East Coast Sailing School & Services
Live Your Dream
“Learning how to sail can be a bit of a learning curve so it’s no surprise that a lot of people would prefer to take a course, and when you start learning about the courses that are available it won’t take long before you find ASA certifications. In North America ASA is the standard.”
Click to watch “ASA Certification: Are Sailing Courses Really Worth It?” from Practical Sailor.
The Rules That Save Lives: Common Sense is a Sailor’s Best Safety Tool
It is every sailor’s responsibility to know the rules of the road and follow them, to prevent collisions and save lives.
Click to read “The Rules That Save Lives: Common Sense is a Sailor’s Best Safety Tool” from Cruising World, written by Gary Jobson.
“Cape Dory Yachts was founded in 1963 by Andrew Vavolotis in East Taunton, Mass. In the following 28 years, the company built over 2,800 sailboats ranging from 22 to 45 feet, and over 2,000 of the 19′ Typhoon and the 22′ Typhoon Senior, as well as the Cape Dory 10, which was the original Cape Dory dory. Most of the designs were by Carl Alberg. The boats are known for their sturdiness and ability to handle a wide range of conditions. By the late 1970s, Cape Dory was branching into powerboats. Initially, they produced workboats: a 38′ commercial dragger and a 42′ lobster boat. Around 1985, they began building pleasure powerboats, starting with the Cape Dory 28. Several larger models followed, and in 1992 hull #1 of the 40′ powerboat was built. In all, Cape Dory built over 300 pleasure powerboats. Three-quarters of them were the 28, which came in three configurations from open to flybridge. Around 1991, Cape Dory ceased operating in New England. The name and most of the powerboat designs were sold to Newport Shipyards Corp. of Amityville, New York, which itself reportedly ceased operations in 1996. The other molds were scattered among a number of boat makers, and some models are still being made, mostly on a semi-custom basis (see below). The remainder of the boatbuilding operation, and the marine hardware division of the company, Spartan Marine, were moved to Robinhood, Maine, where Andy Vavolotis is still building sailboats. The Robinhood 36 and 40 are being manufactured from the old Cape Dory 36′ and 40′ molds.”
Click to watch “The History of Cape Dory Sailboats” from Practical Sailor.
Coast Guard Sector Long Island Sound launches Aqua Alert pilot program to improve maritime emergency response
NEW YORK — U.S. Coast Guard Sector Long Island Sound is launching Aqua Alert, a new pilot program designed to quickly notify the public about urgent maritime emergencies.
Click to read “Coast Guard Sector Long Island Sound launches Aqua Alert” from Sector Long Island Sound.
Digital vs. Paper Charts
New digital charts are gradually replacing paper, but they have their issues. Critics want to see improvements right away.
For the past half dozen years, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has been telling boaters that it plans to sunset its paper and raster nautical charts. That process was completed this past December when the last of NOAA’s paper charts was canceled.
Click to read “Digital vs. Paper Charts” from Soundings, written by Kim Kavin.
The sailor’s guide to seasonal inspection. Ensure you cover each system in this easy-to-follow checklist. Prevention is the best medicine to keep you on the water rather than in the yard this sailing season.
Spring is here. Time to step back, put on your inspector hat, and approach the boat as an independent hired inspector would.
Click to read “Spring Inspection Checklist for Boats” from Practical Sailor, written by Drew Frye.