Blogs on Sailing Skills and Theory
Over the past several years, club members have contributed blogs to the CSC on different aspects of sailing theory or technique. These blogs are an incredible resource for those learning to sail and also for experienced sailors. These blogs are discussions about particular subjects, and they assume some sailing knowledge (refer to CSC Dinghy Sailing Manual).
These are the blogs. You can contribute by writing one on a subject of interest.
General Interest
Clothing for Sailing
What to wear when you're sailing hard, along with some fashion tips. Read Blog
Getting Ready for a Keelboat Launch
A check list of getting a keelboat, yourself, and your crew and guests ready for a safe sail on a club keelboat. Read Blog
Stepping Off a Dinghy with Style
Going forward quickly and stepping off onto the dock. Essential for single-handing. Read Blog
Using the Hoist
Basic and advanced, including putting the boat in and takinig it out single-handed. Read Blog
Using your Radio
How your radio can help you in routine sailing (not an emergency). Read Blog.
Gybeing and Downwind Sailing
How to sail in the downwind "zone of death" and not capsize. Read Blog.
The hows and whys of controlled gybes. Read Blog.
Finess your gybe by separating it from the turn.
A nice teaching/learning technique to nail your gybes. Read Blog
Capsize Recovery
Some practical advice on getting the boat upright the first time in the wind and the waves. Read Blog
Dry Capsize on a Quest
It's more difficult than a Bahia because of the hull shape, but you can do it. Read Blog
Crew Overboard
Some different ways to do COB with advantages and disadvantages of each. Read Blog
Slow Sailing Theory and Practice
Including how to recover when your course is off. Read Blog
Learning and Teaching Small Circles
Step-by-step approach to learning and teaching the most difficult Junior skill. Read Blog
Update to the post on the gybe part of the maneuver. Read Blog
Basic upwind sailing and how to teach it
How to trim sails for upwind sailing, with diagrams.Read Blog
The Two-Handed Drill for dealing with Puffs and Lulls
Frank Bethwaite's technique that works well in teaching basic students. Read Blog.
Launching Dinghies on a Crowded Dock
Lessons from a "Between the Docks" workshop. Read Blog.
Can You Slow Sail?
How to use this technique effectively in dinghy docking, MOB, and keelboat docking. Read Blog.
A Useful Knot including Single Handed Dinghy Departures
The Highwayman's Hitch and how to use it departing from the dock. Read Blog.
A Rudderless Technique Demonstration
"Boat on a Rope" shows how boat lean causes a boat to turn. Read Blog.
How to Skipper with Crew on the Trap
Your skills as a skipper have a large effect on your trapezing crew's comfort level and safety. See how to make your crew happy. Read Blog
Single-Handing on the Trap
A real test of your sailing skills (and fashion sense). Read Blog
Using your Weight in High Winds
The forces on the boat, why and how to best use your weight in high winds. Some practical techniques to depower the wind's heeling force. Read Blog
Single Handing in High Winds
More tips to overcover your weight deficit when you're by yourself. Read Blog
Sailing in 30 Knots
What to do when you've bitten off more than you can chew, wind-wise. Handout from an Advanced Dinghy class. Read Blog
Flying the Gennaker
Everything you need to know to setup, hoist, douse, and sail with a gennaker on our dinghies. Note that use of gennakers is restricted to Senior Sailors. Read Blog
Rudderless Sailing
You've read the theory, but how do you actually do it? Practical advice on key maneuvers rudderless. Read Blog
Sailing by Feel
Sailing blindfolded? Way! Learn to use your other senses in handling the boat. It will pay off even when you can see everything. Read Blog
Low Tide Docking
How to dock in low tide, when the usual approach doesn't work. Read Blog
And a small but important point. Read Blog
And some pointers when the tide is low but not extremely low. Read Blog
Launching and Docking in East Winds
Common in the winter, so how do you do it? Read Blog.
Keelboat Skills
Keelboat Dockiing
A multi-part discussion of this critical Senior skill.
Part 1 - Planning and Preparation. Read Blog
Part 2 - Space is Time. Read Blog
Part 3 - Planning a Bail-Out Read Blog
The Quick Stop COB Maneuver
How to do this maneuver, developed by the US Naval Academy a few decades ago Read Blog
Apparent Wind
A three-part discussion of apparent wind, a difficult but important concept.
Mainsail Tell-Tales
Most sailors know how to use the jib tell-tales, what what about the main tell-tales? Read Blog
Anchoring
A nuanced discussion of why you shouldn't rely on your anchor and how to avoid having to use it. Read Blog.
Rigging
How to reef a main sail
VHow to do it properly to get better boat control and not damage the sail. By Saul Schumsky and Jack Chen. Watch Video.
The "Mystery Ring" on an RS Venture
If you don't know about this ring and don't check it every time you go out, you could be in big trouble. Read Blog.
Bahia Reefing Line
How to rig a Bahia reefing line properly. it's actually quite simple. Read Blog
Fitness for Sailing
Chin Ups
A powerful exercise that can pay off in dinghy sailing. Read Blog.