Follow a manual added link
TWO FREE SAILING COURSES
Sign-up for 2 FREE sailing courses and a free sailing eLogbook.
NAUTICED SAILING EDUCATION BLOG
The more you learn, the greater is life’s adventure.
NauticEd’s Sailing Education Blog includes techniques, tips and tricks from the pros – experienced with teaching over 250,000 sailing courses. Want to learn more? Check out our full selection of online sailing courses ›
Latest PostsBROWSE ALL ›
Popular EducationBROWSE ALL ›
Learn from OthersBROWSE ALL ›
Select a Sailing Education Topic
AllManeuvering under SailManeuvering Under PowerAnchoring & MooringNavigationWeather & Storm TacticsCertification & ResourcesQuizzes
“We have one very powerful principle. It is concentrated in one word: competence.”
Basic Sailing Terms for the New Sailor
Nautical language has a long and storied history, with many basic sailing terms that can completely confuse the newcomer.
What is apparent wind?
Both the speed and angle of apparent wind can vary depending on your velocity, which has important implications for sailing. What is apparent wind?
Sailing Basics: How to use a VHF Radio
Your VHF radio is your best way to communicate with other boats on the water, with marinas, and with the coast guard, if necessary. Learning to use it, however, is a little like learning a new language.
How to Pick Up a Mooring Ball
The principle is simple - motor downwind past your selected mooring buoy and back up to it. Run a line from the forward cleat outside the stanchions...
Top Ten Safe Boating Tips
Top 10 safe boating tips in recognition of safe boating awareness week this June. Learn how to be safe on the water.
Crewing on a Sailing Vacation
8 people confined in 40 sq m for a week? Sounds like a disaster waiting to happen. Well, not after you read this article. Crewing and skippering tips and ground rules.
Anchoring with side waves
Here is a trick on how to turn your anchored boat to fave the waves instead of facing the wind. It gives you a much smoother experience while anchoring with side waves.
Meet Sailing Instructor Capt. Marc Hughston
Meet top sailing instructor Capt. Marc Hughston. Sailing instructors are often the most highly experienced sailors in the industry, but they all start somewhere! Gain insight into sailing from those who do it most...
Do I need a sailing license to sail around the world if I own my own boat?
The sailing license that you typically hear about is for yacht chartering only and only in certain areas of the world like the Mediterranean, Seychelles, and a few others. Learn more here....
Navigation Practice Exercise
Here is a simple navigation practice exercise to practice sailing (navigating) to a waypoint. The exercise is for you to plan to sailing upwind and to a waypoint with 2 tacks.
Maneuvering a Sailboat out of a Tight Slip
Maneuvering a Sailboat out of a tight slip does not need to be stressful or embarrassing. Learn how to use your spring line in challenging crosswinds.
Leaving a Mooring Ball in a Tidal Current
One of our students, Tom, asked the below question after he…
“As the wind, so the sails.” To learn more, try out NauticEd’s Free Basic Sail Trim Course, or go in depth with our Skipper Course or Sail Trim Clinic.
Basic Sailing Terms for the New Sailor
Nautical language has a long and storied history, with many basic sailing terms that can completely confuse the newcomer.
What is apparent wind?
Both the speed and angle of apparent wind can vary depending on your velocity, which has important implications for sailing. What is apparent wind?
How to rig a temporary Barber Hauler on a Catamaran
Following on from last week's excellent post by SVN Magazine…
The Barber Hauler User Guide
The barber hauler owes its name to the Barber brothers, who introduced it for the first time in the 1950s to move the jib clew laterally and inwards to close the jib-mainsail channel and get a tighter angle on the wind. Over the years it has undergone a remarkable development....
Spinnaker Sailing Course
The NauticEd Sail Trim course now includes how to hoist, fly, and douse a spinnaker. Here is an animation embedded into the course so that you can learn the names of the components associated with a spinnaker.
Sailboat speed versus sailing angle
I nabbed this image off Pinterest via (https://hobiecat16.wordpress.com/2010/09/23/points-of-sail-vs-boat-speed/).…
How does heeling angle create airfoil shape?
A student asked this question "How does heeling angle create…
Sailing Vector Game
Learn Sailboat Giveway Rules and Cure Boredom at the Same Time.
Here…
Here…
Who Gives Way, Adrift Powerboat or Sailboat under power?
If you like this post, please LIKE it on facebook. Thanks - it…
How to gybe a sailboat single handed
I do this all the time, but I was out with a friend the other…
Forereaching animation: How to sail in big waves
This post was inspired by the conversation I had with a student…
Waves and Forereaching
Here is a great question from a student with our answer below.
QUESTION:
Hey…
QUESTION:
Hey…
Maneuvering under power (“Sorry for what I said while docking…”) is often dreaded by sailors! But we make it easy with the Maneuvering Under Power Clinic, also included in our Skipper Bundle of courses.
