Underway demonstration of techniques for wrapping and releasing the jib winches of a cruising sailboat during tacking maneuvers.

Demonstration of gybe control procedures on a 40 foot sailing vessel with graphics and onboard instructional video.

Demonstration of procedures needed to tie a proper cleat hitch, and a review of common errors made when tying a cleat hitch, as generally applicable to small to mid-sized recreational vessels, but not applicable to larger commercial vessels and ships.

Summer squalls often form over water in hot, humid, sultry weather when the air is still with little wind blowing. They usually form in later afternoons and can be spotted as turbulent clouds rise to great heights and begin to rotate into a localized squall characterized by a rapid increase in wind speed, often accompanied by heavy rain, lightning, and thunder. They often appear as a dark cloud line on the horizon, quickly passing through an area with strong gusts and downpours, and they most commonly occur during summer months due to increased atmospheric instability. In some cases they pack strong winds of 50 knots or more that can catch unsuspecting boaters by surprise and cause capsizing, dismastings, groundings, lightning strikes and more. In this video we discuss preparations that prudent mariners should take to prepare for and survive this intense squalls. Attend our Chat Nights every first and third Tuesdays of the month. The schedule is on our website here: http://mdschool.com/Chat.htm

One of the scariest possibilities we face in offshore sailing is the idea of being swept off the boat and lost at sea. From the first day of sail training, we are taught that the use of a personal flotation device is key to getting rescued if you suddenly find yourself overboard. But with all of the choices available, what constitutes a "good" PFD and how do we choose one? What pieces of gear should we add to our PFD? What's safe and what is overkill? Join Captains Tom Tursi and Frank Mummert for a discussion on what they feel works for inshore, near coastal and offshore sailing.