The Wind Triangle: Apparent Wind vs True Wind

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Apparent wind is a vector summation of the boat velocity and the true wind velocity. The animation we have included below shows how the apparent wind changes with boat angle to the wind, given no change in boat speed and true wind velocity. Sailing concepts like this are discussed in depth in our NauticEd Skipper […]

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Handling a wind gust in a dinghy

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Below, we have included a brand new animation that will help you better understand how exactly to handle a wind gust when you are sailing a dinghy. This specific animation, along with many more, will be going into our new Dinghy Sailing iBook “Your First Weekend in Dinghy Sailing.” The iBook will be available for […]

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Dinghy Sailing Heading up

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As an addition to our dinghy sailing iBook for kids, which will be available for download via the Apple iTunes store soon, below is another animation to help further their education. It easily and effectively explains the concept of heading up on the wind from a beam reach to a close haul. The helmsperson pushes […]

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Headsail funnels the wind

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The animation included below shows you exactly how a head sail will funnel the wind on the back side of the mainsail. This, in turn, will allow the mainsail to be hauled in tighter with out the wind stalling behind the mainsail. This will then allow the boat to head even further upwind. You can […]

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Luffing and sheeting in

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This animation below shows a dinghy that is sailing at about 45 deg to the wind. The sail is luffing (flapping) because it has been let out too far. When you sheet in, the sail will stop luffing and begin to drive the boat forward. Click on the “sheet in” button to see more about […]

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Points of Sail

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This is a points of sail animation for teaching kids how to sail a dinghy. This animation will be in our upcoming dinghy sailing ibook.

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Essential Reefing a Sailboat Tips

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A good sailing tip would be to reef your boat early before the wind hits but even more essential reefing tips are embedded in this recent sailing event in Sydney Harbour, Australia. You can’t visit Sydney with out a sailing trip out on the harbour and Matt Hayes, owner of Sydney by Sail charter company […]

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Reefing a Sailboat – HTML5 Animations

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Just posting here some fun and helpful animations of reefing the sails. The animation below represents where sails must be lowered. In the case of the headsail, it needs to be replaced with a smaller sail. Remember, the higher the number, the smaller the sail. This specific one represents where the boat is fitted with […]

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How to gybe with a dipping pole

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Last week we were out on a Beneteau First 45 to participate in a local regatta race series. Until now I’d been working the main and Genoa but this week I wanted to step up and run the spinnaker sheet. Not usually a problem because I’ve done it plenty of times before … but this […]

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How to Pull on a Line

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Here’s a quicky sailing tip that isn’t documented in too many places. And you might think it’s a bit basic but I’ve even seen old time sailing instructors doing this the wrong way. One day their luck is going to run out. Fortunately we got to you just in time. I was out racing last […]

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