Sailing Education Archives

Sailing in High Winds

April 18, 2014/by Grant Headifen

You’ve got to understand balancing the forces and what are the effects of each available sail control when sailing in high winds.

Combat Propwalk

April 8, 2014/by Grant Headifen

Prop walk can be quite frustrating on sailboats with a drive shaft. Here are ways to deal with prop walk when backing into a slip.

We are on a close haul at 30 degrees to the wind. I want you to check out this photo and have a good look at the shape of the mainsail. The photo is taken on the windward side of the boat. Look at the black seam line. Good or Bad? Well it is doing exactly […]

Logbook Authentication by Crew Mates

March 28, 2014/by Grant Headifen

You now have the optional ability to digitally authenticate your logbook via your crew mates. The value in this is enormous and exciting.

How to Effectively use a Wind Meter on a Sailboat

February 24, 2014/by Grant Headifen

Using a Wind Meter – get your head out of the boat Please consider our awesome Electronic Navigation course. It is also loaded with similar animations to help you understand many of the electronic aids on a sailboat especially your GPS chart plotter, wind meter and autopilot. First let me state my point of how […]

How to Handle Wind Gusts and Rounding Up

February 17, 2014/by Grant Headifen

Rounding up is so – so – so dangerous. Last weekend we were out sailing and a speed boat came ripping by at about 20 knots to the windward of us and only about 60 ft away. Yes they are stupid – yes they should know better and yes they should be shot – but […]

How to be a good leader on a sailboat

January 30, 2014/by Grant Headifen

Leadership and Friendship on a Sailboat Adventure This is a pretty embarrassing story for me to tell but I’m going to tell it anyway in first person rather than say “I knew a guy who once who …”. It’s pretty much a result of me getting out of the wrong side of the bed and […]

Why a Sailboat does not tip over?

January 13, 2014/by Grant Headifen

Why doesn’t a sailboat tip over? Here’s an animation that shows the balance of forces actually it is technically the balance of moments.

How to fuel up your sailboat

January 12, 2014/by Grant Headifen

If you like this post – please “LIKE” it and g+1 it – It helps keep our waterways clean. Here’s how to fuel up your sailboat without spilling a drop of fuel into the water. Hi all – for years I struggled with fueling up the boat and trying my best to not spill any […]

Solar Panels for boats

January 9, 2014/by Grant Headifen

Using a Solar Panel for a boat Lake Travis in Austin Texas is about 40 feet down right now with over 50% of the water gone. That’s not good! But also it’s not good because they’ve pushed out the docks so far that the marina company no longer supply electricity to the dock. This left […]