What does it feel like offshore when winds top 50 knots? We’ll tell you, review some common heavy weather equipment, and share ideas for coping.
When You're Underway
Life underway is full of excitement and fun, but can be challenging too.
Here's some of our "standard operating procedures" that reduce the stress and increase the enjoyment.
🎧 Navigation Tools
After a lifetime of cruising with sextant and hand-bearing compass, Lin Pardey goes cruising with GPS and compares the experience. Is GPS really safer, or just easier?
🎧 Jury-Rig Your Rigging
A rigging failure is one of the scariest things that can happen on an offshore passage. Techniques for getting yourself to safety without outside assistance.
🎧Magic in Choosing a Better Anchorage
A planned anchored just won’t work in the condtions, and it’s pretty disappointing. But maybe the alternate will be even better!
🎧For First-Time Voyagers
Storms, running out of food, breaking gear, is this the reality of setting sail across an ocean? First timers worry it is. So listen in to see what some of these first timers actually encountered once as they crossed their very first ocean.
🎧Overcoming Fear and Gaining Confidence
Being prepared for offshore cruising not only means having gear to handle heavy weather, but also gaining confidence to face your first storm at sea.
🎧8 Tips for the Night Watch
Lin Pardey provides eight tips for the on-watch passagemaker to ensure that all is well with the boat and the other crew stay well-rested.
Safety Checks
A chilling story from a reader brings home an important point: never assume your safety gear works. Check it. Frequently.
🎧The Joys of Sailing
Just because you’re an accomplished sailor doesn’t mean you don’t have things to learn. Join Lin Pardey as she takes us along with her on an afternoon spent messing about on Felicity, her Hereshoff 12.5.
Calculate Your Boat’s Fuel Range
Knowing how to calculate your boat fuel range — your true range, not the theoretical one that the manufacturer tells you — is critical for any trip.