05/29/2026
How to dock to a T-Head or Fuel Dock with the wind blowing you onto the dock
NauticEd - International Sailing & Powerboating Education
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05/28/2026
When the time comes to leave an anchorage, there are recommended procedures.
Plan A: As the vessel moves over the spot where the anchor rests, pull it up if you can. Stop the vessel’s forward motion as you continue pulling in the anchor. If you use an electric windlass to raise the anchor, be vigilant to ensure it is running freely.
Plan B: If the anchor is set hard and you cannot pull it in, you may need to use the vessel’s forward motion to break the anchor loose. This means maintaining a slight forward motion and cleating the rode as you pass over the spot. The theory is that the vessel’s momentum will break loose the anchor. Be very wary of the strength of the cleat on your boat.
Plan C: If the anchor fails to break loose, perhaps it’s stuck on a rock. You can try to pull it out backward by motoring to windward. The flatter the angle you are pulling, the greater the chance of retrieval, so let out lots of rode when motoring to windward. Be conscious of the rode and propeller at all times.
Plan D: Try pulling the anchor out sideways. Let out lots of rode and alternate motoring across the wind on either side.
05/28/2026
Happy World Sailing Day!!!!
05/28/2026
Cardinal Marks - Various countries also use cardinal marks. While not prevalent in the USA, you will see them in other places, including the Caribbean.
Cardinal marks tell you on which side there is safe passage around a hazard. For example, a North Cardinal mark will tell you to pass to the north of the mark for safe passage.
05/27/2026
How the Fairlead effects sail twist in 3D
05/27/2026
How to bring the boat into a fuel dock with the wind blowing you off the dock and in tight quarters.
05/26/2026
So considering the image, you might say a boat is leeward of me. But they might not be directly downwind. To determine who is leeward, draw a line that is perpendicular to the wind. Then anything on the downwind side of that line is to the lee or leeward. Anything on the upwind side of the line is windward.
05/26/2026
What Is a Flotilla? Complete Guide to Group Sailing & Yacht Charter Vacations
Thinking about a flotilla sailing vacation or a group yacht charter but not sure how it works? In this video, we explain what a flotilla is, who it’s for, and the two main ways to join a NauticEd flotilla—either by the cabin or by chartering your own yacht. You’ll learn how flotillas give new skippers a built-in safety net and experienced sailors a fun, social group experience with a local expert leading the way. We also cover typical flotilla destinations like the BVI, Greece (Ionian & Saronic), and Croatia, plus when we run these trips and what’s usually included. Whether you’re a new sailor, experienced skipper, family, group of friends, solo traveler, or couple, this flotilla guide will help you decide if a group sailing vacation is right for you. In this video we cover: - What a flotilla is and how it works - Key benefits of flotilla yacht charters - Requirements to skipper your own boat on a flotilla - By-the-cabin vs. by-the-yacht flotilla options - Where and when NauticEd runs flotillas - How NauticEd can help you plan a yacht charter even if dates don’t match a scheduled flotilla.
05/25/2026
Who Gives Way? (Quiz Week 10)
05/25/2026
Ask a racer, and they will always opt for a fin keel over a full-length keel. The fin keel boat has less leeway and will crush a full keel boat in an upwind leg. And they are correct.
05/24/2026
7 Sailing Superstitions Every Sailor Should Know
Sailors have always had strange rules for life at sea.
No bananas on board. Never whistle. Don’t rename a boat. Watch the red sky. Avoid sailing on Friday. Respect the albatross. And beware the “Jonah.”
Some were fear. Some were folklore. Some were practical lessons dressed up as superstition.
Either way, these old sea beliefs still tell us something important:
The ocean has always demanded respect.
Follow NauticEd for more sailing history, navigation, and seamanship.
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