How Sailing Works

If you're looking for a little fun and some high-seas adventure, there are some popular types of recreational sailing that may suit you. If you're looking for something a little different, we have a few unconventional suggestions, too.

If you're a sailing novice, you might want to start out with small sailboats like dinghies, daysailers and small keelboats. They're easy to maneuver, are usually less than 25 feet in length. These can be sailed by an individual (solo sailing) or with one crewmember [source: U.S. Sailing]. Some sailors begin with small sailboats and continue adventuring this way even as they become experts. Dinghies are fun and lightweight -- they're used by college racing teams and in the Olympics, and they're perfect for weekend warriors.

Some adventurers, though, take their sailing hobby to a whole new level and go cruising. Cruising isn't a just a hobby; it's a lifestyle. When you hear about someone who is sailing around the world, they're cruising. Sailors who choose cruising live on their sailboats and travel for extended periods of time. Their vessels range from basic keelboats to large, multi-hull cruising yachts. Most boats intended for cruising have many of the comforts of home below deck, and depending on their size, may include beds, bathrooms, kitchen facilities and even entertainment systems.

For those who want the adventure or relaxation of sailing without the work, boats can be chartered with skippers, and yachts can be chartered with crews. Two popular types of family-friendly chartered sailing adventures are sunset cruises and Caribbean sailing vacations. Sunset cruises are leisurely sailing experiences and are typically chartered by small groups looking to relax. If sailing in the Caribbean like the rich and famous sounds more like your style, boats (with or without hired crews) may be chartered through travel agencies. Some popular island destinations for Caribbean sailors include the Virgin Islands, Antigua, St. Barts, St. Martin and Grenada.

For sailors who wish to break outside of the norm, some resorts offer nude sailing daytrips as well as multi-day island-hopping cruise packages. (Just remember to pack extra sunscreen).

If, however, you're looking for an alternative to the sun, sand and waves scene, ice sailing -- also called ice boating, ice yachting, ice surfing and hard water sailing -- turns sailing into a winter sport. Ice sailing began in the Netherlands in the 1800s as a way to traverse frozen lakes during winter, and has been growing in popularity as a recreational sport since the introduction of ice sailing boats in the 1930s.

Did you know sailboats can't be taken directly into the wind? In the next section, learn the five essentials of sailing.

The basics of sailing are easy to learn in a few classes, although it can take a lifetime to perfect them. Of the many skills and techniques to learn about sailing, there are five essentials: sail setting, boat balance, fore and aft trim, position of the centerboard, and course made good.

To find a sailing school in the United States, visit the American Sailing Association.

Next we'll learn about safe boating, as well as some boating superstitions that have persisted through the years.

To keep recreational sailing a fun and safe activity, there are some rules sailors are expected to follow. First, it's important to be honest about your skill level. Don't overextend yourself -- if you're a beginner or an old pro, going beyond your skill puts both you and others at risk. According to the U.S. Coast Guard, 70 percent of reported deaths at sea occur because the boat operator didn't have adequate (or any) boating instruction [source: U.S. Coast Guard].

Your skills will only take you so far -- you'll need wind in your sails to get you out on the water. Make sure to determine the wind speed and direction before you set out. Also check the forecast. It may be sunny as you make your preparations, but a change in the weather could result in a dangerous expedition.

With skill level and wind direction determined, you'll also want to inspect your boat, gear and tools to ensure they're all in good condition, and note if you have everything you need onboard before setting out. Federal law requires you to carry safety equipment onboard. You and your crew should wear life jackets and all know how to use the boat's safety equipment. Be sure to know how to make a distress call for immediate assistance -- the time you find yourself in trouble is not the time to figure how to call for help.

It's also smart to have a plan. On your adventure you'll likely be out of sight of land, and if you have an emergency, it might be difficult for help to find you. Put together a float plan and leave a copy with a friend or local marina before you set sail. At the least, your plan should include:

Skill, wind, inspection and a plan -- check. Once you've launched your boat, be alert and aware of your surroundings. By simply maintaining a safe speed and looking around you, you're less likely to collide with other boats or objects (the top two causes of accidents [source: U.S. Coast Guard]). And leave the alcohol on shore: Drinking and operating equipment is just as dangerous at sea as it is on the roads. Violators with a blood alcohol content of .08 percent or higher may be subject to civil and criminal penalties, one year imprisonment or both. [source: U.S. Coast Guard]. Alcohol use is a leading factor in fatal boating accidents -- nearly 20 percent of reported fatalities [source: U.S. Coast Guard].

For a comprehensive list of rules and regulations, visit the U.S. Coast Guard's Navigation Center.

For more information about sailing, maintaining your boat and surviving a shipwreck, sail though our list of links on the following page.

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My gut reaction to being assigned to write about sailing was, well, I was intimidated. I love the water, so much so that as a kid I wished I could live submerged, but I'd only actually been sailing once. I was going to need to do a lot of research and talk to people with sailing experience to get this right.

As a water lover, I was immediately engaged when I read that most sailors today sail because they love being on the water. No, I was hooked. I started to envision a life at sea, sailing from place to place around the world -- which, as it turns out, is called cruising. While cruising is a lifestyle, not a hobby, there are plenty of sailing hobbyists who set out in dinghies instead of keelboats or yachts.

While I wouldn't recommend anyone set sail without extensive training and on-board experience, I hope to have covered all the basics of the sport -- and to teach those like me the difference between starboard, port, stern and bow.

Sources

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