Voyaging with Velella: Things that Go Bump in the Night
This is the first installment in the “Voyaging with Velella” series by ASA writer-at-large Meghan Cleary. Meghan, Prescott and their kitten Nessie are on a…
Category: American Sailing Association
Preparing for the Departure of SV Velella
Ladies and gentlemen, as you know, Meghan Cleary and her fiance´ Prescott are about to embark on a 9-month cruise aboard SV Velella. Oh, and…
November Photo of the Month Contest Results
This past week our Facebook page has been hosting the November Photo of the Month contest, and this being the first such contest I’ve presided…
BP Oil Spill: 6 Month Anniversary
Six months ago today the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig exploded while extracting oil from the Gulf of Mexico’s Macondo prospect, principally owned by BP. We’re…
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…
New ASA Social Media Coordinator
Greetings, this is Ben Miller–your new ASA Social Media Coordinator. As you may know, Meghan Cleary is moving on, so I’ll be taking over all…
“Promotion to the Ocean”
It’s officially autumn, my friends, which makes this a perfectly natural migration time. The birds do it, the “snowbirds” do it, and now I’m going…
Sirocco and Bora Bora Breezes
Continuing “Croatian Tapestry” The builders of Korcula were excellent urban planners. Inside the walled city the narrow alleyways feel mazelike, but in fact they are…
The Scientific Testing of Sladoleds
Continuing “Croatian Tapestry” We woke up early in Hvar to proper gusts straining us back on our mooring ball and a half-chafed through bow line.…
Fighting for Hvar
Continuing “Croatian Tapestry” The sail between Komiza and Hvar was a stretch in and out of lulls and wind alleys, which made for an active…
Lessons from American Sailing Week
American Sailing Week, ASA’s annual members’ event, took place on the beaches of Clearwater Beach, Florida, September 10-17. Captain Jean K Levine and Captain Jeff…
Otherworldly Blue
Continuing “Croatian Tapestry” The evening we anchored in Komiza marked the end of a splendid day of sailing. We left Luka Vis in the morning…
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…
Six brandies, two kittens, and one lamb
Continuing “Croatian Tapestry” The destination for our second day was the tiny island of Vis. After a lunchtime stop at Tito’s private submarine base (which…
Pag Cheese, Please
Continuing “Croatian Tapestry” I rather dread the process of provisioning. Some people might enjoy it, but I’m so finicky about what I eat at any…
Croatian Tapestry
Croatia is a stunningly beautiful country. Decades of time here are layered in clear relief: Renaissance structures sit atop pre-Roman ones, graceful Gothic windows are…
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…
September’s Photo of the Month
This month’s theme was “Lessons in Action.” We received all sorts of photos, from textbook man overboard drills to non-textbook lessons “from the school of…