Tips From the Pros

By Michael Brady, Newport Rigging Group As fall approaches and much of the Northeast fleet begins to think about winter hibernation, NRG has a few thoughts to share about your rig. Your mast is a machine, not a monument. You can’t just set it and forget it (apologies to Ronco). The forces and stresses acting on your rig are peaking while sailing, but they don’t stop when you’re not. Motoring, riding at anchor, on a mooring, berthed…

By Jon Bilger For people who love sailing, cruising, or any other water-based activity, understanding weather conditions can literally be a matter of life and death. In addition, being able to predict winds and other weather changes results in a more comfortable and often faster journey. The ocean is a terrific place to travel, but it can also be extremely dangerous for those who don’t take the proper precautions. Planning the right weather window can save time,…

By Gowrie Group The key to protecting your boat from hurricanes or any severe threatening weather is planning, preparation and timely action. The following precautions and checklists are meant only as guidelines. Each boat owner needs a plan unique to the type of boat, the local boating environment, the severe weather conditions likely to occur in that region, and the characteristics of safe havens and/or plans for protection. The following preparation and precautionary suggestions are issued as…

By Samuel Nelson These winterizing tips will have your batteries ready for action on launch day. Clean battery tops, terminals and connectors. If your batteries are serviceable (removeable covers), top off the cells with distilled or deionized water. Charge the batteries one final time. Charging ensures they’ll completely recharge next season, and greatly reduces the risk of a frozen battery over the winter. Disconnect the negative cable and wait a few hours before checking voltage or specific…

Why is composition so important? You can position yourself in the perfect spot on the water all day long, use the best gear money can buy, and know how to set your camera as well as Ansel Adams did. But if you don’t pay attention to composition, you’ll end up with terabytes of files in storage and only a very few good shots. One basic example of (1) poor and (2) good composition. These shots of Swan…