Marine Flares Expired? Consider This Alternative
The Sirius Signal SOS Distress Light aims to replace traditional marine flares - it is the first LED Visual Distress Signal Device to be USCG approved…
Category: Safety
5 Things That Aren’t in Your First Aid Kit But Should Be
Most generic first aid kits carry the essentials for an impromptu medical situation, but here are 5 things recommended by a doctor that you should add…
Coast Guard Announces New PFD Labeling
A study initiated nearly a decade ago suggests that users do not adequately understand PFD type codes. In an effort to address this problem, the US Co…
National Safe Boating Week Starts Today!
May 16 – 22 is National Safe Boating Week and ASA encourages sailors to take it to heart.
Docking: Or, How You Can Learn to Stop Worrying and Love the Marina
Once, while sailing in the San Juan Islands, I saw something I’ll never forget. A powerboater cruised into the dock at high speed with his…
Anatomy of a Rescue: How ASA Sailors Saved Lives in the Open Ocean
On May 16th in the Bay of Florida, 80 miles out of Key West and the finish line of the 2013 Bone Island Regatta, Captain…
How Not to Dock Your Boat
If only these people had taken the American Sailing Association’s Docking Endorsement. We’ll teach you everything from the physics of docking to how to step…
Rambler capsizes in Fastnet Race with ASA co-founder Peter Isler onboard
During last week’s Fastnet Race in the Irish Sea, the yacht Rambler, which Sailing World called “the most advanced, powerful monohull race boat in the…
Sailing Tragedy in Race to Mackinac 2011
As you may have already heard, on Monday the U.S. Coast Guard confirmed the death of two sailors competing in the Chicago-Mackinac Race. A late…
Voyaging with Velella: How to Sail Across a Bar
Continuing the Voyaging with Velella series by ASA writer-at-large Meghan Harvey. Meghan and her husband Prescott have been cruising aboard their boat Velella for the…
One Year After Oil Spill, Conflicting Views on the State of the Gulf
It’s been just over a year since the world watched in horror as millions of gallons of oil bloomed in the Gulf of Mexico, the…
Voyaging with Velella: The Cost of Cruising
In this special edition of Voyaging with Velella, ASA writer-at-large Meghan Cleary answers a popular question from readers: What is the necessary budget for living…
2010: The Year in American Sailing
2010 has been a year of drama on the high seas, and one of change and excitement for ASA. Here’s a rundown of some of…
Voyaging with Velella: On Night Sailing
In this blog, ASA writer-at-large Meghan Cleary answers a question from a reader. Meghan is on a 9-month cruise in the tropics aboard S/V Velella.…
Can You Design a Better Life Jacket?
Ever find yourself fiddling interminably with straps and velcro, or tottering around feeling like the Marshmallow Man from Ghostbusters 2? These may be signs that…
Weathering Earl in the British Virgin Islands
Many of you have been lucky enough to learn to sail, cruise or charter in the British Virgin Islands. Here is an update from Pat…
Anchor Tango
It’s like sticking to the right lane of traffic if you’re driving more slowly than everyone else. It’s just good etiquette, and will give you…
103 Textbook in the Works
We are currently in the throes of designing the next new ASA textbook–an accompaniment to the ASA 103 Basic Coastal Cruising course. Last week, the…