Grant Headifen

About Grant Headifen

Grant Headifen is a USCG-certified Master Mariner (50-Ton), founder of NauticEd, and one of the sailing world's most recognized educators. With 46 years on the water, charters across 40+ global destinations, 5 sailing books, 30+ online courses, and 300,000+ students worldwide, Grant brings real-world expertise to every article. He pioneered fractional boat ownership through SailTime and serves on the Texas Boater Safety Advisory Board. NauticEd is the only U.S. sailing education body recognized by the U.S. Coast Guard under American National Standards.

Entries by Grant Headifen

Sailing Poem of Paradox

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One balmy day in a stormy night,
Two sunken catamarans sailed with a port green light.
They reefed both lazy sheets in a flat sea gale,
And tacked straight windward with no wind and a bulging sail.

Sea of Cortez Flotilla – February 2026

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The Sea of Cortez has captured the imagination of sailors and adventurers and offers unparalleled opportunities for exploration under sail. Join other sailors on NauticEd and Santana Sailing’s 2026 Sea of Cortez Flotilla.

The International Ibiza Regatta!

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A sailing event that is as fun as it is serious! Get ready for an exhilarating sailing competition between large, modern chartered sailing yachts, with our own unique handicap system! What could be more exhilarating than a race in turquoise waters around the world’s hippest tropical island? 

Catamaran Maneuvering Mastery

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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.

Spring-on and Spring-off exercise

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The Animation is the most common way to get your boat off the dock or get in when the wind is not working in your favor. You can also use this if the current is working against you also.

It is especially useful for tight spots – many times you might want to get into the fuel dock and back out again, but there is only a tiny spot. No worries!

Flares are Essential Safety Equipment

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In addition to your flare kit, you should have on board a distress signaling kit. It should contain a mirror (which has been consistently proven to attract attention to far away viewers), an eVDSD (electronic Visual Distress Signal Device) which is an LED SOS signaling device discussed above, a whistle, a distress orange flag, and a floating LED flashlight – all stowed in a loudly marked bag for easy grab.