What to know to race sailboats

If you're racing, here are some good source of knowledge:

Tactics & Trimming

North Sails - Trim for Speed

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P1n-7czmc14

Racing rules made easy

http://www.pdracer.com/sailboat-games/conventional/basicracingrules.pdf

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WWHf42toTkU

Racing Tactics and Strategy 

http://www.ussailing.org/wp-content/uploads/daroot/Resource%20Center/Racing%20Tactics%20&%20Strategy.pdf

Racing in Vancouver
Also, there are a bunch of sailing pages, associations that you might want to check out

VARC - Vancouver Area Racing Circuit
http://varc.bc.ca/

English Bay sailing - Crew Pool
http://www.ebsailing.ca/racing/racing-crew-pool/crew-pool-info-page/?pid=8F49B

JIB SET
http://jibset.org/
https://www.meetup.com/JIB-SET-Sailing-Club-Meetup-Group/


PHRF

If you happen to race in BC, and want to check another boat PHRF, you can check the following links

Boats - by PHRF

http://www.bcsailing.bc.ca/PHRF/bc_fleet_list_printable_by_rating.php

Boats - by Name

http://www.bcsailing.bc.ca/PHRF/bc_fleet_list_printable_by_boatName.php

Boats - by Sail Number

http://www.bcsailing.bc.ca/PHRF/bc_fleet_list_printable_by_sailNum.php

Knowing the weather when going sailing around Vancouver

A good sailor checks as well the forecast. Around Vancouver, there are many sources of weather conditions (present) and forecasts (future).

Add them to your favourites

Weather Canada

Forecast

Strait of Georgia - south of Nanaimo

http://weather.gc.ca/marine/forecast_e.html?mapID=02&siteID=14305

Strait of Georgia - north of Nanaimo

http://weather.gc.ca/marine/forecast_e.html?mapID=02&siteID=06400

Howe Sound

http://weather.gc.ca/marine/forecast_e.html?mapID=02&siteID=06400

Current Conditions

Point Atkinson

http://weather.gc.ca/marine/weatherConditions-24hrObsHistory_e.html?mapID=02&siteID=14305&stationID=WSB

Halibut Bank

http://weather.gc.ca/marine/weatherConditions-24hrObsHistory_e.html?mapID=02&siteID=14305&stationID=46146

Howe Sound - Pam Rocks

http://weather.gc.ca/marine/weatherConditions-24hrObsHistory_e.html?mapID=02&siteID=14305&stationID=WAS

Squamish

http://weather.gc.ca/marine/weatherConditions-24hrObsHistory_e.html?mapID=02&siteID=14305&stationID=WSK

Other interesting websites

JSCA - Jericho

http://m.jsca.bc.ca/

WindAlert - Jericho

http://www.windalert.com/spot/1435

Jericho Wind

http://www.jerichowind.com/

Tides - Point Atkinson

http://tides.mobilegeographics.com/locations/4744.html

Useful apps

Navionics - Boating US&Canada

https://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/boating-us-canada/id382815123?mt=8

What to bring when going sailing!

Going sailing is a lot of fun, but it could be a very difficult experience if not equipped properly, especially in the low season. Here's a quick list of stuff and advices.

1. sunglasses
2. suns cream
3. hat / tuque
4. rain jacket 
5. rain pants
6. fleece
7. scarf / buff
8. non slipping/non marking shoes / rubber boots with wool socks
9. gloves
10. snacks
11. water bottle with water

In France, we say that a good sailor, to avoid sea-sickness fights the 5 F:

1. Fatigue: tiredness
2. Froid: cold
3. Frousse: fear
4. Faim: hunger
5. Foif (soif): thirst

Here are few links to foul weather gear I'm using:

• Gil - Jacket - OS2
• http://www.gillmarine.com/gb/os2-jacket-1.html
• Gil - Coastal Trousers
• http://www.gillmarine.com/gb/mens/sailing-clothing/sailing-trousers/coast-trousers-1.html
• Viking boots
• http://www.vikingwear.com/index.php/products/boots/vw26-vikingr-mariner-boots-features.html
• Gil - Neoprene gloves
• http://www.gillmarine.com/gb/neoprene-winter-glove.html
• West Marine - Coastal lifejack
• https://www.westmarine.com/buy/west-marine--coastal-automatic-inflatable-life-jacket--16758013
• Spinlock - Offshore lifejacket - Deckvest 5D | Offshore
  • https://www.spinlock.co.uk/en-us/categories/lifejackets/product_groups/deckvest-5d

For more information you can have a look at the following shops:

Gill (online)

Jackets http://www.gillmarine.com/gb/women/sailing-clothing/jackets.html

Trousers http://www.gillmarine.com/gb/women/sailing-clothing/trousers.html

Marine Outfitters (online)

http://www.marineoutfitters.ca/

Binacle
https://ca.binnacle.com

Shops in Vancouver

Steveston Marine

http://www.stevestonmarine.com/index.php?route=common/location_details&loc_id=1

Vancouver Boat Show

http://www.vancouverboatshow.ca/

The first thing: let's get started!

Welcome to my personal blog!

I'll use this blog to share (hopefully) interesting and useful thoughts, resources, links, and experiences that might help you, make you think, or simply give a new perspective on a topic.

I'm curious by nature, I'm a new father, a software engineer, was a boy-scout. I like to hike, bike, sail, ski and be outside in general, when I'm not stuck in front of a computer to either work or prepare the next trip (or simply waste time on YouTube, let's face it).

As a usual blog writer, I'll commit to one article a week, and I'll hope to keep this streak for as long as possible, let's see how long it lasts!

Have a great reading!

Antoine