Captain John's Sailing Tips
Newsletter #116 ~ September 3, 2011
In Today's Issue:
* It's Your Call, Skipper!
* Sailing Skills Video-of-the-Week
* "Katia" Plows Westward--Headed Toward US East Coast?
* Did You Miss the Latest Member's Feature Articles?
* Sailing Skipper's Quotable Quotes
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"It's Your Call, Skipper!"
Tap the Power of Your Sailing "Seventh Sense"
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Blind sailors learn to sail by feeling the wind on their faces, cheeks, ears, or the back of their necks. They develop this ability to such a degree that they can sail as well or better than those that can see. International racing competitions are held between blind sailors, and many blind sailors have sailed thousands of miles across oceans. You can train your body to "feel" the wind with just a bit of practice. This will help you sail better, faster, and with much more confidence. And, you don't need a sailboat to learn how to do this. This simple exercise will help you begin to develop a "seventh sailing sense". It's easy and just takes a bit of practice. Follow these steps: 1. Go outside on a day when you have a breeze. 2. Find an area clear of obstructions that might block the wind. 3. Relax and try to clear your mind so that you can just concentrate on feeling the wind. 4. Turn your entire body so that you face into the wind. 5. Close your eyes and keep them closed throughout all the steps that follow. Put on sunglasses to block out as much sunlight as possible. 6. Concentrate on the wind. Adjust your body until you feel that you are square to the wind. Take your time and exercise patience. 7. Rotate your body to the right a bit at a time until you feel the wind on your left cheek and ear. Make fine adjustments so that your body lines up 90 degrees to the wind direction. 8. Continue to rotate to the right until your back faces the wind. Note how the wind feels on the back of your neck. That's a super sensitive part of your body that will help you "feel" the wind even better! 9. Keep rotating to the right. Stop for a minute when you feel the wind on your right cheek and ear. Make fine adjustments so that your body lines up 90 degrees to the wind direction. Then, continue around until you face square into the wind. 10. Open your eyes. Relax for a few minutes. Repeat this exercise, but this time, rotate your body to the left all the way around. Remember to stop at each of the four positions described above. At each of those positions, make fine adjustments with your entire body. Practice this exercise a few times a week until you become more comfortable with "feeling" the wind. Make it your goal to get to a point where you can stop your rotation without fine-tuning adjustments. Learn to sail like a pro when you develop your secret "seventh sailing sense". You will become a better, more confident sailor faster than you ever thought possible--wherever in the world you choose to sail! =========================================================================
Captain John's Sailing Skills Video-of-the-Week
Three Fast Adjustments to Trim Your Mainsail
** Mobile Device Users**
Click on the link above. Click on the icon beneath the main screen.
Please allow 20 to 30 seconds for the video to upload.
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"Katia" Plows Westward--Headed Toward US East Coast?
US East coast residents should monitor hurricane "Katia". Her forward momentum has slowed to 10 miles per hour, but she remains a cat I hurricane with winds at 75 MPH. See the probability chart below from the National Hurricane Center as of 0500 EDT this morning. Notice that "Katia" will "cross the line" at the 60W meridian of Longitude (just east of the Windward Islands) early next week (dashed line on charts). Increase your monitoring of the storm from this point onward. Forecasters believe shear should weaken her, but as always, storms and weather are dynamic and unpredictable. Projected tropical storm winds cover a wide swath of area along the US east coast in the probability cone. Tropical storm force winds are >= 39MPH (gale force). Make sure your emergency supplies, water, and food will cover you and your family for 7 days. Prepare your boat to deal with heavy weather. See this article to find out what you need to do:
Ten Tips to Storm Proof Your Sailboat
I will post new updates from my personal network of marine meteorologists each day on the discussion forums.
Did You Miss the Latest Member's Feature Articles?
Did you know that you can use a navigation range to locate your exact position along any compass course? And you can do this without plotting anything onto your nautical chart. Here are five secrets guaranteed to boost your sailing safety to new heights.
Boost Your Sailing Navigation with the Magic of Ranges!
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Sailing Skipper's Quotable Quotes...
You can pick up the fundamentals quickly, but half a lifetime is scarcely enough to perfect your technique.
author / circumnavigator, on cruising under sail
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from International Marine / McGraw-Hill
"You will be in the hands of an experienced and trusted guide."
-- Daniel Spurr, world famous author and
former senior editor of Cruising World magazine
"Written so clearly that navigation and seamanship will be comprehensible to anyone."
-- Dave and Jaja Martin, circumnavigators, authors,
and stars of the documentary "Ice Blink"
"It should be read by anyone contemplating
coastal cruising or blue water voyages."
-- Ted Brewer, world famous yacht designer
Captain John Shares 25+ Years of Experience to Show You How to...
- Complete 90% of your navigation--before you cast off the lines.
- Determine the best "window of opportunity" to transit any inlet.
- Enter an unfamiliar harbor after dark in complete confidence.
- Extend the trouble free service of any size inboard diesel engine.
- Balance any sailing vessel in heavy weather in three easy steps.
- Use "terrain effect" to forecast weather anywhere in the world.
- Control boat emergencies with a simple method called M-A-T-E.
All this and much more. 326 pages tailored to short-handed sailors and crews.
Easy to read and loaded with crystal clear illustrations. Get your copy today!
Click On One of These Links to Order Now!
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