San Francisco Sailing Science Center

The other day we posted about some of the most important knots that a sailor should know. Today, a few Sailing Science Center members were talking about docking and securing a large boat that's dealing with a lot of 'push' away from where it needs to go (the dock) due to adverse current. This boat lacks a modern sailing aid such as a bow thruster, and it's not very easy for onboard crew to safely and easily hop off and grab an aft or bow line. One suggestion was to have dedicated land crew, or a helpful bystander, either lob or receive a line that has a monkeyfist at one end. The monkey fist serves a few purposes: provides somewhat of a ball to snag, serves as a weight so it may be less inclined to slide away, a floating object could you placed inside the ball so that, if the line ends up in the water, one end might float. No doubt there are other useful reasons for the monkeyfist. Share your uses below. #sailorknots #sailingknots #monkeyfist #learntosail #sailingskills #maritimetrades

It's a day of family fun outdoors April 26 at the waterfront--local non-profits invite you to celebrate Earth Day. These organizations educate youth, preserve our maritime traditions and inspire individuals of all ages. Land activities are free. Sailing Science Center will be there! * Knot and rope tie challenges * Learn the art and science of sailing a tall ship * Sea songs singing * Tour San Francisco's largest tall ship, the Matthew Turner * Wander through the Bay Model * Take a short sail on a big wooden boat (advance purchase required $) Saturday, April 26 10am - 2pm Bay Model Visitor Center Sausalito, California Food for purchase https://lnkd.in/e4VB99Na Call of the Sea City of Sausalito US Army Corps of Engineers #earthday #whattodoSF #eventsforkids #sailingevents #sciencesailingcenter #callofthesea #COTS #STEM #STEAM #educationforkids #outdoorevents #scienceeducation

The Latitude 38 spring crew list party is coming up. If you want to cruise, sail, race or wax boats this season, be sure to head to this mixer. Members of the SSC leadership team will be there. Come find us to learn about our own group's sailing season '25 events, programs and parties. Thursday, April 3 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm Bay View Boat Club, 489 Terry A Francois Blvd, San Francisco

The theme of World Water Day 2025 is ‘Glacier Preservation.' * Nearly 70% of Earth’s freshwater exists as snow or ice * Increased glacier melting contributes significantly to global sea-level rise, with today’s sea level about 20 cm higher than in 1900 * In 2023, glaciers lost more than 600 gigatons of water, the largest mass loss registered in 50 years. Mark the day on Saturday, March 25. https://lnkd.in/dmPq_Uq

A daggerboard is a retractable fin or board used with various types of small sailing craft. It is most often inserted through a "trunk" of a vessel's hull and is locked in place by a clip or pin when in use. Since water is denser than air, force generated by wind against the larger surface area of the sails can be equalized by force of a relatively small daggerboard (which is pushing in the water below the hull). The daggerboard exerts a counterforce from the wind on the sails. Daggerboards are often long and thin to reduce drag and increase effective lift, thus providing a better lift-to-drag ratio. The shape of the daggerboard converts the forward motion into a windward lift, which counters the leeward push of the sail. The theoretical center of lateral resistance is on the trailing edge of the daggerboard. ?? Sail graphic by Gustavb using Inkscape, CC BY 2.5, ttps://https://lnkd.in/eQmhjFD5 ?? Sunfish wood daggerboard from https://lnkd.in/e3REy2f6 #smallboats #daggerboard #sailing #learntoail #sailingskills

Sailors use all sorts of knots for fastening, connecting, holding in place and more. A few of the most used knots are: - Bowline - Clovehitch - Stopper Knot - Sheet Bend One of our favorite how-tos for knots is the website Animated Knots. Be sure to check their app: https://lnkd.in/eEBBj2KN The app even works when you do not have an internet connection. #knots #sailingknots #knotsforsailors #learntosail #sailingbasics

Pi Day (3/14) started in 1988 when physicist Larry Shaw began celebrations at the Exploratorium science museum in San Francisco. In 2009, Congress designated every March 14 to be the celebrated day, with mission to encourage more interest in math and science. Did you know it is also Albert Einstein's birthday? This year's Pi Day theme: "Math in Everyday Life." Purists mark Pi Day at exactly 1:59 (a.m. or p.m.), which equates to happiness at exactly 3.14159. Image from MIT Open Learning #piday #314159 #steam #einstein #science

For 22 years, the annual International Ocean Film Festival has showcased films that inspire appreciation and care for the ocean. Be sure to catch this year's incredible visual event. See local and international filmmakers' productions covering ocean themes ranging from sea life to searise, ocean plastic to coral, sea turtles to seabed. This event is great for kids, families, grandparents. Festival passes (multi-day) and individual (single film) tickets on sale now. >> Discounted Senior Sunday tickets, $40, while they last! April 11 -13, 2025 Cowell Theatre San Francisco $35-$350 tickets https://lnkd.in/e-nkh-n #internationaloceanfilmfestival #oceanfilms #oceanfestival #oceanart #sfevents #eventsforkids #IOFF

"As the ship was rounding Cape Horn, Captain Patten fell ill, his hearing and eyesight failing. Next in line for command was the second mate, but he could not navigate. Mary Patten assumed command, with the second mate's help and the support of the crew. Navigating and caring for her husband filled every moment; for fifty days she was unable to change clothes. The ship arrived in San Francisco November 1856." Oil painting by Gordon Johnson depicting Mary Patten on the clipper ship Neptune's Car. #sailingladies #womensday #sanfrancisco #nps #nationalparksOil painting by Gordon Johnson depicting Mary Patten on the clipper ship Neptune's Car.

What law of motion applies to sailing? The force of wind on a sail causing a boat to move is an example of Newton's third law of motion: every action has an equal and opposite reaction. #sailing #IsaacNewton #thirdlawofmotion #science