Useful sailing links and web sites

This is probably the most valuable link on this page.	US Sailing is the National Governing Body (NGB), chosen by Congress, for the sport of sailing and sailboat racing in the United States. The organization is a huge resource, and this site with its deep information and hundreds of links, is really quite incredible. I have purposely linked their logo to take you to their site map, because the site is so deep. If you need convincing, Click here to see resources on their online keelboat course page.
	BoatU.S., the standard in boaters advocacy, has it all, really. Most every serious boater has looked to them for towing services, marine insurance, or information of some sort. BoatU.S. is also a serious political group, as well. Click here to check out their "Resource and Reference Center" for very informative articles. Their retail & catalog divisions have been bought out by West Marine, but still operate separately.
	Marinas.com is a real favorite of mine. It will show you aerial photographs of marinas, inlets, anchorages, bridges, landmarks, waterside restaurants, and more from all over the world. These photos are high-resolution and zoomable. Once you choose a photo, there are usually numerous views to select from in the far right frame. Some regions really have extensive photographs, that could actually help you plan a cruise.
	"Sailnet, The Sailing Source" is an online sailing magazine. The "Articles" section is a fantastic resource for folks learning to sail. There are hundreds of articles, written in a down-to-earth, newbie-friendly style. Definitely check this out.
	Maptech has a great site for previewing nautical charts online, as well as free downloads for boaters. Clicking the logo to the left will take you to their maps & charts page, but if you want to go right to the BVI chart, click here. Browse and plan, zoom in, zoom out, find waypoints, and more.
	t2p.tv is the most complete source for on air coverage of sailing. From major regattas throughout the US and Caribbean to sailing destinations, to the sailors, the boats and the sport, t2p.tv covers it all with same day coverage for major events. It's FREE for small screen, and full screen, high resolution service by subscription. Truly FANTASTIC!
	TheSailingChannel.com and Sail.tv are partnering on an ambitious project to offer sailing videos of all kinds to cruising, racing, instruction, boat shows, and more. Their FLASH videos work great, but the QuickTime selections seem be a problem, sometimes. There's even a whole series on cruising the BVI! Sail.tv has a huge archive of racing-related videos that work beautifully, even in full screen mode. If only satellite and cable TV has this kind of programming!
	Home of the U.S. Coast Guard
	Boatlinks.com is a sort of coop marine online community that has amassed a huge listing of links and directories for the world of boating. This web site allows users to add classified ads, news, links, or upcoming events in your area.
	Home of the United States Power Squadrons (USPS), an organization dedicated to boating safety and education.
	Cruiser Log hosts Yacht Position Reports, Sailing home pages and narratives, Crewfinder, M/M Radio Nets, Cruiser Message Board, Cruising Forum, Cruising Classifieds, Boating Books & Links. Contains fascinating narratives by folks on amazing sailing adventures around the world. An interesting insight into the cruising world.
	The Mother of All Maritime Links (from John's Nautical Page). This has hundreds of links to everything nautical that one could imagine.
	SeaTalk has the most comprehensive list of nautical language I have ever seen. Very educational and fun to read.
	Nautical terminology... This is an incredible listing of links to different nautical glossaries, dictionaries, abbreviations, mnemonics, and much more. It's put together by a French outfit, "Termisti", (Center for Terminology Research).
	West Marine, the huge marine supply store, is great for ideas, as well as shopping. This link actually takes you right to "The West Advisor," a good resource for everything from repairs to boating know-how and technique. If you have broadband, check out their videos with equipment reviews, knot-tying and more.
	FreeTideTables - a slick sight for tides, display data in various formats. Use the "Search" function to find a specific location.