We at Sailing Virgins are creating instructional videos on how to sail that aren’t lame! Join us as we travel through the Caribbean, Croatia, Tahiti, and more and show you the ropes, literally. ---- We are the world's #1 sailing school for millennials-lessons, courses, classes in the Caribbean, Croatia, and Tahiti. ---- In this episode: March 2020 update: we are suspending our sailing courses given the travel restrictions and will be shooting new episodes over the next two months. Please support us through Patreon. Support starts at $3 per episode. Thanks! https://www.patreon.com/sailingvirgins ------- Picking up a mooring ball and securing it effectively to your boat is a particular technique. If it is not done correctly, your line can chafe through, leaving you adrift when you least expect it. Nobody wants that. So listen up and we will share with you our tried and tested method. Our Patreon page is here: https://www.patreon.com/sailingvirgins For the full blog post on this episode, check out: http://info.sailingvirgins.com/blog/how-to-pick-up-a-mooring-ball Conclusion Whether you plan to pick up a mooring ball every day of your vacation, or not at all, it helps to know the proper method of securing a boat to a mooring ball. Remember these three key points: 1. Use two lines; 2. Work on one line at a time; 3. Check what the ball is attached to. ------------Contents------------ 00:00 Intro 02:42 The Set-Up 04:13 The Approach 05:20 Stopping the Boat 06:00 The Pick-Up 07:08 Securing 08:52 Bonus Tip - The Lasso 10:21 Checking Sailing Virgins is the world’s leading sailing academy for people in their 20s and 30s. Started by two Australians in the British Virgin Islands, Sailing Virgins takes intrepid souls on a full-on sailing adventure throughout the Caribbean. Fast-track courses are 7-days in duration, with participants, whether rank beginners or advanced sailors, taking the wheel from day one. https://www.sailingvirgins.com/courses/ Number one on TripAdvisor, TrustPilot, Google and Facebook reviews, Sailing Virgins is experiencing 300%-per-year growth. Contact us to learn more: sail@sailingvirgins.com. Thanks to Andy for the jeep ride! Here is the Facebook page of Marias Café: https://www.facebook.com/Marias-cafe-restaurant-Bar-497237727002406/ Thanks to Charles and Cornelia to let us visit their home, here you can find Charles' book on amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Moonhole-CHARLES-BREWER/dp/0615860958 Music cred: Sydji - Weedsday https://soundcloud.com/sydji Video cred: Celine Freixe http://www.celinefreixe.com

How to use a Dinghy - Episode 22 If you are about to sail or have just chartered a boat and are looking for tips on how to use a dinghy (aka inflatable, tender, rubber duck), then this episode covers some handy tips. If you want to remember just one thing from this episode, it is this: wear your kill cord. People die from not wearing their kill cord and falling out of the dinghy. This happened to a good friend of ours - a very experienced sailor - earlier this year in the BVI. One more thing; many countries have their own safety requirements which the driver and passengers should know. Please find out the relevant laws for your country (just google it), and then you know. We shot this episode at the Bora Bora Yacht Club in Tahiti in February, on a Lagoon 52 from Dream Yacht Charter. For this episode we break it up into the following segments: Intro: 0:41 Pre-start things to know 0:54 - two-stroke or four-stroke, oars, fuel level, deck vests, stay connected to the boat until the engine is purring. POST-PUBLISH NOTE: check the water is jetting out the pilot - this cools the engine, and if it gets blocked, can cause the engine to overheat. Sometimes it just requires engine off and a piece of wire up it to clear it out, but sometimes it's a bigger issue (like a busted impeller); Starting the dinghy 02:46 - pressurise fuel bulb, pull choke if required, minimal revs, check it's in neutral, wear the kill cord (repeat, **wear the kill cord**), be ready to put the painter (ie. the rope securing the dinghy) over the front of the dinghy so it is not streaming. Driving the dinghy 04:07 - tiller-steering, turn before you burn, weight the dinghy correctly so it leans away from the swell/wind, only plane if you are light enough to do so, bring revs back to 80% once you are on the plane Stopping the dinghy 06:35 - apply a bit of power in reverse if required to pull up your dinghy (make sure it is locked to the transom), note the angle of your tiller when in reverse, approaching a dock, apply a bit of forward against the dock to keep it there, alongside pickups from the boat. Securing the dinghy 09:19 - items for the dinghy: scoop, cable, anchor. Anchors are useful to keep dinghy off the dock when required. Know your knots - round turn two half hitches on the bite is the most common. Other elements 10:35 - watch your speed through mooring fields, use a light at night, bring a VHF or mobile phone if you need to communicate. Please thumbs up and subscribe! Thanks!! Thanks to Kyle Sykes (instagram: @kylesyks and https://vimeo.com/user14906522) for the shooting and edit, and Celine Freixe (instagram: @celine.fresh and http://celinefreixe.com/) for the titles and polish. ps. Sailing Virgins runs courses in Tahiti. They are amaaazing. If you'd like to know more, check out our courses page, or email irene@salingvirgins.com

