Santana Sailing Blog
Learn about ALL the skills needed for sailing and seamanship, plus upcoming sailing adventures. We have knot tying videos, guidance on anchoring at Catalina Island, fun sailing videos and more.
Learn about ALL the skills needed for sailing and seamanship, plus upcoming sailing adventures. We have knot tying videos, guidance on anchoring at Catalina Island, fun sailing videos and more.
Phone: (949) 939 8123
Email: setsail@santanasailing.com
Mailing Address: 65 S Pine Ave Ste 114, Long Beach, CA 90802
Marina Address: 450 E Shoreline Dr, Long Beach, CA 90802
The Flying Sheet Bend
The Sheet Bend joins two lines together, and is particularly effective with lines of different diameter. This knot is actually a bowline, and is tied using the same method as the Flying Bowline. When the jib sheet parts on the way to the weathermark, this knot will help you tie it back together in a […]
The Flying Bowline
This method for tying a bowline is the quickest and easiest method there is. Once you learn to tie the Flying Bowline, I think you’ll forget any other method. You can tie the Flying Bowline at the end your reach, overhead, even blindfolded, and sometimes, that really counts. The Flying Bowline
The Diabetic Sailor
I’ve been keeping it mostly to myself and my students over the last many years, but I feel I need to talk about being diabetic, being a sailor, and being a sailing instructor. I intend to write more about this subject, so please stay tuned. I’m a type 1 diabetic since 1983, a sailor, and […]
1. Ship Without a Rudder
This older article from Cruising World gives some informative lessons about how sailors can manage the ship when they’ve lost the rudder. Click here to download a PDF of this article
2. Recognizing Lights at Night
Imagine that it’s a pitch black night, and you are exiting Channel Islands Harbor in Oxnard. You see these lights up ahead. What kind of vessel is this? Do you give way to it, or do you stand on? Which side should you pass on? Click here to download a PDF of this article Scroll […]
3. Theory of Sail Operation Revisited
This is a technical but concise treatment of the way sails work. See what you can take away from this and apply to sail trim underway. Click here to download a PDF of this article
Santa Cruz Island Cove Chart
Click here to download a PDF of the Cove Chart This is a composite of NOAA Chart 18728 “Santa Cruz Channel” and Chart 18729 “Ancacapa Passage.” The labels are mine, and are not part of any NOAA chart. There is not a “one-page” chart of Santa Cruz Island, at this scale, except for this one […]
1. ATONs and The Pecking Order
Click here to download a PDF of this article Memory aids for Aids To Navigation (ATON) Use the following to help remember the characteristics of lateral ATONs COGS – TERN Returning from seaward, ATONs on the left are COGS; those on the right TERN (also, remember “Red, Right, Returning”) C can T triangle O […]
2. Of Cotter Pins and Rigging Tape
Click here to download a PDF of this article This is an older article from Cruising World, but it is just as valid today. When the various boat checklists you may come across ask you to check the rigging, this is what you are looking for. What was enlightening to me, when I first read […]
3. VHF Radio, Weather & Video Links
Basic Cruising 1 Website and Video Link Resources – click on the URL to view VHF radio channel frequencies, their purpose and use https://www.boatsafe.com/us-vhf-marine-radio-channels-frequencies/ Note that channel 16 is the hailing and distress frequency, and most communications begin here. After hailing on 16, switch to one of the non-commercial channels: 68, 69, 71, 72, 78A. […]