Presented by Vetus-Maxwell. Got a tip? Send it to sailmail@sailmagazine.com Relieve the load One of the ancient arts of the sailor is setting up a “stopper” to relieve a loaded rope without letting anything go. The classic use for a stopper is to take the weight off the genoa ...read more
It was a dark and stormy night—OK, not really dark since it was day, but pretty stormy—when we cruised into Salt Whistle Bay on the Caribbean island of Mayreau aboard Indigo, our 46ft Leopard catamaran. We had just sailed north from Union Island heading for the Tobago Cays, but ...read more
For more than a decade now, the issue of legal restrictions on anchoring in Florida has been simmering away, fueled by the number of derelict boats littering some parts of the state’s waterways, and by property owners who don’t want to see boats anchored behind their homes. ...read more
Wow! What a difference! I had heard the praises of catamarans sung by any number of people. They had elaborated on how fast and roomy they are, how stable under sail. But no one had said anything about catamarans at anchor. Who knew our new home would also be such a joy on the ...read more
Even in the most idyllic of anchorages, the wind can come up in the middle of the night and cause trouble. At times like this we always have an action plan to follow if our anchor begins to drag. Experience has convinced me that when something goes wrong while a boat is at ...read more
This month: carrying a kite; a shorter scope; steering tips; sail saver; using lights on the high seas. Visibility To Flash or Not Flashing white lights are far more noticeable than fixed ones and can be much brighter for the same average power drain. However, it’s dangerous and ...read more