Maneuvering a Sailboat out of a Tight Slip
Maneuvering a Sailboat out of a tight slip does not need to be stressful or embarrassing. Learn how to use your spring line in challenging crosswinds.
Leaving a Mooring Ball in a Tidal Current
One of our students, Tom, asked the below question after he…
What is a right-hand screw propeller or left-hand screw propeller?
The terms right-hand screw and left-hand screw are defined as…
Mooring, Anchoring, and Docking
This tidbit tip of mooring, anchoring, and docking information…
How to Spring into a Tight Space on a Dock
Maneuvering your gorgeous sailboat under power in the marina…
Who Gives Way, Adrift Powerboat or Sailboat under power?
If you like this post, please LIKE it on facebook. Thanks - it…
How to Turn Your Sailboat in a Tight Marina
Turning your boat in a tight marina can be intimidating if you…
Angular Momentum When Backing into a Slip
Backing into a slip is indeed an art form. But once you learn…
High Wind Docking Maneuvers
How to back your sailboat into a slip with a high cross wind…
How to ferry your boat into the dock
Ya gotta love this one. LIKE it on facebook please to spread…
Docking a Sailboat Requires a Plan
Here’s a couple of good docking stories and also see below…
Maneuvering a Catamaran
If you like this post, please LIKE it and g+1 it - thanks it…
Anchors aweigh! Learn more with NauticEd’s Anchoring a Sailboat Clinic, also included in the Bareboat Charter Master Bundle.
How to Pick Up a Mooring Ball
The principle is simple - motor downwind past your selected mooring buoy and back up to it. Run a line from the forward cleat outside the stanchions...
Anchoring with side waves
Here is a trick on how to turn your anchored boat to fave the waves instead of facing the wind. It gives you a much smoother experience while anchoring with side waves.
Leaving a Mooring Ball in a Tidal Current
One of our students, Tom, asked the below question after he…
Anchoring: How much rope or chain should I let out?
Anchoring and getting how much chain and rope right to let out is such an important topic that we thought we'd make this excerpt available for free in open space. Please enjoy how we dive into science and mathematics in these techniques.
Mooring, Anchoring, and Docking
This tidbit tip of mooring, anchoring, and docking information…
Anchoring a Sailboat Tip 2
This is a follow on article on request of one of our students…
Anchoring a Sailboat Tip
How to Pick the Right Spot to Anchor
The NauticEd Anchoring…
The NauticEd Anchoring…
Types of Anchors
Went for a walk along the dock the other day and took a few pics…
Monitoring your Anchor Set
After the anchor has set and adequate rode has been paid out,…
Anchoring a Sailboat When Chartering
Anchoring an unfamiliar boat
If you like this post - please…
If you like this post - please…
How to do a Mediterranean Mooring
Mediterranean Mooring
The Med Mooring now becomes simple and…
The Med Mooring now becomes simple and…
Anchoring and going to the potty HTML5 animations
Anchoring and going to the head animations
With the introduction…
With the introduction…
“The winds and waves are always on the side of the ablest navigators.” Which is why we offer many best-in-class nav courses including Coastal Navigation and Electronic Navigation.
Sailing Basics: How to use a VHF Radio
Your VHF radio is your best way to communicate with other boats on the water, with marinas, and with the coast guard, if necessary. Learning to use it, however, is a little like learning a new language.
Navigation Practice Exercise
Here is a simple navigation practice exercise to practice sailing (navigating) to a waypoint. The exercise is for you to plan to sailing upwind and to a waypoint with 2 tacks.
NauticEd talks to hot new sailing app savvy navvy
Talk about NauticEd disrupting the Sailing Education industry,…
Navigation: Rate and Direction (Set and Drift) exercises
Here are some Navigation rate and drift with leeway exercises…
Tide Calculation Pop Quiz
Here's is a quick few tidal problems for you to solve
You're…
You're…
How do Polar Plots Work on a Sailboat?
This is an excerpt from the NauticEd Electronic Navigation Course.…
Lines of Position
Lines of Position - Problem
You take the following bearings…
You take the following bearings…
GPS Tracking for Sailboats and Float Plan Filing
TrackLinkTM is the GPS Tracking App for Sailboats
LATEST UPDATE:…
LATEST UPDATE:…
IALA-A and IALA-B Navigation Marks and Atons
BOOK MARK THIS PAGE
Getting confused about Lateral Navigation…
Getting confused about Lateral Navigation…
Navigation: Distance off a point method or double the angle
Each of our course pages has a nano-forum (called SeaTalks) attached…
Sailing Virgins in the BVI joins NauticEd
NauticEd Finds Sailing Virgins Sailing School
Only ten years…
Only ten years…
Set and Drift or Direction and Rate Problem
Just for practice - solve the following problem on the Long Island…
“The good seaman weathers the storm he cannot avoid and avoids the storm he cannot weather.” To achieve both, take NauticEd’s Weather and Storm Tactics Clinics
What is apparent wind?
