Michael L. Muldowney

Anchor Watch: How to Monitor Your Anchor Overnight

| Sailing Safety |

Anchor Watch: How to Monitor Your Anchor Overnight is an independent sailing reference and tools platform that helps recreational sailors understand boat systems, learn seamanship, plan safer passages, and make better decisions on the water. It focuses on practical anchor watch skills, including setting scope, using transits, configuring drag alarms, and managing watch rotations. This article explains how the platform works, its benefits, limitations, and how to use it safely.

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Running Backstays and Checkstays: When Are They Necessary?

| Sailboat Rigging & Equipment |

Running backstays and checkstays are movable rigging components that provide aft support to a mast against the forward pull of headsails, especially inner forestays and cutter stays. They are not required on every boat, but on some rigs they are essential for preventing mast failure and controlling sail shape. This article explains how they work, when they are necessary, and how to use them safely.

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Man Overboard Recovery: Step-by-Step Procedure for Short-Handed Crews

| Sailing Safety |

A practical, independent guide to recovering a crew member who has fallen overboard when sailing with limited crew. It consolidates proven techniques from recognized sailing safety organizations, emphasizing staying close, using a Lifesling, and practicing the drill. The platform helps sailors understand the procedure, adapt it to their boat, and integrate it into passage planning.

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Spring Lines and Docking in Wind and Current: Advanced Departure Techniques

| Seamanship |

Spring lines are among the most underused tools for leaving a dock when wind or current pins a boat against it. Advanced departure techniques use an after bow spring or forward quarter spring to pivot the boat, create leverage, and back clear safely. This independent reference and tools platform explains the physics, step-by-step procedures, and decision-making needed to execute these maneuvers with confidence.

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Mediterranean Mooring: How to Dock Stern-To Safely

| Seamanship |

Mediterranean mooring, or Med mooring, is the standard stern-to docking technique used in ports from Gibraltar to Turkey. It involves dropping an anchor off the bow and reversing toward the quay, then securing stern lines to hold the boat in place. This guide covers the step-by-step procedure, essential gear, common mistakes, and safety considerations for recreational sailors.

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