The Dash to Shorthanded Racing
From the March, 2021 issue of 48° North. In 20/20 hindsight (or is that 2020?), one bright spot in the local sailing scene last year was the explosive growth of interest in shorthanded racing. To keep races going during the…
All Hail!
From the March issue of 48° North. Racing Rules about Hailing Another Boat There are many misconceptions regarding the requirements for hailing another boat during a sailboat race. Let’s try to simplify things a bit and…
Racing Rules Changes for 2021
From the December, 2020 issue of 48° North. In addition to saying “good riddance” to 2020, on January 1, 2021 we get to say “hello” to a new version of the Racing Rules of Sailing (RRS). The RRS are updated every four years…
Learning to Fly
Stories of Going from Sailor to Foiler From the April 2019 48° North issue For many of us, sailing is about constant learning. We learn trim, navigation, systems, storm tactics, provisioning, and, above all, seamanship.…
What Makes For A Good First Offshore Experience?
In this interview with Chuck Skewes, we discuss specific criteria to create enjoyable first offshore experiences. The allure of the ocean is inescapable for many sailors. Yet for those considering their first foray offshore,…
A-Sail Luff Curl: Sometimes, Always, Never?
An Interview with Sailmaker and Sail Designer, Dan Kaseler "I'd guess people are over-trimming their spinnakers as much as 80% of the time." After a few recent races with very smart sailors who were asking an asymmetrical…
Safety Equipment Requirements for Sailing and Racing the Salish Sea
By Roland Nikles Thunderbird 1177 “Falcon” More than seven million people live in the Salish Sea basin, which contains two of North America’s most vibrant and growing cities. We spend most of our time in a built world, in…
