Guide to Fun & Safe Boating With Your Dog

Guide to Fun & Safe Boating With Your Dog

While we don’t have any dogs aboard Nine of Cups, we do see quite a few four-footed skippers during our travels. There’s no doubt that dogs love being out on the open water with their owners. However, it’s worth keeping in mind that even the most skilled canine swimmers should be equipped with doggy life vests, as rough seas can pull under even water-loving breeds.

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There to Here - Climbing the Learning Curve

There to Here - Climbing the Learning Curve

When thinking about the next topic for the There to Here series, we thought it was necessary to introduce the steep, steady climb of the learning curve that sailors, especially newbies, encounter when they first move aboard. Even if you;re already a good sailor, it doesn’t necessarily mean that living aboard won’t be a challenge at first. It's one thing to sail and another to keep a boat afloat.

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Blue View – Choosing the Right Rig

Blue View – Choosing the Right Rig

To continue my thoughts on what's important in a cruising boat, I'll talk about rig options – sloop vs. cutter vs. ketch – all of which we've had at least a little experience with. I won't talk much about schooner, yawl, junk, gaff or catboat rigs; while they have their own loyal followers and offer their own unique advantages and disadvantages, I have no first hand knowledge, and can only repeat what I've read or been told about them.

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