Both the speed and angle of apparent wind can vary depending on your velocity, which has important implications for sailing. What is apparent wind?
Predicting the Wind and Weather
NauticEd International Sailing Education forms a strategic partnership…
All about Inflatable Life Vests
Inflatable PFD's
Chances are that you will be switching over…
Chances are that you will be switching over…
Forereaching animation: How to sail in big waves
This post was inspired by the conversation I had with a student…
Waves and Forereaching
Here is a great question from a student with our answer below.
QUESTION:
Hey…
QUESTION:
Hey…
High Wind Docking Maneuvers
How to back your sailboat into a slip with a high cross wind…
Sailing in High Winds
High Wind Sailing
If you like this post - please "LIKE" it and…
If you like this post - please "LIKE" it and…
How to Effectively use a Wind Meter on a Sailboat
Using a Wind Meter - get your head out of the boat
If you like…
If you like…
How to Handle Wind Gusts and Rounding Up
Rounding up is so - so - so dangerous. Last weekend we were out…
Man Overboard
Man Overboard Stories
Man Overboard is one of those things we…
Man Overboard is one of those things we…
How to cure seasickness naturally
On our most recent yacht charter to the Bay of Islands, New Zealand,…
Sea Monster Story: Katabatic Wind
Well actually not so terrifying and not REALLY a sea monster BUT ... We spent about 20 minutes starring at the effect of katabatic winds blasting down the valleys and exploding into the water.
“Verification is the perfect proof of competence.” Certifications and Resumes are simply good ways of knowing a sailor’s qualified and can actually do what they say they can do. Learn more about Certification & Licensing.
Top Ten Safe Boating Tips
Top 10 safe boating tips in recognition of safe boating awareness week this June. Learn how to be safe on the water.
Do I need a sailing license to sail around the world if I own my own boat?
The sailing license that you typically hear about is for yacht chartering only and only in certain areas of the world like the Mediterranean, Seychelles, and a few others. Learn more here....
Catamaran Qualification and Training
We get this call almost every day - "I've been sailing a monohull…
Sailing Certificate Standards
NauticEd has been operating as a premier sailing training body…
On The Water Training Standards
At NauticEd, we treat the word COMPETENCE very seriously. We…
Nineteen ways to get sailing experience if you don’t own a boat
Often we have people call and say they can't charter a yacht…
What is a boating or sailing resume?
To charter a yacht on a sailing vacation (or a powerboat on a boating vacation) you absolutely must have a boating or sailing resume. A sailing or boating resume is the same as a job resume – it summarizes, in a very concise format, all of your accomplishments.
What is The Biggest Lie in Sailing?
For years now, we have known about the biggest lie in sailing.…
Charter Companies: How the NauticEd Sailing Certification Ranks Work
This is a brief for Yacht Charter Companies on How the NauticEd…
How to gain your SLC Mediterranean Sailing License
You now must have a Sailing License for chartering a sailboat in the Mediterranean. No matter how much experience you have and no matter who you are, you have to have a license. Why?
Sailing License for the Mediterranean
PRESS RELEASE:
This past week, NauticEd's SLC license was approved…
This past week, NauticEd's SLC license was approved…
Sailing Training Vacations
Learning to Sail - Improving Your Sailing Skills - Building Mileage:…
“Life [sailing] is not a final. It’s daily pop quizzes.” Each of our sailing courses includes quizzes and tests that you can retake as many times as you’d like.
Navigation Practice Exercise
Here is a simple navigation practice exercise to practice sailing (navigating) to a waypoint. The exercise is for you to plan to sailing upwind and to a waypoint with 2 tacks.
Navigation: Rate and Direction (Set and Drift) exercises
Here are some Navigation rate and drift with leeway exercises…
Tide Calculation Pop Quiz
Here's is a quick few tidal problems for you to solve
You're…
You're…
Spinnaker Sailing Course
The NauticEd Sail Trim course now includes how to hoist, fly, and douse a spinnaker. Here is an animation embedded into the course so that you can learn the names of the components associated with a spinnaker.
Sailing Vector Game
Learn Sailboat Giveway Rules and Cure Boredom at the Same Time.
Here…
Here…
Set and Drift or Direction and Rate Problem
Just for practice - solve the following problem on the Long Island…
Test Question: How to Determine Speed and COG
Try to answer this coastal navigation question:
At 1035 your…
At 1035 your…
Snap Test: How well do you know the rules
If you like this fun test - please like us over there ---->
Thanks…
Thanks…
Snap Test: Who gives way?
//
//
Here's a fun little test.
Know the Official…
//
Here's a fun little test.
Know the Official…
Another tide problem to solve
If you like this problem please like it on facebook and g+1.…
Can you solve this tidal problem?
If you like exercises like this we will post more - like it on…
Friend Us
Tweet About
