Now if you are ready to ask your question, fire away! Or if you see some questions for which you are knowledgable about, don't be afraid to answer and help out others!
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Click below to see topics from other visitors to this page about sailing, yachting and boating...
1976 laser
I just got a 1976 Laser and I’m sure its a little soft and prob had repairs but for a couple of bucks it might help me learn to sail. I have had it out …
Downwind Sailing
What is the term when you are sailing downwind and the jibe is on one side and the main sail is on the other. Used to do this when sailing back to the …
Buying first sailing boat/yacht
Hi All,
I am looking for our first sailing boat/yacht and have a few questions that I would like some advice on.
1/ I like the look of the classic …
Right of way at windward mark
Lead boat has just rounded the windward mark on starboard rounding. They head downwind on a run, maybe favoring the starboard.
Trailing boat in leeward …
Motor set up at rear?
Hi,
I would like to ask whether this model of FD sailboat 1979 can set up motor at rear?
Is there a link or website address where I can look it …
Genoa
What does the different percentage mean on a genoa sail?
How to get over steep learning curve
Hi,
(Sorry for the length of this post.)
All my life, I have dreamed of sailing. There is a chance (admittedly slim at the moment) that I may soon …
Rigging on Dinghy
Can you tell me the best knot to use to tie my forestay on Heron dinghy?
What types of single hander are there.
Thinking about getting a single hander (currently sharing a flying fifteen)I know lasers are very popular but what other types are there i know about picos …
Inflatable dinghies, laser
Alex,
You mentioned inflatable sails boats on your website...Any ideas where I could find one?
Thanks
Alex
Laser Dinghy hull damage from mast
Hi, wondered if anyone knows if a raised hull around the bottom of the mast is problematic for a 1986 dinghy? Boat is in good condition except for this …
sail size
How much sail can I put on a 16 foot mast? How many square meters?
New to sailing
Whare can I find information on ropes and names of different rigging as I have just purchased a small 14ft sailing dinghy
draft choice
hey im new to sailboating and just trying to figure out the differences between sailboats. Im interested in a boat i found and the draft is 4'4. My plan …
mast lowering
I want to sail/motor up the river Severn to Worcester in the spring, but am thinking all the bridges may slow me down! I would be most gratful for any …
Sailboat rudder
I have a Hartley 16' trailersailer. It is very responsive in the water. I have noticed that when sailing into the wind there is a lot of pressure on the …
which boat to buy?
Hi
i recently passed my level 2 and am hooked but not yet got my first dinghy i learned in a GP and loved the boat but have been but off buying one …
Bad at sailing
Hi! I just got into high school sailing 2 months ago but it seems that im not very good in 420. I always come in last and no one wants to sail with me …
Reading the Wind?
the wind fuels the sails, but i dont know how to read wind, talk wind or understand wind. what is sailing without wind, torture i tell you. do you have …
Type of Block?
This is kind of an odd question, but I thought maybe you could answer it. Someone gave me a pendant that he said was of something used in sailing. It's …
Sailing to France
My name is Gary, I have just come across your website while looking for more information on sailing, this is by far the most informative site I have found. …
Club 420 with an FJ mast
My Sons Club 420 borrowed from the Yacht Club seems to have a messed up Rig possably from an FJ? It is showing excess rake, the shrouds are very tight …
Laser Pico or Byte
Hi
Until I retired in 2007 and moved to France, I sailed a solo from Papercourt Sailing club, Surrey. Since I left the UK I have not sailed except …
sail CLA relative rto hull CLA
How far forward of the hull/keel center of its lateral area (CLA) hould the sail CLA be to aid comming-about f0r tacking quick? I sailed a homemade …
Capsizing a dinghy
When I was young I sailed Sabot's in Victoria with John Bertram. We called a capsize, to Bottle.
I have not seen this term since and cannot find it in …
What dinghy to buy
I am a beginner having only sailed a dingy a couple of times but have done a lot of windsurfing so understand the principles of sailing. Looking to buy …
GPS average speed
Is there a GPS that will average the speed over the last couple of seconds. This would be better that speed taken every second that shows 20% change due …
Navigation
Is Mercator sailing the same as Rhumb Line sailing?
Heavyweight Sailing
I am 320 lbs and skipper a 420 in collegiate regattas, now i notice that I cannot point as high as the boats around me and definitely can't maintain that …
Sailing Videos
I am grandmother to several neat teenagers whom I would like to encourage to learn to sail. I like the format of these videos and wonder where to purchase …
Centerboard Well
How can I prevent water from gushing in my centerboard well while under sail in a good wind?
Geoffrey
Sail battens
On a fully battened main sail, if the battens are tapered, should the tapered end go at the luff or leach?
Can't afford to learn to sail!
Hello,
I wanted to ask people who do sailing and people that might know an answer to my question, so everyone.
I have always wanted to sail and …
Triangular Sails
What do you call triangular sails?
