This list started when a CCA member tried to identify what changes he had to make to his boat when he started cruising with just himself and his wife. Others have added too, and this may give you a great starting point for your list!…
We offer several types of article covering a wide range of topics. Choose your topic or article type below:
- Feature Articles. Discussions of one or more topics regarding Seamanship, Safety, and best practices afloat.
- School of Hard Rocks. First-person narratives of ... challenging ... experiences and lessons learned.
- Safety Moments. Short items suitable for a quick read or presentation to a group.
- White Papers. In-depth dives into topics of interest.
- Travelogs. Stories of near and far journeys afloat, including selected articles from our Voyages magazine
- Videos. A growing library of streaming content, from weather seminars to member highlights.
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Feature Article
Subject:
Safety Gear, Personal
Lifejacket /Personal Flotation Device (PFD) Requirements
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Feature Article
Subject:
Safety Gear, Personal
To be safe, all harnesses, whether integral with a PFD or not, should fit properly.
This may be an issue if you are smaller than average, as noted below.
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Feature Article
Subject:
Fire/Flooding
A fire aboard a vessel is very scary. With an uncontrolled blaze, there is nowhere to go except into the water or a life raft. A boat fire spreads very rapidly. You must attack it immediately and effectively; otherwise you will deplete your…
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Safety Moment
Subject:
Safety Gear, Boat
No one wants to spend money foolishly, and no one wants to be subjected to unnecessary risks. How do you figure out how to spend your safety dollars efficiently to minimize the risks associated with going to sea in sailboats? Risk analysis generally…
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Safety Moment
Subject:
Communications
While working with fellow CCA members on a comprehensive marine safety manual, I found that the powers that be have prospectively revised VHF channels. The changes are intended to harmonize global communications but, in the natural order of things,…
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Feature Article
Subject:
Emergency Signalling
Which distress signaling devices to carry is determined by local government and race authorities’ requirements, in what waters the vessel plans to sail, cost and personal choice.
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Safety Moment
Subject:
Safety Gear, Boat
The 2015 meeting of the International Sailing Federation, now known as World Sailing, was held in Sanya, China. One of the committees that met was the Offshore Special Regulations committee, which is responsible for creating equipment rules for six…
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Safety Moment
Subject:
Electronics
One of the requirements for the 1982 Singlehanded Transpac was to have sailed 300 NM, singlehanded, in the boat that you were going to take to Hawaii. For my second Singlehanded Transpac, I had selected an Olson 30, Collage, which I saw has having…
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Feature Article
Subject:
Getting Weather
Knowing what weather is coming is as important to sailors as how to raise a sail, steer the boat, or how to tack.
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Safety Moment
Subject:
Getting Weather
Despite my better judgment, I was coerced into delivering a 40’ cruising sloop up the coast from Oceanside to Moss Landing in early December, a distance of 350 nautical miles. While December weather can be relatively flat and beautiful, it can also…
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Feature Article
Subject:
Overboard
Frequently we move some of our safety thinking to the back when on a charter vacation. Life is good, we are laid back, so we are not thinking of safety. But squalls happen, so here are some thoughts about COB recovery.
Prevention:
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Safety Moment
Subject:
Practice and Safety Training
Ah, New Year’s Resolutions. So easily conceived, so quickly neglected! Lose 20 pounds, get regular exercise, reduce intake of saturated fat, and cut out that last glass of wine in the evening: we’re very good at making promises to ourselves, and…
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Feature Article
Subject:
Emergency Signalling
Introduction:
Man Overboard Rules of Safety
Rule No. 1. DO Not Fall Overboard. When sailing at night, in bad weather, when reefed, alone, or in cold waters, the best safety is to be clipped in and stay with the boat.
Rule No. 2. DON'T…
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Safety Moment
Subject:
Overboard
Last weekend [October 2015], I was asked to take part in US Sailing’s National Faculty during their annual meeting. My goal was to create a “unit” in US Sailing’s Safety at Sea Course on Crew Overboard, and this required that I come up with a plan…
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Feature Article
Subject:
Fire/Flooding
A well-equipped, centrally located damage control kit together with a damage control plan are important to a safe voyage.
This is particularly true in waterways such as the Pacific Northwest which has a high proportion of deadheads and debris in…
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Feature Article
Subject:
Communications, Getting Weather
Despite my better judgment, I was coerced into delivering a 40’ cruising sloop up the coast from Oceanside to Moss Landing in early December, a distance of 350 nautical miles. While December weather can be relatively flat and beautiful, it can also…