Category Archives: Skipper’s Tip

Skipper’s Tip – SHIPS!

Posted on April 25, 2016 by TW-Matt

We’ve all watched as they slink slowly and silently across the bay.  Some of them are a few hundred feet long and others over 1,000 feet and for the most part small boaters stay out of the way.  Some never … Continue reading →

Posted in Skipper's Tip | Tagged | 7 Comments

Skipper’s Tip – Jib Furling

Posted on April 18, 2016 by TW-Matt

Furling the jib can be easy and painless, or it can be hard work and even dangerous, depending on how you approach it. Here’s a tip that will help you keep it calm, under control, and less of a workout! … Continue reading →

Posted in Skipper's Tip | Tagged | Leave a comment

Safe Boat Handling

Posted on April 11, 2016 by TW-Matt

Safe Docking At Tradewinds, we like to stress handling lines from the boat, not the dock, whenever possible. That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t learn how to properly step on and off a boat because not all line handling can be … Continue reading →

Posted in Skipper's Tip | Tagged | Leave a comment

A Captain’s Responsibilty

Posted on March 14, 2016 by Don Gilzean

“I can handle anything that happens!” Have you ever gotten a chill from something someone has said.  I heard this statement this morning, and I can honestly say the statement scared me more than I could have imagined.  The statement was … Continue reading →

Posted in General, Skipper's Tip | 6 Comments

Windward Docking at the Pump Out Station

Posted on January 11, 2016 by Don Gilzean

Observing the “D” dock pump out station is quite educational; sometimes its down right humorous.  There are only two sides to the dock, which pretty much limits the number of docking options.  The north side of the dock (typically the leeward side) is … Continue reading →

Posted in General, Skipper's Tip | 3 Comments

Don’t Sail to a Timeline

Posted on January 4, 2016 by Don Gilzean

Sailing to a specific time schedule can be dangerous.  Trying to “get there” at a specific time, or wanting to trim 20 minutes off your sailing ETA may create a situation where you put yourself at risk. While returning from Drakes Bay … Continue reading →

Posted in General, Skipper's Tip | Leave a comment

Know Your Knots – or Have the App!

Posted on November 23, 2015 by TW-Matt

-By Tradewinds Member Tim G. Hey Matt Had a great day sailing on Wind Song on Sunday.     Setting out from the dock, we knew we would be putting in the 2nd reef right away due to the projected gusty winds. … Continue reading →

Posted in General, Skipper's Tip | Leave a comment

Warm Bread, Hot Tea, and a Good Story

Posted on November 9, 2015 by Don Gilzean

A few days ago I spent the night on my boat, waking at six in the morning to the smell of baking bread.  There are very few aromas in the world that smell better!  All I could do was get … Continue reading →

Posted in General, Skipper's Tip | 1 Comment

Keep Your Skills Fresh

Posted on November 2, 2015 by Don Gilzean

Here’s a quick tip for you.  If you want to keep your sailing skills fresh, take out a Capri once in a while. First, it’s amazing how much feedback you get on a small boat with a tiller.  Second, some maneuvers that … Continue reading →

Posted in General, Skipper's Tip | Leave a comment

Tack, Tack, & Tacking a.k.a. Five Tips to Improve Your Tacking

Posted on October 12, 2015 by Don Gilzean

Tack, Tack, and Tacking … so confusing.  Are we talking about the lower, leading corner of a sail, the side of the boat the wind is coming from, or the process of turning the boat through the wind so that the … Continue reading →

Posted in General, Skipper's Tip | 2 Comments