips for clean, controlled landings.

Waves Explained: Formation, Swell vs Wind Waves & Safety

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From chaos to swell: learn how wind builds waves, why long-period swells outpace storms, how fetch and period shape comfort (and seasickness), and what offshore safety gear—especially well-fitting PFDs with spray hoods—does to keep you breathing and alert.