A nautical chart can look intimidating the first time you open one. There are numbers scattered across the water, strange symbols near the shoreline, colored areas, dashed lines, compass roses, abbreviations, buoys, lights, rocks, wrecks and notes seemingly everywhere. At first glance, it can feel as though you need to memorize an entirely new language before you can use one. …

What Is a Marine VHF Radio? A marine VHF radio is one of those pieces of equipment that can sit quietly aboard your sailboat for hours without attracting much attention. Then, suddenly, it can become one of the most important pieces of equipment you own. VHF stands for Very High Frequency. Marine VHF radios use designated radio frequencies to allow …

There comes a point in learning to sail when you discover that controlling a sailboat does not always mean making it go somewhere. Sometimes, the best thing you can do is almost stop. You may want a few quiet minutes to organize the cockpit. Someone aboard may need a break. You might need time to check your position, sort out …

A beam reach is one of the best points of sail for learning how a sailboat really works. The wind comes across the side of the boat rather than from ahead or behind. The sails are eased away from the centerline. The boat usually develops good speed without requiring the precise steering and tight sail trim needed when sailing upwind. …

There comes a point in every sailor’s learning journey when the wind becomes stronger than expected. Perhaps you left the dock in a comfortable 10-knot breeze, but an hour later the wind has increased to 18 knots. Whitecaps are beginning to appear. The boat is heeling farther than before. The helm feels heavier. The main sheet is loaded. Every gust …

Reefing is one of the first sailing skills that truly changes the way a beginner thinks about controlling a sailboat. When you first learn to sail, much of your attention is focused on making the boat move. You learn how to steer, trim the sails, tack, jibe, sail upwind, sail downwind, and reach efficiently. Eventually, however, the wind increases. The …

Sailing downwind can feel surprisingly relaxed the first time you try it. The boat usually heels less. The apparent wind feels lighter. The sails are eased farther from the centerline, and the boat may seem to glide quietly across the water. That can make downwind sailing appear simple. Point the boat away from the wind, let the sails out, and …

Jibing often feels more intimidating than tacking the first few times you see it happen. The reason is easy to understand: during a jibe, the boom and mainsail move from one side of the boat to the other while the boat is still sailing downwind and the sail may still be carrying considerable wind pressure. That movement can look sudden. …