Sailing, Regatta Strategy, and Nautical Knowledgeby Dmitry Shteyn.

Foundational knowledge for understanding how sailing works — from sail shape and points of sail to safety, vocabulary, and what to expect on your first day on the water. Plain-language guides for anyone learning to sail.

How sailboat races are organized, run, and scored. Starting sequences, race flags, scoring systems, mark roundings, and the structures that turn a fleet of boats into a competitive regatta.

Upwind, downwind, starts, shifts, and the tactical decisions that decide regattas. How to read the racecourse, manage your air, and convert boat speed into finish positions.

Reading wind, weather, and water for smarter sailing. Marine forecasts, radar, cloud patterns, wind shifts, and how to decide whether the day is sailable.

Plain-language guides for people new to sailboats. Terms you actually need, the parts of the boat, basic safety, and what to expect your first time out.

Lake Michigan, inland lakes, and the culture of sailing in Wisconsin. Lake Geneva, Pewaukee, Mendota, Milwaukee, and the regional one-design and big-water racing scene.

Essential knots, rigging tune, and line handling. The five knots that cover 90 percent of on-board needs, plus the rigging concepts every sailor should understand.

Right-of-way rules, the Racing Rules of Sailing, mark room, and on-the-water etiquette. The handful of rules that cover most encounters between boats.