Cruising the Windward Islands - Blue Water Sailing
WEBAug 10, 2018 · The Windward islands, the southern portion of the Lesser Antilles, was Brenda’s and my destination for the 2017/2018 cruising season. They are a chain of islands running north-south for a distance of approximately 200 miles, south of the Leewards. The main islands of the chain, north to south are Martinique, St. Lucia, and St. Vincent.
A Guide to Life Rafts, Their Equipment, Storage and Deployment
WEBJan 21, 2015 · By Administrator · On January 21, 2015. Here’s the first part in a two part series on life rafts: Nationally known safety-at-sea expert Chuck Hawley gives us a comprehensive guide on life rafts, their equipment and care…. Life rafts are designed to keep the crew of a vessel alive for a short period of time after the vessel becomes ...
Calculating the True Wind and Why it Matters
WEBMay 9, 2017 · There are several ways to define the wind. For weather work at sea we care only about the true wind. This true wind is the speed and the direction of the wind relative to the fixed earth under the ocean. Tied up at the dock, we feel the true wind. Once we get underway, however, our own motion changes the wind we feel, and then it is called the ...
NEEL: The Trimarans That Changed Everything
WEBMay 29, 2024 · This innovation created cruising boats that have the excellent sailing qualities of a tri with the huge living spaces of a cat. The first boat, the NEEL 45, took the sailing world by storm when it was shown at the European and U.S. boat shows. Plus, it competed in that year’s ARC rally across the North Atlantic and earned line honors by over ...
A Guide to Equipping Your Boat with a Windvane
WEBSep 10, 2015 · A Guide to Equipping Your Boat with a Windvane. By Administrator · On September 10, 2015. Daniel Collins provides a summary of the major choices involved in the purchase of new self-steering gear. A common piece of equipment found on the modern offshore cruising sailboats is the autopilot. Whether it is …
Heaving-To: a Useful Maneuver Worth Practicing
WEBAug 26, 2015 · Simply put, heaving-to is a maneuver used to slow a sailboat’s progress and calm its motion while at sea. When successfully “hove-to,” a sailboat will gently drift to leeward at a greatly reduced speed. The reasons for heaving-to are numerous and often situational. When teaching students the maneuver, I impart the three Rs of heaving-to ...
Shannon Shoalsailer 35 - Blue Water Sailing
WEBSep 25, 2005 · SHANNON SHOALSAILER 35 • With a home in the Florida Keys and a desire to explore them by sail, shallow coastal gunkholing rather than ocean passages were the inspiration for designer Walt Schulz’s Shoalsailers by Shannon Yachts.The Shoalsailer 35 is the second in the line and boasts the ability to sail upwind with a mere 30-inch draft, thanks to her unique hull shape.
Boat Reviews - Blue Water Sailing
WEBMar 6, 2024 · All New Beneteau Oceanis 37.1 Family Cruiser for 2024. By George Day. Launched last fall in time for the Annapolis sailboat show, the new Oceanis 37.1 completes the seventh generation of the Oceanis line that …
Essential Upgrades to an Offshore Cruising Boat
WEBMar 7, 2018 · The rule of thumb for cruising anchors is to carry at least three primary anchors, two of the hooking type and one of the fluke type. The fluke type is for soft sand and mud bottoms that you are likely to find up deep harbors or rivers where you may be seeking shelter from a storm. The hooking types are all-purpose anchors.
Highlights of the Society Islands - Blue Water Sailing
WEBOct 22, 2014 · The following is a cruiser’s primer to this collection of islands that are the destination of many sailors’ dreams. Captain Cook named the Society Islands in honor of the Royal Society, a scientific body spearheading the Age of Enlightenment in 18th century England. Tahiti is just one island, the administrative capital and gateway to the ...