SAIL

CRUISING TIPS

Let Her Drift

nchoring in a strong breeze, there’s really no point in backing off from the anchor while laying cable just because textbooks say so, especially when there’s no stream. Instead, stall with the wind on one bow or the other as you let go. The bow will blow off smartly and the yacht will

You’re reading a preview, subscribe to read more.

More from Sail

Sail9 min read
Solar Updates
Sixteen years ago, I installed solar panels on my boat. At the time, the peak efficiency at converting sunlight to electricity was around 16%. Today’s panel technologies enable substantially more energy to be harvested from a given surface area, boos
Sail3 min read
Eight Bells: Patience Wales
Patience B. Wales, former editor of SAIL magazine and two-time circumnavigator, died on February 16, 2024, of colon cancer. She was 89. A native of Massachusetts, she lived in Ipswich for 34 years. Born in Brockton, Massachusetts, to Ralph and Retha
Sail12 min read
Home Is The Sailor
I am sailing with Robin Lee Graham, but there is no wind. It’s a hot day in July and Montana’s Flathead Lake is glass. The mountains around us are blurred by haze. A wildfire burns to our east. Robin’s blue eyes light up—he’s spotted catspaws ahead.

Related Books & Audiobooks