Category Archives: Skipper’s Tip

Even though we love to sail and running a motor is a drag, we sometimes need our auxiliary power to get from A to B. Not everyone is a diesel mechanic, boat owner, or sailing club operator. Our experience operating … Continue reading →

We have a boat-cleaning week coming up to prepare the fleet for the Summer Season. Along those lines, we’ve decided to share some tips about boat cleanliness this week. Rinse all running rigging and hardware – often people spray down … Continue reading →

Top off the water tanks! Even before you reach the stage where you are overnighting on boats, it is a good idea to get in the habit of topping off the water tanks before you leave the dock. Why? When … Continue reading →

Practice, Practice, Practice! Summer is coming and the wind is starting to blow through the marina. When was the last time you practiced leaving and returning to the slip in more than a couple of knots of wind? Very rarely, … Continue reading →

Most modern yachts have electric bilge pumps. Whilst they are a great convenience they do have limitations. They are usually fairly low volume and most are not able to remove enough water fast enough to keep a holed vessel afloat. … Continue reading →

Prevent damage by working together to raise the main sail! Often, the person on the winch has a clear view of the sail and should be looking up while they grind to make sure that nothing is getting caught and … Continue reading →

The best sailing is approaching and many of you may be hoping to get asked to crew for a skipper. The obvious thing to do is post a message on the Tradewinds Message Board under Available to Crew. But there … Continue reading →

Children can enjoy sailing as much or more as any adult. Children as young as 7 or 8 years old are fully capable of learning the fundamentals of sailing, and many can learn how to handle a boat on their … Continue reading →

Skipper’s Tip of the Week: When you’re the Skipper of a boat, you’re responsible for everything that happens on and to the boat. Nerve-racking, isn’t it? It’s hard to know everything about sailing. Even what you do know, you sometimes … Continue reading →