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Sailing is both an art and a science. Hundreds of books have been written about sailing, from the basics to racing. Like playing an instrument, it is easy to learn the basics, but harder to become a master. Sailboats also range from simple dinghies with one small sail, to large sailing ships with many sails in various configurations. Sailing is even an Olympic Sport. It is a worldwide pastime, and you don’t have to be wealthy to take up sailing. But sailing is a subject that requires some training and instruction.
Sailing Instruction:
The best way to learn sailing (or boating) is take a course. Many yacht clubs and racing clubs offer basic sailing classes. Most major metropolitan areas have many places where you can learn to sail. One good place to start looking for classes is the American Sailing Association (ASA) https://asa.com/.
They list over 300 schools in the US alone and have affiliates internationally. There is also the US Sailing Association https://www.ussailing.org/education/ . They offer sailing classes around the USA. A quick search on the internet will find a sailing school near you, some are free. Some colleges and universities have sailing teams and offer classes as well.
https://sailing.cofc.edu/ College Of Charleston
https://occsailing.com/ Orange Coast College
https://sail.uoregon.edu/ University of Oregon
https://www.seasbergen.org/learn/basic Offered By Seas Bergen
https://www.boaterexam.com/sailing/basickeelboat/ Offered by Boater Exam,com
These are just a few examples.Additionally, if you want to go beyond basics there are professional sailing schools who will teach you how to sail the bigger boats, how to crew on sailboats, and the fundamentals of racing. https://www.offshoresailing.com/sail-and-power-courses/
There are schools specifically for women to learn sailing. https://www.offshoresailing.com/women-only-sailing-programs/(These links are examples only and not an endorsement of these schools)
Sailing Terminology:
Of course, the first and most fundamental lessons deal with the names of things on sail boats. Sails, lines, and rigging have their own names. To be a good sailor you need to learn the language just as you would with any boat. It is not difficult on small sail boats but it gets more complex on big sailboats.
https://www.discoverboating.com/resources/sailing-basics-10-nautical-and-sailing-terms-to-learn
https://i.pinimg.com/736x/97/7f/05/977f057a1f4be341d942a4ea64fb2345--sailing-yachts-sailing-boat.jpgThe above image contains many of the names of things on a small sailing dinghy.
Sailing Safety:
Safety on sailboats is not discussed much on boating safety sites, and boating forums, because boating accidents seem to primarily involve powerboats. I say "seem to" because the accidents in the Coast Guard Boating Accident Statistics, https://www.uscgboating.org/statistics/accident_statistics.php, are "reportable" accidents, that is accidents causing death, injury requiring medical treatment, or damages valued at more than $2000.00 USD. Most accidents in sailboats happen at slow speeds, and involve minor injuries. But the potential exists. Safety is as important on sailboats as it is on powerboats.
Safety is of course the first item taught. Wearing a lifejacket on a small sailboat is mandatory. These little boats often turn over, and one of the first things you will learn is how to right the boat, bail it and sail away. In boats that are larger and have a weighted keel this is not as much of a problem. They rarely capsize.
Monohull sailboats are designed to perform best at a slight angle of heel. But you need to learn the tactics to keep these boats sailing at optimum speed and angle of heel. Allowing them to heel too far reduces speed and ability to maintain course. This can result in a knock down, a different name for a capsize.
Another huge safety item is all the lines that run around the boat and how to make sure you don't get tangled in them. If the boat capsizes there is a real danger of being caught under the sail or tangled in the lines. You need to know how to prevent this and how to extricate yourself if it happens. One of the most valuable tools on a boat is a sharp knife, in a pouch on your belt.
Of course, you need to learn what all those lines are for; what sails they hoist or control. On a small boat there may be only a few, but on a large sail boat with many sails the number of lines multiplies. There are halyards that raise and lower sails, and sheets that control the position of sails. There are downhauls and lazy jacks, and other lines. You need to know the names and what they do.
