Why Start Sailing?

 Sailing is using the wind, and sails to propel a craft over the water.

All through history sailing has been used for many things as it is much more efficient than travel over land. It was been used for fishing, warfare, travel, and sport.

But why start sailing?

Sailing isn't just something to do out of necessity, and in current times it is rarely used for that. Sailing has become mostly a leisure activity that people of all ages can participate in. Children from sailing families ave been on boats since birth, and old sailors have been know to keep sailing even when they can no loner walk. The joy of being on the water, and only using the wind to propel ones-self is what pushes many people into the sport.

If leisure isn't what you are looking for, sail boat racing might be what draws you in. The major races of today can be classified as inshore, offshore, ocean, and around the world. Sailboat racing is agin for people of all ages, and mobility types. With racing available to the smallest of children, the oldest of adults, and even includes fleets for the blind, and non mobile individuals. 

One of the most well know sailing races in the world is the Americas Cup, and it is the oldest international competition still operating in any sport. Matches are held several years apart on dates agreed between the defending boat and the challenging boat. There is no fixed schedule, but the races have generally been held every three to four years. The most recent America's Cup match took place in March 2021

Learning Sailing

Many yacht clubs, sailing clubs, and boat clubs offer classes for people of all ages.

Here are some basics of learning how to sail, the points of sail chart

When sailing the only direction that one can not go in, is directly into the wind, which means that sometimes you cannot go directly where you want to go.

Based on which direction you are going in when sailing, you sails need to be pulled in different amounts, this chart helps people learning to sail understand this concept.