Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category

Done and Dusted – The Kiwi’s put on a clinic at The Louis Vuitton

Sunday, March 21st, 2010

No worries for the home team Kiwi's as they won 2-0 in the final match of the Auckland Louis Vuitton Trophy Regatta - as they saved their best sailing for last with their excellent teamwork and tidy boathandling.  That is not to say that they did not have to fight ...

Lead Free Sailing in The America’s Cup

Monday, February 15th, 2010

The Trimaran "DogZilla"  (USA BMW-Oracle) defeated the Swiss Catamaran Alinghi to bring back to the USA the oldest trophy in international sports - the America's Cup. This is the first time a Cup challenger has won a Deed Of Gift (DOG) head-to-head match race.   Unlike the past 25 years ...

Top Ten Tips for Sail Trim

Wednesday, February 3rd, 2010

As I prepared to give a comprehensive (but short) sail trim and rig tuning seminar I noted key phrases or rules of thumb to remember while trimming your sails for maximum efficiency and fun.  After giving the seminar I had a request to come up with a top ten list. Here ...

Sail Trim – It’s Kind of Like Jazz

Sunday, January 31st, 2010

There is an old adage that "life begins" at the age of 40 - and I tend to agree since that is about when I got my first sailboat and also became an aficionado of jazz music.  I just gave a sail trim seminar to around 30 people associated with ...

Measuring for your New Sails

Saturday, January 9th, 2010

We do a lot of sail quotes - most of which are initially done based on standard rig dimensions from our extensive database of over 7000 boats. But if a customer wants to take the next step in ordering a new sail I always recommend a measurement of the boat. ...

The whole of the sail-plan is greater than the sum of it’s parts

Wednesday, January 6th, 2010

This is a variation on a well known phrase as it applies to fore and aft sails and sloop rigs. The goal of an accomplished sail trimmer is this greater sum. The interaction of the headsail and mainsail trim in combination can result in a significant improvement in the driving ...

Mares’ tails and mackerel scales, make tall ships trim their sails

Sunday, November 29th, 2009

Or, as a variation, Make lofty ships carry low sails. In the absence of instruments, clouds are the most useful aid to weather forecasting as they are visible clues as to what is going on aloft.  Mares' tails are hooked-shaped cirrus clouds and mackerel scales are cirrocumulus which appear as bands ...

Safe Furling

Tuesday, September 22nd, 2009

The life of sailcloth is greatly reduced by prolonged exposure to the sun's UV rays. Once a sail is rolled in part of it is exposed to the elements and cloth degradation begins. Unless you opt to use an external cover such as a zippered sleeve, which is ...

Sail Allowance (Used Boat Buyers Beware)

Thursday, August 20th, 2009

Recently a customer has been boat shopping for a 28'to 32' cruising boat to sail out of San Carlos, Mexico.  This is a popular port for Colorado sailors to reach the  Sea of Cortez and beyond - and he wanted an estimate on a new main with 3 reef points.  ...

Top Ten Tips for Race Crew

Monday, February 16th, 2009

As first mate preparing a crew for the upcoming Heineken Cup, I came up with my top ten list for race crew to be thinking about prior to our practice time on the water. Here are my top ten tips for race crew in no particular order Racing Top Ten Key characteristics for ...