March 2014

An International 420 skipper from Darien, CT, Megan Grapengeter-Rudnick is one of America’s finest youth sailors. Megan was recently named (for the second consecutive year) to the US Sailing Development Team (USSDT), the Olympic pathway team supported by the U.S. Olympic Sailing Program and US Sailing’s Olympic Sailing Committee. She’s also among the best writers ever published in WindCheck. Her excellent articles, including “Sailing, Surfing, Empanadas and Car-Diving: Opti Racing in Argentina” and “Wind and Warmth: A Winter…

WindCheck contributor Amy Villalba spoke with the award-winning author about the new volume and the definition of seamanship.

My advice is to look for a manufacturer that specializes in building cushions for boats.

Two events in Florida each January provide keen amateur racers with an opportunity to compete against the world’s best professionals. Quantum Key West and the Rolex 24 at Daytona are quite dissimilar, of course, but not just because one is North America’s premier winter regatta and the other is a 24-hour sports car race. If you want to drive your Ferrari 458 Italia in the Rolex 24, the operative phrase is “bring money.” And if you can’t…

There are four adjustments for headsails: a) halyard tension b) sheet tension c) sheet lead position and d) backstay tension.

Don’t wait for your ship to come in. Swim out and meet the bloody thing!

Match racing is one of the highest intensity disciplines in the sport of sailing.

Two-time Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year Sally Barkow of Nashotah, WI has joined Team SCA Ocean Racing for the Volvo Ocean Race 2014-15. The all-female roster currently comprises Barkow, Carolijn Brouwer from The Netherlands, Sam Davies, Abby Ehler and Annie Lush from Great Britain, Justine Mettraux from Switzerland, and Liz Wardley, Sophie Ciszek and Stacey Jackson from Australia, with trials for the remaining VOR berths underway at press time. “I think I am probably most looking forward…

Hilary and Anthony Kotoun may be the “sailing-est” couple in Newport, Rhode Island. Hilary is the Communications and Programs Manager at Sailors for the Sea, an international organization that educates and engages the boating community in the worldwide protection of the oceans. Anthony is a professional captain and sailor whose CV includes victories in the J/24 World Championship, Melges 32 World Championship, and Moth National and North American Championships. He’s also an Ambassador for 11th Hour Racing,…

Hudson River Sloop Clearwater also works to bring justice to the river, its environment, and the people living along it.