Author Archives: captnmike

Mountaineers Sailing Crew Class Resources – Spring 2012

Posted on April 10, 2012 by captnmike

Here are a few links to help the students in the Mountaineers Spring Sailing Crew Class that I helped teach. These links are also good starting point for any recreational boater. Links are provided to Nav. Problems, handouts,  additional information … Continue reading →

Posted in Boating Safety, Mountaineers Sailing, Sailing and Boating Skills | Tagged , | 4 Comments

How to tie a Bowline with your left hand – Updated

Posted on February 29, 2012 by captnmike

Tying a Bowline is an essential boating skill  but one that seems to stump many boaters, then when you add being left handed to the mix things can get really confusing so I made this guide to help left handed … Continue reading →

Posted in Boating Safety, Sailing and Boating Skills | Tagged , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Cell Phone Overboard

Posted on February 22, 2012 by captnmike

2011 seemed to be the year of the “Cell Phone Overboard” event.  I received several emails, phone calls from land lines, smoke signals at public event and such explaining the cell phone had went into the water and they needed … Continue reading →

Posted in Boating Safety, Sailing and Boating Skills | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

The National Aids to Navigation Museum

Posted on February 18, 2012 by captnmike

The National Aids to Navigation Museum is located in Yorktown, Virginia at the USCG Training Center, in the atrium of Canfield Hall.  The Museum is open to everyone that has access to the base, this sadly limits the access by … Continue reading →

Posted in Boating Safety, Navigation | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Aids to Navigation–Class Aids

Posted on January 11, 2012 by captnmike

Students seem to struggle the most with the Aids to Navigation section when first learning about Boating Safety.  Most texts have simple diagrams and a few pictures but putting everything in context is difficult.  These teaching aids for Aids to … Continue reading →

Posted in Boating Safety | Tagged , , , , | 6 Comments

U.S. Aids to Navigation

Posted on January 7, 2012 by captnmike

Understanding what an Aid to Navigation (ATON) means is a very important part of Safe Boating.  One of the problems understanding what each Aid to Navigation means is visualizing what a specific ATON looks like and match it to the … Continue reading →

Posted in Boating Safety, Navigation, Sailing and Boating Skills, seattle | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Jules Vern Trophy Attempt

Posted on December 31, 2011 by captnmike

I have been watching the latest attempt at the Jules Vern Trophy by the Banque Populaire V a  Maxi trimaran 131 feet in length  for the last few days and it is beyond comprehension.  Banque Populaire V is running ahead … Continue reading →

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TVMDC – Practice – Correcting and un-correcting the compass

Posted on November 13, 2011 by captnmike

In today’s increasing use of electronic navigation aids, the ability to correct and un-correct a compass heading or bearing seems to becoming a lost art outside of a classroom.  Here are a few TVMDC Practice Problems to help keep your … Continue reading →

Posted in Boating Safety, Navigation, Safety Thoughts, Sailing and Boating Skills | Tagged , , , , , | 13 Comments