Storm-Ready: Choosing a Safe Spot for Your Boat
Since 2003, I’ve studied hurricane damage patterns up close. One truth has become clear: where you put your boat is just as important as how you …
Category: Safety
The Six Senses of Sailing
Enhance your sailing skills by engaging all six senses—sight, hearing, touch, smell, taste, and intuition—to navigate, troubleshoot, and fully …
Safely Disposing of Expired Flares: A Boater’s Guide
Learn about the risks and proper disposal methods for expired marine flares, including legal options, environmental considerations, and safer alternat…
Charting Seas and Dreams: Jimmy Cornell’s Lifetime of Sailing Adventure & Essential Voyage Planning Insights
Discover the remarkable life of sailing legend Jimmy Cornell. Explore his adventures, from circumnavigations to remote expeditions, and gain essential…
Dinghies & Their Outboards: A Troubleshooting Guide for Hassle-Free Adventures
A guide to troubleshooting outboard engines on sailboat dinghies. Learn how to address and resolve common issues with your dinghy's outboard motor.
Interview with Nigel Calder and Jan Athenstadt of BoatHowTo.com
American Sailing sat down with Nigel Calder, author of the best-selling ‘Boatowners Mechanical and Electrical Manual’ and co-founder of BoatHowTo.…
Unlock Trouble-Free Sailing: Expert Insights from Jan Athenstadt and Nigel Calder on Boat Maintenance Essentials
Dive into the essentials of boat maintenance with American Sailing's upcoming online class hosts and experts Jan Athenstadt and Nigel Calder. Learn fr…
Free PDF Download: A Guide to VHF Channels
For coastal cruising sailors, the VHF radio serves as the foremost lifeline. It also plays a crucial role in sharing safety-related information both w…
How and Why to Heave To
"Heaving-to" is a classic technique employed to endure severe weather conditions while at sea. Heaving-to is an essential skill for all mariners, as i…
How to Deal With Seasickness While Sailing
Don't let seasickness ruin your ability to enjoy sailing. There are plenty of seasoned sailors who started out with complications from motion sickness…
Tips for Diving Into the Sailing Season
As you embark on the sailing season, it is always a good idea to be well-prepared. Here are some early-season tips to get you off to a great start wit…
Handling Marine Emergencies
Emergencies at sea are extremely serious and require a prepared crew to take control of the situation. While you may take sailing courses to become pr…
What is a PFD (lifejacket)
In the official language of the USCG, a wearable device that will keep you afloat should you fall in the water is a “personal flotation device” or…
Handling Emergencies: Man Overboard
Every man or woman overboard situation should be treated as a very serious matter, even in seemingly balmy conditions. In cold waters or cold weather,…
Safety Equipment Required on a Boat
The USCG requires certain safety equipment on a boat and it is imperative that you make sure that your vessel is properly outfitted with this equipmen…
Should You Wear A PFD?
The question that is asked most often when going on a daysail has to be: Should I wear a lifejacket? The answer is YES, you should wear a life jacket …
Operating a Dinghy Safely and Responsibly
Dinghies are an integral part of sailing for the charter customer or for the cruiser who hopes to step onto shore once they reach their desired destin…
Reefing is Important
We’re talking about reefing - a foreign concept for some, a tried and failed practice for others - either way it's an important skill for real sailo…