“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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

A video tutorial showing how to customize the look and feel of Aqua Map to best suit your needs. Whether you prefer to increase the font size of text on the app or display only certain POIs from Active Captain or Waterway Guide, this video walks you through all the options available in Aqua Map […]

Boating Safety Checklists Are Not For Nerds. The pros use them to prevent boating mishaps and you should too. “Kick the tires and light the fires!” That was something we would sometimes say in my Coast Guard days when heading out to the helicopter for a rescue mission. It was mild bravado, a way to […]

With a storm coming, a crew member faces a dilemma: How to say no to the boat’s owner. Years ago, I was invited to help deliver a schooner to Key West, Florida, only to be faced with an uncomfortable situation before we ever left the dock. It was late fall when my brother and I […]

The sea is no place for absolutes about everything, which is why the safety community’s mantra about PFDs should be modified. The U.S. Coast Guard says it, the National Boating Safety Advisory Committee (NBSAC) says it, and the National Park Service says it: “Always wear a life jacket.” “It’s a phrase that’s all too common among boating safety […]