5 Ways to Get Offshore Sailing Experience as Crew
“How do I get experience sailing offshore?” Many Sail Mentor readers are planning to do ambitious things in their sailboats, including crossing Oceans (or at least Seas). Jumping off into…
How to Learn Good Seamanship (and Why You Should)
When they start out, people are usually intimidated by the process of learning to sail. It all seems so complicated. There are all of these ropes all over the place…
Reader Story: Renee’s First Sailing Course
I’m excited to present Sail Mentor’s first guest submission. I reached out to Renée on Cruisers Forum after she shared how excited she was about her first sailing course. I…
Take the Winter Sailing Challenge
Ernest Shackleton: The ultimate winter sailor The summer sailing season is over for those of us far enough up in the Northern Hemisphere to get a winter. People are busy…
DIY Sailboat Maintenance: Why You Need to Learn to DIY and How to Get Started
A few weeks ago, I received an email from Tim, a subscriber who has a common fear: Another big fear of mine is mechanics. The internal combustion engine and…
The 6 Most Common Anchoring Mistakes: Keep Your Boat Off the Beach
As we re-entered Vancouver’s False Creek last weekend, we were greeted by a very sad sight.  A local boat was on the beach after strong overnight winds.  I know this…
When the Ocean is a River: Ocean and Tidal Current Basics
After our second time around the islet, we went and got the anchor out. It was the first time I’d ever heard a racing skipper called for the anchor in…
How NOT to Buy a Cruising Boat – A Book Review
Deb and T.J. Akey had a dream: Â Why not retire onto a sailboat and cruise the Caribbean? Â The only small issue was that neither of them had been on a…
Strategies for Seasick Sailors
Seasickness Sucks! There are no two ways about it.  In fact, I’d strongly recommend not being seasick.  Believe me, I’m an expert.  There are plenty of happy, well-fed fish in…
Sailing with Kids – From Around the Bay to Around the World
My 13 month old son explaining to me how the chart plotter works. With a distinctive “Pfffft,†the Killer Whale surfaced ten feet off our port bow.  My 5 year…
Two Sailboats Sailing in the Same Direction Is a Race
There’s an old saying: “One Sailboat is Sailing. Two Sailboats Are Racing” In other words, sailors tend to have a bit of a competitive streak. Most will try to out-sail…
Become the Confident Skipper of Your Own Sailboat : Start Here
Welcome to Sail Mentor! The purpose of this site is to help you become the confident skipper of your own sailboat, whether you are a complete novice or have been…
How Much Will My First Sailboat Cost? (Hint: A Lot Less Than You Think)
One of the most common misconceptions is that buying and maintaining a sailboat is too expensive for most people. I paid $1500 for a 1/3 share in a 40-year-old 26′…
My First Sailboat: What Should I Buy?
Although some sailors choose to just charter periodically or join a sailing club, most aspire to eventually have a sailboat of their own. With your own sailboat, you can go…
How to Learn to Sail
You’ve watched the beautiful sailboats gracing the bay as the sun sets, you’ve read articles about how much fun sailing is, maybe you’ve been out with a friend or paid…
Why You Should Learn to Sail
If she can learn to sail, you can too! If you’ve never sailed before, then sailing can seem a bit daunting and a bit confusing. How hard is it to…
How to Sail for Free as Racing Crew
One common piece of advice for new or aspiring sailors is to join a racing crew. Â This can be a great (and free) way to get out on the water…
Mast of a Ship Review App and Device
Introduction We all want to make our workouts easier and more efficient. If you're looking for a way to do this, then Mast of the Ship is a great option…
How to become a pirate in 10 easy steps
Introduction Aye, matey! If you've been dreaming of life on the high seas and want to become a pirate in real life, then this blog is for you. Here we'll…
Ten Steps to Buying a Sailboat
Introduction Buying a new sailboat is an exciting adventure, but it's important to consider all your options before making a final decision. If you're thinking about buying a sailboat and…
Sails or No Sails? Here’s What You Can Do to Find Out
Introduction Sailing is one of the most fun things you can do on a kayak, but it's also one of the riskiest. If you're going to be sailing your kayak,…
Best Surfboard Storage Ideas
Introduction You know what it's like. You've been surfing all day, and now you're exhausted. You want to get that board out of the car and put it somewhere where…
How to plan the perfect beach vacation in 3 steps
Introduction The beach is calling! Yes, that's right. The beach. While it might be the middle of winter and snowing outside your window, the sun is shining bright on that…
Let’s Go Paddling Down the Mighty Mississippi
Introduction Paddling down the mighty Mississippi River is a great way to build camaraderie with your friends and family. There are many different ways to do this, from renting kayaks…
All About Galleon Ships
Introduction Galleons were some of the most important vessels ever built by man. They were designed to be very powerful sailing ships and they had many innovative features that made…
50 Best Cruise Lines for 2017
Introduction Traveling is one of the best parts of life, and with so many incredible destinations out there, it can be hard to decide where your next trip should be.…
London Laser Danghy Event – Laser dinghy is an Olympic Sailing class more information
Introduction The Laser is a single-handed (one person), trailer-sailable, Olympic class dinghy. The design, by Bruce Kirby, emphasizes simplicity and performance. The dinghy is manufactured by independent companies in different…