The Complete Guide To Learning How To Sail

by Clive Peterson

I started my sailing training some 18 years ago with a competent crew course after having completed two parts of a coastal skipper correspondence course, all quite confusing, but a start.I now own my own yacht, a Maxi 1000, Swedish built, she is a great sail and I have had some exciting times with her. Our maiden voyage was from Sweden to Hull in the UK, a two-week passage, proving boat, crew, and skipper!That was just the start. I have since sailed from UK to Spain, West coast of Scotland, UK to France, France to Ireland, Sweden to Denmark, and best of all, around the warm waters of the Caribbean.My route to learning to sail was somewhat fragmented and confusing hence me putting pen to paper with other qualified sailors to produce a compelling eBook, which I am sure will find a benefit in learning the sport.This eBook is designed for the people who want to learn how to sail, but have no firsthand knowledge and daunted with the correct way forward. It can be used later as reference to short cut your way forward. I hope this will introduce you to this great sport.Thank you to all the people in the UK and overseas that have helped in putting this eBook together.Happy Sailing!Clive Peterson1. Learning How to Sail – An IntroductionSailing has now become a hobby and is part of the lifestyle of many people. Sailing offers a combination of excitement and adventure. It is no doubt a challenging sport. However, understanding and mastering the basics of sailing is quite simple. Sailing is the technique of controlling a sailing vessel using a rudder. You have to consider varying conditions like sea conditions, wind conditions with due consideration to speed and direction of wind, and have a good knowledge of sailboats to enjoy sailing the seas. If you indulge in sailing mainly as a recreational activity, you could take part in cruising, racing, or just enjoy dinghy sailing. Sailing has been an integral part of human civilization. The earliest depictions of a sailing ship have been in an Egyptian vase from about 3500 BC. Thereafter, history has been a witness to various sailing expeditions undertaken by Chinese, Arab, Indian, and European explorers. Over the years and centuries, there has been much advancement in the shape of sails, masts, and sailboats. Later, over the centuries, sailing acquired a new and very different trend. Sailing was no longer for business; it was now undertaken more for a pleasure. Sailing got a new meaning and men started venturing out on seas as maritime pastime and recreational activity. Different explorers and seamen made suitable modifications to their sailing boats and adapted their equipment to suit sailing on high seas. The Industrial Revolution brought about greater changes in the sailing boats. Presently, a variety of sailing boats, equipment, and other fare were available.Around the seventeenth century, more and more of smaller sailboats came into existence. These sailboats were easier to navigate and were referred to as ‘Jaght’. The present-day name of ‘Yacht’ has been derived from this name. The first Dutch yacht was a gift to King Charles I of England in 1660. Soon many yachts were built that were similar to the first one. This gave the start to pleasure sailing. Soon yacht clubs were founded, the first one being in Ireland around 1720. This was ‘The Water Club of Cork’. This club was later renamed. By 1820, there were few yacht clubs in England like The Royal Yacht Club, The Cork Yacht Club, The Royal Yacht Squadron, The Royal Thames Yacht Club, and others. Around this time, yacht clubs were also being developed across America and Sweden. New York started its first club in 1844.

91 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 17, 2011