Blog

Furling mainsails are far more common on new boats compared to classic mainsails because of their many benefits and ease of use, but we need to learn some key skills to use them properly and efficiently. The main benefit of a furling main is the easy deployment and...

After several canceled flotillas over the last 15 months, we are excited to announced the rebooking of the club’s annual flotilla! We’re heading to the BVI’s this fall for eight amazing days of sailing.   Each year the club picks...

The season is here with warmer weather and the bay is full of boats! Last weekend, we took a little time to enjoy the start of the season ourselves and noticed some rusty skippers and witnessed four boats aground (none of them from HS thankfully). So, let us review...

A lee shore is a one of the everyday dangers of a sailor and skippers should always be aware of the presence of a lee shore. A lee shore is exactly as it sounds; a shore (object, obstructions, etc.) to leeward of a boat. Lee shores are dangerous because if a boat were...

Much like on the roads, boats follow a set of rules in order to prevent collisions. These rules identify which vessel must stay clear, but it is critical to note that nowhere in the navigation rules will you see the words right-of-way used. This is because all...

Most marine inboard engines are fresh water cooled. Much like your car, a captive amount of freshwater (coolant) is continually circulated through a heat exchanger that maintains the engine at a temperature set by the thermostat. Usually this is between 170 and 180...

As daylight savings is upon us with earlier sunsets, let us take a moment to review proper navigation lights for nighttime boating. Remember, navigation lights should be turned on 45 minutes prior to sunset, left on until 45 minutes after sunrise, and during times of...

Have you ever pulled out of the slip and wondered why the stern is being pulled to port or starboard as you accelerate? This is called prop walk and it’s due to the rotation of the prop at lower speeds. Let’s try to understand it and learn how to use it to...

One of the most challenging aspects of sailing is learning the language of sailing. Terms like starboard, helm, halyard, sheet have very little use in the English language yet they are extremely important while onboard a sailboat.   Here is a little history...

As we find ourselves at the height of busy summer, we have witnessed some bad habits committed by the general boating community. While I was anchored in Glorieta Bay earlier this month, I watched as a lot of boaters struggled to get their anchors set properly on the...

The phrase “Clean Bill of Health” comes from the 17th century when port authorities would confirm none of a ship’s crew were suffering from a contagious disease and the ships port of departure was not know to have any contagions present. If this was...

Dear Sailors,   The club is back up and running with rentals, instruction, and charters now permissible by state and local health officials. While we’re very excited about the news, certain restrictions are still in place.   It’s encouraged that...

I was born and raised in Phoenix, the center of Arizona’s “Valley of the Sun.”  How did a desert rat like myself end up being an owner in the Harbor Sailboats fleet? Roll back the clock to summer 2017.  My long-time friend and fellow Harbor Sailboats member...

The boat in the picture that’s grounded off Point Loma is the O’Day 37, “Sandpiper”. A nice boat with a center cockpit design and for its day, a large aft cabin.  Harbor Sailboats had three of them in the fleet at the time. I think the year was 1983 when the club...

March 31, 2020 To: The Members, Boat Owners and Crew of Harbor Sailboats and SailTime San Diego From: Tom Hirsh, President   Dear All,   I have worked for, with, and on behalf of Harbor Sailboats since I was a young man of 24. Now 41 years later, I am much...

Beginning January 1st, 2018, California started phasing in the requirement for boaters to obtain a California Boaters Safety Card for the legal operation of a motorized vessel on state waterways. The phase in process was done by age and as of January 1st, 2020,...