Sailing Education Archives

Clothing for Sailing

October 17, 2023/by Grant Headifen

Dressing appropriately for weather conditions is an important but often overlooked topic. Weather in the marina may be considerably different from weather beyond the marina and conditions can drastically change during your venture.

Chart Symbols

October 17, 2023/by Grant Headifen

Studying a harbor layout does very little good without understanding the symbols and what they signify. It pays to

Electrical Measurements

October 17, 2023/by Grant Headifen

To be prepared and understand electrical power usage on a modern vessel, it is important to learn a few basic terms and concepts.

Starting the Diesel Engine

October 17, 2023/by Grant Headifen

Prior to starting the diesel engine: Become familiar with how and when a vessel’s transmission gear shift…

Dock Line Release

October 17, 2023/by Grant Headifen

Have a dock line untying plan based on the wind and the current direction and then communicate this to the crew. Depending on which is stronger…

Personal Flotation Devices

October 17, 2023/by Grant Headifen

The terms “life jacket” and “PFD” are interchangeable, with the latter used in the USA and the former used in most of the rest of the world.

Using Multiple Anchors

October 16, 2023/by Grant Headifen

There are occasions when more than one anchor will add safety and comfort. One possibility is to use one or two anchors…

Weather Warnings

October 16, 2023/by Grant Headifen

Weather services will also provide weather warnings, such as small craft or gale warnings for a certain area, as well as fog predictions.

Electric Devices and Standards

October 16, 2023/by Grant Headifen

A word of caution whenever using any home AC appliances on a vessel. Generally, these devices will work fine

Magnetism

October 16, 2023/by Grant Headifen

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