Popular Education Articles Archives

Fin Keel versus a Full Keel Efficiency

December 13, 2025/by Grant Headifen

Basic Newtonian physics says keel force scales with water density, area, and velocity squared. So if a fin keel and full keel had the same area, shouldn’t they perform the same? And since full keels often have more area, it seems like they should do better—not worse.

Are You Really Ready for an Assessment?

December 11, 2025/by Grant Headifen

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 to Gybe Single Handedly

May 26, 2025/by Grant Headifen

An easy guide on how to gybe single handed. Shows an animation with step-by-step instructions. Gybe Ho!

Flares are Essential Safety Equipment

February 25, 2025/by Grant Headifen

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.

Is a beam reach relative to true wind or apparent wind

December 11, 2024/by Grant Headifen

Beam reach – true wind or apparent wind – that is the question. Learn about the interplay between theory and practice when sailing a beam reach.

How to Trim the Mainsail – Traveler or Mainsheet?

October 5, 2024/by Grant Headifen

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

9 Essential Knots Every Sailor Should Know

June 15, 2024/by Bill Ibsen

Unleash your inner sailor with Bill Ibsen’s guide to 9 essential knots. From bights to bitter ends, master the art of knot tying.

Mediterranean Mooring Techniques

May 15, 2024/by Grant Headifen

Mediterranean Mooring Techniques is where the rubber meets the road—or, in this case, where the gel coat does not touch the big bad hard concrete wall.

Planning to use springlines when docking

May 13, 2024/by Grant Headifen

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.

Leaving the Slip with a Sailboat

April 1, 2024/by Grant Headifen

Wind coming into the slip channel and your boat is stern-to. This is best handled by steering out of the slip and then immediately downwind. Back out of the slip channel and well into the main channel before engaging forward.