Before & After Your BVI Sailing Course: Where to Stay, Eat & Explore
Sailing VirginsDecember 11, 202511 min read
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Before & After Your St. Martin Sailing Course: Where to Stay, Eat & Explore
There’s a special rhythm to life on St. Martin that draws you in the moment you arrive. The water shines in shades of turquoise and blue. Each sunrise feels like an invitation to explore. If you’re...
Sailing Virgins
11 min
Forget Times Square: Why St. Barts New Year's Week is the Ultimate Bucket List Adventure
Let me tell you about a New Year's celebration that makes the ball drop in Times Square look like a neighborhood block party. Here's the scene: You're anchored in crystal-clear Caribbean water,...
Sailing Virgins
7 min
Splicing the Perfect Eye: Step-by-Step Rope Splicing for Sailors
Rope splicing creates a strong loop without weakening the line. Knots often reduce a rope’s strength. A splice keeps it intact. That matters when mooring, anchoring, or setting up rigging. In this...
Sailing Virgins
5 min
Why 98% of Sailing Instruction Is Completely Backwards (And How We're Fixing It)
By James Kell, Founder of Sailing Virgins Let me ask you something: When was the last time you learned something meaningful because someone barked orders at you? I'll wait. Can't remember? That's...
Sailing Virgins
7 min
The $6,000 Adventure Question: Why Millennials Are Trading Resort Walls for Open Horizons
When a generation spending $6,380 on leisure travel chooses between poolside predictability and ocean adventure, they're not just booking a vacation—they're investing in transformation. The average...
Sailing Virgins
10 min
Running Rigging Essentials: Halyards, Sheets & Outhauls Demystified
If you're learning to sail, all those lines can feel like a mystery. But each one has a purpose, and it’s easier to learn than you might think. Running rigging includes the lines that raise, adjust,...
Sailing Virgins
5 min
10 Questions to Ask Any Sailing School
The Simple Questions That Reveal Everything 1. What happens if someone finishes the course but isn't ready for certification? This cuts straight to whether they maintain real standards or just push...
Sailing Virgins
4 min
Reading Wind and Wave Patterns: Weather-Routing Fundamentals
When you're offshore, the forecast only tells part of the story. The sky, the waves, and the wind tell the rest. Ever watched the swell angle change and wondered what it meant for your course? Or...
Sailing Virgins
5 min
Using a Handheld VHF: Channel Selection, Mayday Procedures & Etiquette
When you're out on the water, a handheld VHF radio connects you to the rest of the boating world. It lets you reach nearby vessels, marinas, and emergency services when you need to speak up fast....
Sailing Virgins
6 min
Plotting a Course with Compass and Parallel Rulers (No Electronics Needed)
Plotting a course with a compass might sound old school. But when your chartplotter glitches or your battery dies, what then? Sailors still rely on a pencil, a chart, and a compass for one reason....
Sailing Virgins
7 min
When, Why and How to Emergency Anchor
The Moment Every Sailor Fears - And How to Master It The squall didn’t look like much at first - just a smudge on the horizon. Then the wind clocked twenty degrees, the engine coughed once, and your...
Sailing Virgins
8 min
Advanced Anchoring Techniques: Setting and Retrieving in Sand, Mud & Grass
Ever woken up at anchor and realized your boat isn’t where you left it? That sinking feeling (haha sorry) can ruin a night. Whether you're settling in for the evening or waiting out shifting weather,...
Sailing Virgins
9 min
Is Sailing Actually A Sport?
Spoiler alert: It involves way more than lounging on deck with a cocktail (although there can be some of that too!) You've seen it at the Olympics. You've watched boats racing across your screen...
Sailing Virgins
9 min
Watched SLV and Oliver Widger? Here's How to Start Your Own Sailing Journey
Stop watching other people's sailing adventures and start planning your own - because the gap between YouTube viewer and certified skipper is smaller than you think. You know the feeling. It's 11 PM,...
Sailing Virgins
9 min
Docking Under Sail: Precise Boat Handling in Tight Marinas
Docking under sail is one of the most rewarding skills a sailor can learn. It requires focus, timing, and a solid understanding of how your boat moves through the water when the engine is off. Plenty...
Sailing Virgins
7 min
How to Heave-To: The Emergency Stop Technique for Sailboats
Ever felt like your sailboat had a mind of its own? Like it just wanted to keep going... even when you didn’t? You’re out there. The wind picks up. The sea gets choppy. Maybe you need a break. ...
Sailing Virgins
9 min
Spinnaker 101: Hoisting, Trimming & Dousing Your Downwind Sail
Spinnaker handling turns downwind sailing into something a lot more exciting for every sailor. When everything lines up, it's fast, smooth, and feels like the boat's finally showing off what it can...
Sailing Virgins
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