Popular Education Articles Archives

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.

Sailing Wind Velocity & Direction

October 19, 2023/by Grant Headifen

The faster the boat sails into the wind, the more the apparent wind speed increases and the more it feels like it is coming from the front of the boat. They say “The apparent wind is forward of the true wind”. This means the apparent wind feels like it comes from a more forward direction than the true wind.

Reefing the Sails

October 12, 2023/by Grant Headifen

Before heading out, check forecasted wind conditions to see if you might need to reef at some point during the day. If so, make appropriate reefing preparations in the calm marina and ensure your crew knows the procedure.