We at Sailing Virgins are creating instructional videos on how to sail that aren’t lame! Join us as we travel through the Caribbean, Croatia, Tahiti, and more and show you the ropes, literally. ---- We are the world's #1 sailing school for millennials-lessons, courses, classes in the Caribbean, Croatia, and Tahiti. ---- In this episode: Learn how to raise the sails on your sailing yacht. Some simple yet important tips. Support us and get free gear: https://www.patreon.com/sailingvirgins ------------Contents------------ 00:00 Intro 01:10 The Main 08:09 The Jib 10:20 Safety Turn 11:05 Conclusion ---- If you like please click Like and Subscribe. Thanks. :) Music cred: Myd - The Sun (Sydji Remix) https://soundcloud.com/sydji Video cred: Celine Freixe http://www.celinefreixe.com

Engine Checks are crucial to sailing. This episode gives you some tips. Please smash that like button, it helps the youtube algorithm love us, thanks!! You can become a Patreon supporter for as little as $5 an episode: https://www.patreon.com/sailingvirgins - this provides the support to allow us to continue making these. Thanks! ps. Patrons get free live Q&A, and free gear too. Here are the quick links to help explain WOBBLE mnemonic (pronounced "numanumanumanonic"): Water: 00:40 Oil: 02:13 Belt: 03:49 Battery: 05:24 Bilge: 05:47 Levels: 06:31 Exhaust: 07:55 Soggy Dollar Afternoon: 08:29 Hope you enjoyed it! Please smash that like button and subscribe. Thanks! Thanks to the SV team and in particular Beetle Campbell for shooting and editing this.

How to Anchor - 10 Tips to Anchor Well We at Sailing Virgins are creating instructional videos on how to sail that aren’t lame! Join us as we travel through the Caribbean, Croatia, Tahiti, and more and show you the ropes, literally. ---- We are the world's #1 sailing school for millennials-lessons, courses, classes in the Caribbean, Croatia, and Tahiti. ---- In this episode: Whether you sail a yacht or use a powerboat, being able to anchor securely is a critical skill. Here we hope to help. Please like and subscribe. Any questions will be answered in the comments. Support us and get free gear: https://www.patreon.com/sailingvirgins This is published with the blog post which can be found here: http://info.sailingvirgins.com/blog/how-to-anchor Broken down into ten steps, we have: 1. Find a quiet spot 2. Find a great bottom 3. Communicate quietly 4. Drop smoothly 5. Drop plenty of chain 6. Test well 7. Use a snubber/bridle 8. When to use a Kedge / Secondary Anchor 9. Reduce Anchor Drag & Swing 10. Motor Forward to Lift Anchor Remember, in tidal areas your anchor ratio can change greatly. So be well aware of your tidal range and high/low times. Tides will be covered in future episodes. ------------Contents------------ 00:00 Intro 01:41 Find Your Spot 03:16 Communication Tips 04:38 The Drop Video cred: http://celinefreixe.com/ Music cred: Sydji - Love Frequencies https://soundcloud.com/sydji

We at Sailing Virgins are creating instructional videos on how to sail that aren’t lame! Join us as we travel through the Caribbean, Croatia, Tahiti, and more and show you the ropes, literally. ---- We are the world's #1 sailing school for millennials-lessons, courses, classes in the Caribbean, Croatia, and Tahiti. ---- In this episode: Great sailing knots are a staple for skippers around the world. In this episode, we cover not just the six great sailing knots, but a couple of different methods of tying them. For example, did you know you can tie a sheet bend using exactly the same method as tying a bowline? This means you can use your muscle memory for a knot you tie all the time, for a knot you may not tie so often. ------------Contents------------ 00:00 Intro 00:48 Bowline - faster take on the traditional method 02:01 Bowline V2 - incredibly fast "special forces" method 03:53 Clove Hitch - full and quick-release method 05:41 Round Turn & Two Half-Hitches - the underrated knot 06:54 Double Sheet-Bend - our favourite method 09:15 Pro Tip: NEVER DO THIS!! Bowline on bowline (ps. its efficiency is probably better than 5% - James was exaggerating. It's still a cruddy solution. Do a double sheet-bend. SO much better) 10:18 The Rolling Hitch - VERY handy in certain situations 12:21 Figure 8 - tried and true stopper knot Check out our blog post to see a write-up: http://info.sailingvirgins.com/sailing-virgins-blog-dec2017/great-sailing-knots Cheers, Jack and James

