Getting In and Out of Irons

Have you ever found yourself stuck on the water facing into the wind, and your  boat just won’t budge? This situation is known as “being in irons,” which means your boat is stopped while pointing into the wind—also called the No-Go Zone. When this happens, your sails will be flapping (or luffing), and you’ll find…Read More

Seamanship and Water Safety – Capsize Recoveries

Once you know the basics of sailing, you should learn a few seamanship skills. Good seamanship helps you handle situations even when you're not sailing. Your boat may need to be towed for some reason. You may need to paddle from a dock to a mooring. And, of course, there are specific knots for specific…Read More

Five Basic Navigation Rules for Sailing Situations

Courtesy on the water makes sailing more fun for everyone. But beyond courtesy, there are Navigation Rules - like traffic laws - that can be enforced by authorities. Navigation Rules help prevent accidents and apply to the smallest rowboat and the largest tanker. Less experienced sailors should stay clear of boating traffic and sail defensively.…Read More

Race Officials at a Youth Event: Safe, fair and fun!

Anderson Reggio, Ken Legler, and Forrest Gay present "Race Officials at a Youth Event Safe, Fair and Fun!" at the 2014 US Sailing Leadership Forum. Accompanying Power Point  Read More

Regatta Operations: Protest Committee Organization

The US Sailing Judges Manual is updated every four years in conjunction with each revision of the Racing Rules of Sailing. This information is a part of Regatta Operations and organizing a Protest Committee. Each Protest Committee (PC) must have a chair to act as presiding officer and spokesperson. When it is necessary for the…Read More

Regatta Operations: A Jury Secretary

The operation of the Protest Committee (PC) at a large or busy regatta can be significantly enhanced with the aid of a competent jury secretary. A good jury secretary is usually an experienced judge or someone with PC experience. Before coming to the event, the jury chair should review the procedures that are regularly used by a jury…Read More

Preparing Your Safety Boat

Safety Boat Procedures For Sailing Regattas by Rick Bischoff Whether is it a man, woman or child who is in danger on the water during a regatta, it is the duty of the Race Committee to be ready to help. It is very important to establish procedures involving safety and rescue of persons participating in…Read More

Annapolis Accident Review

By: John Rousmaniere A chain of small events quickly evolved into something very rare in sailing – a tragedy. The wind and waves were not excessive, the sailors were competent, and the boat was a standard model of a long-popular class. Yet a routine capsize rapidly developed into the drowning death of a much beloved…Read More

Start Windsurfing Right: The Windsurfing Safety Code

Being safety conscious at all times, both on and off the water, is an attitude you will develop with your instructor's help. It will pay off many times over in safe, fun, relaxing sailing. Safety encompasses many things: dressing properly, wearing a life jacket, being courteous toward other boaters, being observant, sailing by the "rules…Read More

The Powerboat Certification Series: Towing Concepts

These towing concepts are from US Sailing's Safety, Rescue & Support Boat Handling. Observer: There should be a person on the safety-rescue boat who watches the tow and alerts the operator if any problems develop. This person will tend the towline and transmit information to the operator while picking up or releasing a tow. Speed…Read More