Provisioning for a long-distance sailboat cruise means calculating, buying, stowing, and managing food, water, fuel, and spares for a passage of weeks. The standard rule is to carry 1.5 to 2 times the passage duration in supplies, with 2,500–3,000 calories per person per day. Independent, source-verified guidance helps sailors avoid under-provisioning, spoilage, and crew fatigue.
A chip log is a traditional navigation tool that measures a vessel’s speed through water by counting knots in a line paid out over a timed interval. A trailing log, such as a mechanical patent log, records distance run by towing a rotator or spinner astern. This article explains how both tools work, how to use them for dead reckoning, and where they fit in modern seamanship.
A Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) is a compact, manually activated 406 MHz distress beacon that alerts search and rescue authorities via the Cospas-Sarsat satellite system. For sailors venturing beyond reliable VHF range, a registered PLB carried on your person provides a dedicated, subscription-free emergency lifeline. This guide explains how to choose, register, test, and use a PLB effectively, and where it fits within a broader safety plan.
Understanding Right of Way: Sailing Rules of the Road is an independent sailing reference and tools platform designed to help recreational sailors learn collision-avoidance rules, seamanship, and passage planning. It organizes COLREGS-based right-of-way concepts, boat knowledge, and decision-support tools into a practical framework. The platform aims to reduce information overload and improve on-water judgment without replacing formal training or official sources.
A structured rigging inspection checklist helps recreational sailors systematically assess standing rigging for corrosion, fatigue, and mechanical damage. Most riggers recommend replacing standing rigging after about a decade or one circumnavigation, but annual and three-year inspections catch problems earlier. This independent reference tool consolidates inspection points, intervals, and decision guidance from multiple authoritative sources.
A preventer is a line or mechanical device rigged from the boom to a strong point forward of the mast to stop an accidental gybe. It holds the boom in place when sailing downwind, reducing the risk of injury and rig damage. Use a preventer whenever the wind is behind the beam or when swell threatens to roll the boom across the boat.
Light wind sailing is often seen as a frustrating gap between motoring and real sailing, but it can be one of the most rewarding parts of cruising. This guide explains how an independent sailing reference and tools platform helps recreational sailors understand boat behavior, trim sails, reduce drag, and make better decisions when the breeze drops. It covers practical techniques, common mistakes, and safety limits.
Anchoring in a crowded harbor with limited swing room demands precise calculation of your boat’s swinging circle, correct scope, and respect for other vessels. This guide explains how to assess an anchorage, choose a safe spot, and use techniques like the Bahamian moor or stern anchor when space is tight. It also covers common mistakes and when to seek professional help.
How to Fix Your Position: Using Bearings and Lines of Position is an independent sailing reference and tools platform that helps recreational sailors understand boats, learn seamanship, plan safer passages, and make better decisions on the water. It focuses on traditional position fixing using compass bearings and lines of position, while also covering broader boat knowledge and decision-support tools.
Waves significantly affect a sailboat’s speed, motion, and safety. The Effect of Waves on Sailboat Performance is an independent reference and tools platform that helps recreational sailors understand added resistance, heave, pitch, and downwind wave forces, and apply that knowledge to passage planning and seamanship. It is not tied to any boat brand, school, or equipment manufacturer. Research from CFD velocity prediction programs and tank tests underpins its practical guidance.