Why is the boom on a sailboat called a boom? It actually has nothing to do with the sound it makes when it swings across the boat. The nautical word comes from the Dutch word boom, meaning tree, pole, or beam. By the 1600s, the word had entered English nautical use for a long spar extending from a ship. Over time, it became the name for the horizontal spar used to control and support the lower part of a sail. Interestingly, the word boom meaning a deep, loud sound has a completely different origin. So the boom is called a boom because, originally, it was essentially a wooden beam. #sailing #sailboat #sailor

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Sharing a boat with strangers can feel like a gamble. For this couple, it became a chance to connect, swap experiences, and see things through other sailors’ eyes.

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AIS on your phone can be useful for situational awareness, but an internet-based AIS app is not the same thing as having AIS onboard. Real AIS is transmitted directly between vessels over VHF. Depending on the app, the information on your phone may first be received by shore stations, sent over the internet, and then displayed to you. That means coverage can be incomplete and vessel positions may be delayed or unavailable. You are also dependent on your phone, data connection, and the service itself. Even onboard AIS should never be your only tool for collision avoidance. The Coast Guard specifically advises mariners to use all available means to determine collision risk. Use mobile AIS as additional information, not as a replacement for proper onboard navigation equipment, a lookout, radar, or good seamanship. #sailing #boating #boat #sailor #sailboat

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