How-to Articles

Forces acting on a sailboat The forces acting on a sailboat, particularly lift and drag, are part of a complex interaction of several aerodynamic and hydrodynamic forces. These forces include […]

Knowing your ropes On a ship, ropes are generally called lines once they serve a specific purpose. It is surprising to find ropes on boats at all. On sailing vessels,

The origin of Port and Starboard The origin of the term “port” in sailing, referring to the left side of a ship when facing forward (towards the bow), has a fascinating

20 critical nautical terms When you are invited to join some friends on their yacht, you could make a positive impression (or at least not a negative one) by using

Coxswain vs Bosun In a maritime or naval context, both coxswain (cox’n) and boatswain (bosun or bauson) have vital roles but distinct responsibilities. Here’s a comparison of their duties: 1.

SMG – CMG – VMG Velocity Made Good (VMG) Velocity Made Good (VMG) is a sailing term that refers to the speed at which a boat is making progress toward

Sailing the Whitsundays Sailing the Whitsundays is a breathtaking experience, offering one of the most iconic ways to explore Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. Located off the coast of Queensland, the

Provisioning for long voyages Provisioning for long voyages on a small yacht requires careful planning, as space is limited, and access to fresh supplies will be restricted for extended periods.

Windvane steering on yachts Windvane steering is a mechanical self-steering system commonly used on yachts, especially for long-distance cruising. It allows a yacht to maintain a steady course without manual

Handling Propeller Walk Propeller walk (or “prop walk”) is a phenomenon that occurs when a boat moves sideways due to the interaction between the propeller’s thrust and the hull while