We hear it all the time, “that’s a beautiful boat” but what do they really mean? Does anyone even know that all sailboats are not equal?
Take this quiz and you’ll find out if you know what you have been sailing on.
From ASA 101 to Unforgettable Adventures Crossing Oceans
ASA Certified Sailor Scott Elles is Living Life
There are some truly amazing circle-the-globe races out there. There’s the Volvo Ocean Race, the Vendee Globe, the Barcelona (doublehanded) World Race and the upcoming Golden Globe Race that will recreate the first solo unassisted round the world contest that happened in 1968, to name a few. But let’s face it, most of us are not going to be surfing down a building-sized wave doing 29-knots in a Volvo 65 or negotiating icebergs while blasting through the Southern Ocean in an Open 60 any time soon, so we watch and live vicariously through the lives of professional sailors.
ASA 101 Exam Day
Join Lauren on her adventure as she embarks on a journey to learn to sail. Follow her as she gets her feet wet as a beginner, gains experience, and earns her ASA certifications. The ultimate goal is to complete ASA 104 and go bareboat chartering somewhere exotic.
ASA 101, Part 4 – ASA 101 Exam Day
Last night I spent a solid couple of hours with the books and with my own shoelace. It’s relaxing to practice tying knots in front of the TV. I’m not much of a “gamer” but I downloaded the Sailing Challenge app to check it out. You take a virtual boat out on the water and can experiment with different sailing maneuvers. For a beginner like myself it’s a fun way to make mistakes without the pressure of sinking and ruining everyone’s afternoon.
Join Us In Celebrating Coastal Cleanup Day
In the 1980s, a small group of volunteers in Texas rallied their community together to take a day to clean up their coastal area. They organized a team and trekked a couple miles of beach to remove a few bags of trash from the shoreline. Thirty years later, over 100 countries will be participating in an effort now known as International Coastal Cleanup Day (part of World Cleanup Day).
Let’s Talk About Sextants!
Ah, the sextant… that odd magical contraption that sleeps in an aged wooden box and stored in a seldom-used locker. Every once in a while you break it out and it’s glorious to behold – there’s poetry in its very existence. You look at the curves and the shiny mirrors, then you spin the dials – they feel substantial and real. You gaze at the increment markers and numbers and hold it in your hand just as Captain Cook’s navigator did with something oh so similar. As you feel the weight of this incredible innovative invention you mutter, “I wish I knew how to use this damn thing…” And you put it back into the really cool wooden box.
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Considering a Long Distance Cruising Adventure? Join a Sailing Rally!
We all know sailboat racing is a common means sailors use to stay on top of their game, improve seamanship and have fun on the water, but lots of folks bristle at the idea of sailing as competition. For many it’s the absolute antithesis of that. The idea of replacing the contemplative peace associated with a beautiful day sail or cruise with friends and family with the intensity and controlled chaos of a sailboat race is nothing short of insane to many a sailor. However, these same sailors might admit, perhaps begrudgingly, that racing does have something that’s kind of cool… an active community.
Interview with Sailing Legend Peter Isler
We had the privilege of catching up with world-renowned sailor Peter Isler to get his thoughts on the state of sailing and racing today:
Sailing in the Clouds with Santa Barbara Sailing
Join Lauren on her adventure as she embarks on a journey to learn to sail with Santa Barbara Sailing. Follow her as she gets her feet wet as a beginner, gains experience, and earns her ASA certifications. The ultimate goal is to complete ASA 104 and go bareboat chartering somewhere exotic.
ASA 101, Part 3 – Sailing in the Clouds
You’d expect the second day of a three-day sailing course to be the least memorable: you’re not in the excitement of the beginning, nor are you feeling the adrenaline of the solo sail ending. But in a world that relies on something as wavering and powerful as the sea and wind, you never know what kind of day you are going to have.
USCG Marine Safety Alert
The U.S. Coast Guard has received reports from crews, ship owners, inspectors and other mariners regarding poor reception on VHF frequencies used for radiotelephone, digital selective calling (DSC) and automatic identification systems (AIS) when in the vicinity of light emitting diode (LED) lighting on-board ships (e.g., navigation lights, searchlights and floodlights, interior and exterior lights, adornment).
Dressed to Not Kill
Do you think there are enough apparel companies out there, that care about the ocean, to enable us to dress a person entirely in clothing made from recycled plastics?
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