Category Archives: General

Sandbaggers

Posted on February 25, 2014 by Tony Johnson

The term “sandbag” is used in several seemingly unrelated senses. As a verb it can mean to emplace bags to prevent flooding; to pretend to be a duffer at golf or poker or auto racing, only to reveal your mastery … Continue reading →

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Know Your Depths

Posted on December 9, 2013 by Don Gilzean

We had an opportunity recently to check depths in the mooring field at Ayala Cove and the docks at Sam’s Anchor Cafe. The results were surprising! At a zero tide: Depths on the west and southwest sides of the mooring … Continue reading →

Posted in General, Skipper's Tip | Tagged Skipper's Tip | 7 Comments

C’mon, It’s Not All Bad!

Posted on November 4, 2013 by Craig Walker

C’mon, it’s not all bad! Here’s another chapter from Captain Craig’s offshore journal. Okay, okay, a few folks might have been a little spooked by my article on scariest moments outside the gate. Remember, these are only ten stories from … Continue reading →

Posted in Adventure Updates, Destinations, General | Tagged california coast, offshore, Pacific Ocean Sailing | Leave a comment

What’s in a Gust

Posted on October 28, 2013 by Don Gilzean

A few days ago I was checking the weather forecast for that day on San Francisco Bay. It was a pretty mild wind forecast for late August, winds from the SW at 15 with gusts to 25, however it got … Continue reading →

Posted in General, Skipper's Tip | Tagged Skipper's Tip | 1 Comment

Plimsoll Line

Posted on September 9, 2013 by Tony Johnson

Remember when you were just learning to sail and the boat heeled over for the first time? My instructor was calm, but I’m told I was yelling “Help! Yikes! Eeek!”…although I’m pretty sure it was quite a bit more dignified … Continue reading →

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The Seven Seas

Posted on May 13, 2013 by Tony Johnson

The Eurythmics sing that they have traveled the Seven Seas. They say “traveled,” not sailed, but in any case, I’m not sure I’m clear what they’re talking about. Aren’t there way more than seven seas? I mean, the Mediterranean Sea, … Continue reading →

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Answers to a weather question!

Posted on March 21, 2012 by Matt

Matt, I submitted the question of “Why there was so much difference in humidity between San Fransisco and NYC Some Telltale readers may find this interesting. Charlie Dear Charlie Wilson, Thank you for your recent question. First, it’s important to … Continue reading →

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Nautical Terminator, June 2011

Posted on June 1, 2011 by TW-Brandy

Part 2 Tonnage Last time we distinguished three sorts of tonnage applicable to boats: displacement, deadweight tonnage, and gross and net register tonnage. The displacement of your sailboat will be given in the owner’s manual. The deadweight tonnage is not … Continue reading →

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Nautical Terminator, May 2011

Posted on May 3, 2011 by TW-Brandy

By Tony Johnson, Tradewinds Instructor If you like getting frustrated, and who doesn’t, you could do no better than trying to understand the nautical terms associated with tonnage. We have long tons, short tons, avoirdupois tons, imperial tons, gross register … Continue reading →