Thanks,
William
Hi William,
There are two triangular sails on a Bermuda rig dinghy: the mainsail and …
Sail Number
What does the number on a sail mean? Eg: GP9463
Thanks,
Fiona
Hi Fiona,
The number on the sail is a distinctive unique identifier, which …
Sailing Christmas Gifts
what do you suggest we get someone that lives on a boat? its my boyfriends dad and we are scratching our heads on sailing christmas gift ideas.
Sailing From Fife to Minorca
I'm writing a novel in which the main character is forced to sail a 29ft sloop from Fife, down the east coast of the UK and round to Minorca. Trouble is …
Points of Sail Question
1. If the boat is facing point north and wind is coming NE at 45-50 degrees what is the point of sail?
2. If the boat is facing point north and the …
Right of Way
This was not a race, just pleasure sailing on an inland midwestern US lake. Two boats were running on a parallel port tack about 20 ft apart. The windward …
The Sail Number
Can I find anything out about my boat by the sail number (age were it was made etc) and how do I find it?
Andrew
Which boat to buy
My two girls are getting old enough that I would like to get them into sailing. I'd like to buy a boat that is relatively simple to sail and learn on, …
Rigging a Sunfish Sailboat
For some reason, I cannot pull the mainsail up to the top. Does it matter how long the boom is to the mast?
20 ft Mirage Sailboat
I just bought a 20 ft mirage sail boat, but I am an inexperienced sailor. I need to collapse the boat to transport it with a trailer. I did research about …
The Sailing Term for Bulging of Sail?
I would like to know if there is a word for the 'bulging' of a sail, when a boat sails close to the wind. First it will start flapping, or luffing, but …
Wet sanding the hull?
I have been working on my laser, before the season starts and I have been trying to repair all the scratches that have acumulated over the years.
Could …
Head Sails
What are the differences between cruising spinnakers, gennakers, and drifters?
Thanks
JR
Sailing with a Jib only?
Hello! I have a 14' sailboat and I was wondering about sailing with just a jib. Any thoughts? I'd appreciate any response/advice!
Hi Catherine, …
First Sailing Dinghy
As it is likely that I will be solo most of the time I need to look at a dinghy which can successfuly sailed single handed but could accomodate another …
Can I take a boat out without a keel?
I have been given a 5.45 metre trailer sailboat by an old friend. It has a wind up keel, which has seized inside. I was wondering if it is safe to take …
Rigging Question
I read in a sailing article "...rig bald-headed and reefed...."
What does the "bald-headed" refer to?
Thank you
Dan
How to steer without a rudder?
I'm going to be doing my Dinghy Instrustor pre-assessment soon, and one of the things you have to do is sail without a rudder. I've never had to do this, …
Head of Sail Shape
I see many modern boats have the head of the sail extending back up to several feet before the leach heads down to the boom. If I get a new Main Sail built …
Feathering a 420
I am on the Michigan State Sailing Team, and last weekend I skipped a FJ for the first time. As I was approached the windward mark I realized I was going …
Roll Tack
I've got a question about roll tacking. Is it really the fast way to tack and how can I do it right, with my one person boat?
Hi Joris, …
Putting on sails on the old Tall Ships
I recently asked a question about docking Tall Ships because operating and sailing them seems like such a hard job. I have another question about sailing …
Tacking a Single Handler
Describe a smooth tack on a small single sail monohull. Do you face forward or aft? How do you transfer the mainsheet and tiller from one hand to the …
Points of sail
Just done level 1 beginners course (Single handed) and am still confused about points of sail. The fastest direction seemed to be at 90 degrees to wind …
Luffing Up
What is to "Luff up"?
Hi Ron,
Thank you for your very long question! Finally something I can answer instead of Han making me look stupid (haha …
Pointing and Rig Setup
What should be the proper rig setup to get my boat to point?
If the rigging is too tight she points but losses boat speed and if its too slack she …
Still Scared Of Runs!
I used to sail at the Harp years ago....now I live down on the Sussex coast and love the sailing here!
I sail a Byte, and I STILL get scared when on …
Sail Boat Description
I am a beginner and looking at a boat which is described as a "16/3". Does that mean it is 16 Ft in length and has 3 sails?
Mike
Hi Mike …
How Safe Can Sailing Be?
I am about to start some courses on yachting (in my late thirties) and have never been much of a sailor previously. I have just done my RYA lvl 1 and …
A Righting Line To Help Right A Boat
I have a Miracle dinghy which inverted last week and the centreboard went in. Where is the best place to postion a righting line?
Thanks
Peter
…
Which way to point the Boat?
I get confused as to which way to point the boat when the wind is blowing from a different direction. Is there a safe rule to go by? Also what is the …
To have the wind free
"The trip from St Martin to Antigua has the wind free but the Equatorial Current forces you stay close hauled".
I am not sure about the meaning of …
How To Start Sailing
I live in the Midwest. We have lots of lakes, but no ocean. Because it is windy, getting something to sail should be no problem, but I don't have a lot …
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