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Rick White's Catsailor website offers loads of info for multihull sailors and their newsletter provides great tips for all sailors. Here's a sample:
Hi Sailor,Sailing/Boating Tips Newsletter gives you great, free tips about Sailing and Boating straight from the experts and Pros, i.e., from Master Captains to Olympic Medalists
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Which Tack to Take for Sailors
Stand by powerboaters, this is a dissertation on sailing. For both cruisers and racers you might want to consider which is the best tack to get to your destination; be it a marina, port or a windward racing mark. A good rule of thumb is keep the angle to the destination less than 45-degrees (assuming your boat can tack from port to starboard at 90-degrees.) To keep the angle less than 45-degrees you are keeping your bow toward the goal. Otherwise you are sailing away from the mark. There are other considerations, however. If there is a storm to the right side of your rhumb line course, you are better to head for the stormy area. Usually winds from that storm will give you more pressure and probably a better wind shift. If there is a persistent shift to the right, again you would forget the 45-degree-to-the-bow idea and head in the direction of the persistent shift, or go to the right side of the course. When the winds are simply oscillating, and if your boat tacks easily, use the 45-degree rule. Racers will get to the weather mark faster to win the race, and cruisers will get to port earlier for that cocktail you had been dreaming of.
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Subscribe Free to the Sailing/Boating Tips Newsletter and get hot tips about sailing, racing, cruising, etc. from the Professionals. Master Captains to Olympic Medalists. Improve your sailing and/or cruising skills. Special tips for racing sailors as well, plus much more. To subscribe use the following link:
http://www.catsailor.com/registration/newsletter.php
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For determining your headings for that windward mark (port) you cannot beat a GPS system. Many of them even have charts that show you exactly where you are, what your track is.., for example, are you really keeping the boat inside that 45-degree angle to the mark. And when you get to the point where you can tack and make the mark, a GPS will tell you that. The GPSs for on the road are also great, they vocally can tell you what lane to get in and when to turn -- you will never have to stop and ask directions again.
Well, the folks at http://www.onlinemarinestore.com/ have expanded their products and now have GPS products by Garmin, Magellan, Cobra and Navman, both for on the water and on the road (no more stopping for directions). Most are shipped immediately right to your door.., no more driving, parking and browsing through stores. Take a look at the many products they have at http://store.catsailor.com/tek9.asp?pg=products&grp=596 and toggle through 5 pages of GPSs. Also, Catsailor Magazine's Online Store has over 4000 items for all kinds of boating with most available for same or next day shipping. All a mouse-click away. Why drive across town, stand in lines, and probably still have to order an item when you can get it shipped right to your doorstep in a few days and never leave your home?
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