Category Archives: General

Staying warm on over-nights!

Posted on December 14, 2015 by Matt

I recently received an email question from a member who was planning on taking guests out over night during a cold spell. The Q&A seemed blog worthy, so here it is with minor editing to protect the guilty! Hi Matt, … Continue reading →

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Chartering in Greece – By Lee Jones

Posted on December 7, 2015 by Matt

Matt,  My partner Dena and I took courses at Tradewinds this past summer, to prepare for a bareboat charter in Greece in September.  Dena took the Basic Keelboat to increase her comfort level as first mate.  I took exams for … Continue reading →

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Know Your Knots – or Have the App!

Posted on November 23, 2015 by 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 →

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Major Difficulties Start with Small Errors

Posted on November 16, 2015 by Don Gilzean

I am always amazed at how often a small error committed on a sailboat results in major difficulties. A couple of weeks ago, while crewing for another skipper, I was assigned the task of releasing the bow line in preparation for departure. … Continue reading →

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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 →

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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 →

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Foggy Visions, Zombie Boats and Teachable Moments

Posted on October 19, 2015 by Matt

FOGGY VISIONS, ZOMBIE BOATS AND TEACHABLE MOMENTS – By Tradewinds member Ed F. I’m new to sailing. I started five years ago with cruise and learn ASA courses in the San Juan Islands, purchased a cap-sizable dingy three years ago, … Continue reading →

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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 →

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Emergency Preparedness

Posted on October 5, 2015 by Don Gilzean

“The boat’s on fire!” “The steering wheel isn’t working at all!” “I think the steering cables broke!” “The jib is tangled up and I can’t furl it! I really dislike all those doom and gloom skipper’s tips out there, however, … Continue reading →

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Furling Line Overwrap

Posted on September 22, 2015 by Don Gilzean

Twice in the past two weeks I have received after hours calls on the emergency line with the same problem, an overwrap in the jib furling drum preventing the jib from being rolled up.  In both cases, the boat was docked … Continue reading →

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