Archive for January, 2012

How to Tie a Clove Hitch

A clove hitch is a simple knot that can be used to secure fenders to a boat’s lifelines or to tie the boat off to a piling.  There are a few different ways to tie a clove hitch.  I’ve got information about some of them here.    First, I’ll share my example of tying the clove hitch step by step.  This is one way that I tie fenders to lifelines:        Make a counterclockwise loop:        Cross […]

Read more...

Be the first to comment - What do you think?
Posted by admin - January 28, 2012 at 08:45

Categories: Miscellaneous, Racing Education   Tags:

Apparent Wind

Here’s simple video that I found helpful to describe apparent wind.  Enjoy!       

Read more...

Be the first to comment - What do you think?
Posted by admin - January 21, 2012 at 07:15

Categories: Racing Education   Tags:

Sailboat Racing Trim – Part 2

This is the second in a series of posts based on Bill Gladstone’s book Racing TRIM from the North U. Series.  Every few days, I’ll post about a chapter or two.  This will be my short summary of what I’ve read.  You can read the posts to get my abbreviated summary; or you could read through the books with me.  Your comments can help point out what you find most interesting, or even poke fun at what I do and don’t know.  If you […]

Read more...

Be the first to comment - What do you think?
Posted by admin - January 15, 2012 at 22:17

Categories: Racing Education   Tags:

Yes, I Spent the Morning Sponging the Bilge

My parents have a few boats in a boatyard nearby.  One of them is the 20 foot trailer sailor that I learned to sail on growing up.  My Dad was worried that water had gotten inside; but he hadn’t gotten a chance to check it out himself.  It was a bright, sunny, and warm (for the Mid-Atlantic) weekend.  So, I decided to go out and give the boat a check.  We were afraid that the trailer needed some additional blocks under […]

Read more...

Be the first to comment - What do you think?
Posted by admin - January 9, 2012 at 23:05

Categories: Miscellaneous, Racing Education   Tags:

Safety at Sea Seminar 2012 – You Need This

Are you planning to do any offshore racing in the next year or two?  Do you want to increase your proficiency, safety skills, and confidence on the water, even if you’re not racing offshore?  Then the Safety at Sea seminar is for you. For boats competing in the Newport Bermuda race this summer, it is required that 30% of the crew have completed this course within the last five years.  But, all the rules aside, I have a lot of really […]

Read more...

Be the first to comment - What do you think?
Posted by admin - January 7, 2012 at 19:34

Categories: Racing Education   Tags:

Let’s Talk About Sailboat Racing Trim

North Sails has a series of books, CDs / DVDs, and seminars in their North U. Series.  I have found two books particulary useful.  They are Racing TRIM and Racing TACTICS by Bill Gladstone.  For a winter refresher, I thought it would be good to go through each of these books.  I’ll start here with the Racing TRIM book.  Every few days, I’ll post about a chapter or two.  This will be my short summary of what I’ve read.  You can […]

Read more...

Be the first to comment - What do you think?
Posted by admin - January 6, 2012 at 05:31

Categories: Racing Education, Uncategorized   Tags:

Can You Get The Benefits of a Personal Trainer Without Paying For One?

First, let me say that I have been fortunate enough to work out with many different personal trainers over the past ten or fifteen years.  If I had infinite time and money, I would always work out with a personal trainer.  However, reality set in and I make a finite salary with only twenty four hours in a day.    iTrain is a web site that offers downloadable audio and video training programs.  I was pretty excited when I heard […]

Read more...

Be the first to comment - What do you think?
Posted by admin - January 3, 2012 at 21:33

Categories: Fitness & Nutrition   Tags: