ABCs of California Boating is a guide to boating law and safety. Click here to view online or download your own PDF version.
Monday, August 7, 2023
Thursday, November 21, 2019
37 VHF Digital Selective Calling System
Many VHF radios are now coming equipped with the Digital Selective Calling System feature. Click here to see a great explanation of how to use this system.
Wednesday, September 25, 2019
Sunday, July 7, 2019
35 ASA103 Basic Coastal Cruising Certification
Take your ASA101 Basic Keelboat Sailing Certification skills to the next level with ASA103 Basic Coastal Cruising Certification. Click here to find out more!
Saturday, March 2, 2019
34 How to Put on a PFD in the Water
We should be wearing a PFD at all times, but just in case, knowing how to put one on in the water could save your life. Click here to see how.
33 Sail Controls: The Backstay
To see how to adjust the backstay for optimum sail shape, click here.
Friday, October 26, 2018
31 Sail Controls: The Boom Vang (Boom Jack)
Click here to see the purpose of the Boom Vang and how to adjust it.
30 Sail Controls: The Cunningham
Click here to see the purpose of the Cunningham and how to adjust it.
Wednesday, October 17, 2018
28 Flaking the Mainsail with Crew
Dropping the mainsail before docking can get pretty wild in a strong wind. Ever have the helmsman disappear and get lost under a sail dropped too quickly? Click here to see how to do it in a low-stress, orderly fashion.
27 Flaking the Jib
Great demonstration of flaking the jib. The last step we do a little differently at the sailing center. Instead of rolling up the flaked jib, we do 1-ft flat folds starting from the end where the jib sheets are attached. This makes them lay flat on the shelf for stacking. Click here to see demonstration.
Tuesday, October 16, 2018
25 Basic Sailing Rules of the Road
Sailboats have a set of rules to help them avoid collisions. Click here to see a demonstration of the rules.
24 ASA101 Basic Keelboat Sailing Certification
What knowledge and skills do you need for an ASA 101 Basic Keelboat Sailing Certification? Click here to find out.
23 The Sailing Safety Position
Putting the boat into the Safety Position is a good maneuver for slowing and stabilizing the boat for doing things like moving the crew around in a small boat. Click here to see how to do it.
22 Nautical Chart for Channel Islands Area
20 Using Dividers to Measure Distance on a Nautical Chart
Click here to see how to use dividers to measure distance on a nautical chart.
19 Using Parallel Rulers to Determine a Course
You never know when the GPS might die, so it's a good idea to know some old-school navigation!
Click here to see how to find a course using a nautical chart and parallel rulers.
18 Sailing Upwind Efficiently
When your destination is in the no-go zone, you're going to have to tack upwind to get to it. Keeping the number of tacks to a minimum depends on optimum sail trim. Mainsail should be sheeted in down the centerline and the jib sheeted in tight, but not flat. Head up wind until jib starts to luff, then bear away until the jib stops luffing and the tell tales are flying straight back on both sides of the sail. Click here for a demonstration.
Monday, October 15, 2018
17 Marine VHF Radio Protocol
How do you call in an emergency on a Marine VHF Radio? What channels can you use for non-emergency communication? Click here to find out.
16 How to Tie a Boat to the Dock
Restricting a boat's motion while tied to the dock is accomplished by using "spring lines."
Click here to see how to use spring lines.
Click here to see how to use spring lines.
15 How to Heave-To
Do you need to reef, have lunch, use the head, fix lunch, ride out a storm, stop the boat without anchoring, take a break, make a repair? Heaving-to can help you do all these things! Click here to find out how to heave-to.
14 Using a Roller-Furling Jib
Click here for an excellent demonstration on using a roller-furling jib.
13 Reefing the Mainsail
If you are in doubt about whether to reef or not, you probably do. It's alway better to reef early, than wait until conditions deteriorate. Click here for a demonstration.
Sunday, October 14, 2018
12 How to Store Lines Neatly & Safely
Keeping you boat from looking like an explosion in a spaghetti factory is important not just for looks, but safety. A tangle of lines pose a tripping hazard and prevent quick and ready deployment when you need them. Click here for tips on storing your lines.
11 How to Use a Winch Without Losing Your Fingers
The winch is an innocent looking piece of equipment, but it can cause serious injury. Click here to learn how to use one safely.
Saturday, October 13, 2018
10 What is the difference between the Push and Pull modes?
To find the answer to this question, click here.
09 How to Use the Lifesling to Recover a Man-Overboard
Most large keelboats carry a Lifesling for recovering a man-overboard. Click here to see how to use one.
08 Figure-8 Man-Overboard Recovery
The Figure-8 Man-Overboard Recovery works well in all wind conditions. Click here to see it demonstrated. The steps are:
1. Yell "Man-Overboard"
2. Throw flotation
3. Assign a spotter
4. Put the boat on a beam reach
5. Sail away from the victim for about 5 boat-lengths
6. Tack on to a broad reach and sail a little downwind of the victim
7. Put the boat on a close reach and sail slowly back to the victim
8. Luff sails and stop boat in the no-go zone next to victim
9. Attach victim to boat and bring aboard
1. Yell "Man-Overboard"
2. Throw flotation
3. Assign a spotter
4. Put the boat on a beam reach
5. Sail away from the victim for about 5 boat-lengths
6. Tack on to a broad reach and sail a little downwind of the victim
7. Put the boat on a close reach and sail slowly back to the victim
8. Luff sails and stop boat in the no-go zone next to victim
9. Attach victim to boat and bring aboard
Monday, October 8, 2018
Sunday, October 7, 2018
05 Points of Sail
Knowing the Point of Sail you are on is important because it tells you how to adjust your sail. Click here to learn how to determine your point of sail.
Saturday, October 6, 2018
03 Capsize Recovery
To see how to recover from a capsize, click here. Essential steps are:
1. Check for your partner's head to be above water.
2. Hold on to boat so it doesn't blow away.
3. Rotate boat head to wind.
4. Uncleat main sail and jib sheets.
5. Throw jib sheet over boat to centerboard side.
6. Pull on jib sheet and place weight on centerboard.
7. Scoop partner into boat.
1. Check for your partner's head to be above water.
2. Hold on to boat so it doesn't blow away.
3. Rotate boat head to wind.
4. Uncleat main sail and jib sheets.
5. Throw jib sheet over boat to centerboard side.
6. Pull on jib sheet and place weight on centerboard.
7. Scoop partner into boat.
02 True and Apparent Wind
What is the difference between the true wind and apparent wind? Click here to learn more.
Friday, October 5, 2018
01 Eight Must-Know Knots for Sailing
1. Figure 8 Stopper Knot
2. Square Knot
3. Cleat Hitch
4. Bowline
5. Clove Hitch
6. Rolling Hitch
7. Round Turn with Two Half-Hitches
8. Sheet Bend
For more knots: animatedknots.com
2. Square Knot
3. Cleat Hitch
4. Bowline
5. Clove Hitch
6. Rolling Hitch
7. Round Turn with Two Half-Hitches
8. Sheet Bend
For more knots: animatedknots.com
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)