On larger sailboats for cruising or offshore racing, a safety harness becomes extremely important especially in bad weather. A safety harness attaches you to the boat by a line. This does not prevent you from falling overboard, but makes your rescue far easier. Many lifejackets used by offshore sailors have a built in harness to clip a line to. There are also harnesses for those not wearing a lifejackets (even though they should be).
Another danger, particularly for trailer sailors, but can happen to larger sailboats, is overhead powerlines. When launching a trailerable sailboat at a boat ramp, the owner should check for overhead power lines before putting the mast up. Every year we read about people hitting overhead powerlines at boat ramps. This has resulted in some serious injuries, and fires that destroy the boat. For larger sailboats the danger is primarily from waterways that have overhead powerlines crossing the waterway. There have been incidents where tall masts have contacted these lines. It is just like being struck by lightning. Some sailboats that have aluminum masts have a plastic spacer in the mast so the top of the mast does not conduct electricity down to the rest of the boat. An example of this is Hobie Catamarans.
How sails work:
Beyond the safety issues you need to learn how sails drive the boat forward, how to trim (position) the sails most affectively, and how to sail the boat at all angles to the wind. Sailboats cannot go directly into the wind so you need to learn how to tack, that is, sail the boat close to the wind to make progress up wind. You need to learn the interaction between the sails, the wind, the keel or centerboard and the rudder.
The above diagram is a very simple illustration of how sails work. In the diagram the wind is from the right (starboard) side, and the boat is on a starboard tack. Because the sail is curved, the wind passing behind the sail must travel farther and faster around the sail than the wind on the inner side, creating a lower pressure on the outer side. This creates a thrust towards that side. Without a keel, or centerboard, the boat would mostly slide sideways, but the keel and rudder resist that. So, the result is a forward motion of the boat.
Racing:
After you have learned the basics, if you decide to take up racing, then you will need to learn the racing rules. These rules are used internationally so once you have learned them you can race anywhere and know the rules.
https://www.sailing.org/inside-world-sailing/rules-regulations/
https://www.ussailing.org/competition/rules-officiating/racing-rules/There are many sailing clubs and yacht clubs that sponsor races. There are races specifically for class boats, that is boats that are all exactly alike, called one-design. This eliminates the factor of one boat being faster than another, and the winning depends on the skill of the sailor. These boats range from small dinghies to America's Cup boats and even large boats that race around the world. Many people start by sailing dinghies and then progressively move up to bigger boats.
International Sailing Federation: https://www.sailing.org/
List Of One Design Classes:
https://www.ussailing.org/competition/small-boat-racing/One Design Classes:
https://sail1design.com/one-design-classes/There are also races for boats that are not alike. Usually these are just fun races. Whoever gets around the course first wins. But some of these races are handicapped. That is, a smaller boat that is slower than a larger boat, can win even though they did not come in first.
Other Sailing:
Of course, not all sailors race. Many like to just go for a day sail, or a weekend cruise. Some who own boats with a cabin like to go on extended cruises, from a few days to even years. Cruising around the world is not unheard of and has been done by many amateurs. There are groups that like to sail and cruise together. They have events and get togethers for their members. Then there are Yacht Clubs for those with larger boats and deeper wallets. Or, you can do it on your own. You do not have to belong to a club or association to go sailing or cruising. Many people do what is called gunk holing:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gunkholing, just sailing from place to place and stopping for the night or just for lunch.The Fine Art of Gunk Holing:
https://www.sailmagazine.com/cruising/the-fine-art-of-gunkholing
The Pocket Cruiser: https://www.stevproj.com/IntroPCPg1.html
Trailer Sailor: https://forum.trailersailor.com/
Seven Seas Cruising Association: https://www.ssca.org/
Cruising Club of America: https://www.cruisingclub.org/Once you have learned the basics you will find that sailing is fun. It is just you, the boat, and the wind. No engine, no gasoline or other fuel needed. The original "green" machine. It is very relaxing.
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