We at Sailing Virgins are creating instructional videos on how to sail that aren’t lame! Join us as we travel through the Caribbean, Croatia, Tahiti, and more and show you the ropes, literally. ---- We are the world's #1 sailing school for millennials-lessons, courses, classes in the Caribbean, Croatia, and Tahiti. ---- In this episode: Tacking is one of the fundamentals of sailing. This episode covers tacking a yacht, breaking it down for people who have never sailed before, or who just need to brush up on the basics. Support us and get free gear: https://www.patreon.com/sailingvirgins ------------Contents------------ 00:00 Intro 01:26 Definition 02:21 Terms 03:34 The Wind 04:02. Laying the Tack 05:41 Communication 07:45. Ready About 08:17 Trimming We hope you enjoy! Sailing Virgins runs courses throughout the year. It is the only sailing academy in the world dedicated to people in their 20s and 30s. If this is you, contact us, and let's go sailing! https://www.sailingvirgins.com/courses/ Music cred: Sydji - oui https://soundcloud.com/sydji Video cred: Celine Freixe http://www.celinefreixe.com

How to Gybe (aka Jibe) a Sail Boat If you want to refine jibing/gybing IRL, get yourself on one of our ASA courses, as this is a critical skill for your 103/104 certification, as taught in our Intermediate Course :) https://sailingvirgins.com/courses/ Introduction Gybing (aka Jibing) is turning a boat so its stern passes through the wind. It is the opposite of a tack. The angle that the boat will turn in a typical gybe is around 60-100 degrees Two types of gybing are covered here: standard jibe and slam jibe Some people are afraid of gybing. However, it is fine if a decent method is followed. When hearing the term “gybe”, think “mainsheet”. This is the most important line in a gybe. Gybing the foresail is no big deal, just don’t dump the old working sheet (if the sail goes in front of the boat, it could take you ages to get it back in) If all else fails, wear round (other names for this are Chicken Gybe and perhaps Wending) Pre-Gybe Helm brings the boat to between a broad reach and dead run. Then the helm makes the call “Prepare To Gybe” (or whatever is agreed on your boat - some people prefer "Standby To Gybe") Secure the traveller Get out of the “hot zone” (where the mainsheet will cross the boat) Don’t sit on the coamings (above the seat in a cockpit) or else you may get intimate with a winch. Standard Gybe Steps Bring the mainsheet in so the boom is near the center Helm makes the call “Turning” then starts the turn Mainsheet trimmer removes the handle Helm makes call “Gybe…. HO” with the HO happening when the leech flips over Helm counter-steers to ensure the boat stays on a straight heading Mainsheet trimmer eases the mainsheet Ease foresail working sheet while taking in on the opposite sheet Slam Gybe Steps Ensure the mainsheet zone is clear and traveller is centered Put the vang on in order to pull down the boom (and tension the leech) Helm makes the call “Standby to Gybe”, then “Turning” at which point he starts the turn Make sure someone (it could be the helm) guides the mainsheet across Smooth Gybe You want to keep the speed of your boat up during a gybe This reduces the stress on your rigging and makes the gybe much smoother Bring the mainsheet in, and just when it’s close to center, start the turn As soon as the gybe-ho call happens, ease out the mainsheet and counter-turn the wheel. Summary Gybing is safe if done properly Lock your traveler, think about the mainsheet Counter-turn as soon as the boat gybes, to stop risk of heading straight into a close haul on teh other tack Ease that mainsheet as soon as the boat gybes Be clear on your calls Have fun! Sailor cred - thanks to our crew (alphabetical order): Ardit Skora, David Granat, Leonardo Moreira, Michael Nasca, Paula Lopez Video cred: Thanks Forrest Ladkin you legend, and thanks Celine for the transitions/titles Email forrest@sailingvirgins.com if you want to get in touch with Forrest direct. Music cred: (00:02) Bassackwards by Kurt Vile (05:34) Brad Sucks by Bad Signs (09:22) Above the Clouds (feat. Olivia Reid) by SŸDE You can find these songs and more in our Sailing Virgins Spotify playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2NFfa0vFC4aZuZL94hJK9c?si=cK32jeJBTAywyRUQJaEMkg