Distress - Practical Sailor

Tether Lanyard Simplifies MOB Recovery

Distress August 12, 2019

For years, safety advocates have touted the use of a four-part block and tackle attached to the end of the boom as the hoist...

Rethinking the MOB Recovery

Distress August 12, 2019

Man overboard recovery failures have become a frequent headline, and details about these tragedies hold lessons worth learning. Recent, back-to-back incidents have involved safety gear...

Double Check Your AIS

Distress January 21, 2019

Nearly one year ago, the Volvo Ocean Race boat Sun Hung Kai-Scallywag was deep in the Southern Ocean bound from Auckland, New Zealand to...

Ropes for Throwing

Distress July 11, 2018

We all know the drill. A new arrival pulls toward an unfamiliar marina or fuel dock with a breeze blowing, and they can't quite...

Perfecting the Toss Requires Some Practice

Distress July 11, 2018

Passing a line to a helper on shore is as basic a part of seamanship as tying a bowline. You've probably seen an old...

In Search of Stability

Distress June 26, 2018

On July 15, 1992, a sudden squall swept J/24 Fleet 128 during a Wednesday evening race off Sandy Hook, New Jersey. Nine of the...

Safety Tethers Under Scrutiny

Distress February 7, 2018

On November 18, 2017, Simon Speirs, an experienced sailor, went overboard while at the bow assisting with a headsail change on a Clipper Round...

New Trends in Sailing Safety Gear

Distress January 16, 2018

Safety at sea has become more than a noteworthy slogan. Many feel it defines the right game plan and gear choice to ensure a...

Risk Management and Renting Adventure

Distress December 13, 2016

Oceans may interconnect the planet, but they also act as a barrier, isolating the sailors on opposite shores. Some cruisers and racers bridge the...

How Much Drag is in a Drogue?

Distress August 11, 2016

Weve long been interested in drogues, devices specifically designed to be towed behind a boat to reduce speed and to produce directional stability in...