Yachting
Insider Info
Before motor power, people traveled by foot, by horse or by boat. Traveling
across water was easiest when the wind was harnessed to sail the boat along.
Today, recreational sailors practice their yachting skills on inland lakes,
large rivers and coastal ocean waters around the world.
It is easiest to learn sailing with smaller, single-sail vessels. Then
you can move on to the larger vessels with two or more sails. With the proper
equipment, sailing can be enjoyed in the chilly air and waters of early spring
and late autumn as well as the height of summer.
Anywhere you see a marina, you'll see tall masts stabbing the skyline alongside
power boats. Or you may see entire marinas dedicated to recreational sailors
and yachting. In North America, yachting clubs, marinas and sailing schools
number in the thousands.
State, regional (such as the Pacific Yachting Association) and national
organizations abound. Active member lists range from 500 to over 40,000.
"ESPN is doing a great job covering sailing events. The newer technology
of on-board cameras helps. But for the most part, people get into this sport
for the love of it," says Steffi Schiffer. She is a member of the Gulfstream
Sailing Club.
Sailing has long been a male-dominated sport, but this trend is changing.
"Thankfully, there is more acceptance of women, especially in the competitive
circle, than there used to be," says Jennifer Brown. She is also a member
of the Gulfstream Sailing Club.
"It's a sport where men and women can compete equally because the wind
and waves know no gender, only strength," says Mary Schroeder, member of yacht
club.
Sailing has many advantages. Experienced sailors credit sailing for developing
their confidence. They say it has given them an ability to think and act quickly,
a strong sense of determination and problem-solving skills. They also say
it has taught them true teamwork skills.
"Sailing helped me learn what I can achieve at a high level," says Dave
Thomas. He is a sailing enthusiast. "It has also enabled me to understand
how I can be part of a team and how I can trust others in important situations."
Others encourage people to try sailing because it is relaxing and eases
tension. But it can be challenging, both physically and mentally. "Sailing
teaches teamwork and invites camaraderie," says Elizabeth Bloch of Naples,
Florida. "It's a challenge personally, physically, and provides an opportunity
to push yourself...beyond limits."
"Kids who learn to sail also learn about goal setting, perseverance, self-esteem
and riding the ups and downs," says Tine Moberg-Parker. She is the training
director and head coach at a yacht club.
Yachting offers competitions in the forms of regattas and other races.
"I would encourage people to race if they want to develop very good sailing
skills and if they are interested in an 'open' sport with many variables,"
says Thomas.
Brian Todd is a sailing coach. "Competition is the best way recreational
sailors have to improve their skills and understanding of sailing, as long
as they keep the competition in perspective and have fun with it," he says.
"It is also good for sailing, as people are usually more aware of their equipment
and will tend to upgrade and care for their boats more."
"I love racing because it teaches you discipline and also stretches you
to think tactically and analytically," says Peter Wood, a boating safety consultant.
There are hundreds of designs of sailboats, but they all fall into three
racing classes -- one-design, handicap and rating. The handicap and rating
classes were designed to allow traditional wood hull, custom-designed boats
to compete at even levels. Today, handicap classes allow time advantages for
boats of many different types to race with equal footing -- much like golfers
or bowlers are assigned handicaps in scoring.
Rating classes use formulas, taking into account rigging, boat length,
sail type and size, to rate each boat equally. The most popular racing class
is one-design, in which every boat is of the same type. One-design boats are
mass-produced so each boat has exactly equal measurement, much the way cars
are assembled.
Sails or rigging used on racing boats are lighter than recreational cruising
sails. Canvas or sailing cloth was traditionally used for recreational boating.
Seams for recreational boating are reinforced.
"I do not believe competitive sailing is for everybody. But due to the
huge number of other opportunities in sailing, there is room for racers and
non-racers," says Moberg-Parker.
Sailing requires manual dexterity. You have to tie knots and rig up sails.
You also need to develop awareness of surroundings and observe wind patterns.
You must learn proper seamanship, including etiquette on the water.
Physically disabled people are enjoying the sport in growing numbers. Many
associations have Web pages devoted to disabled sailing.
Wood's most moving experience has been coaching physically disabled people
who have taken up sailing. "Many of them have become quadriplegic doing activities
I really enjoy -- skiing, driving sports cars," he says. "Most have come to
terms with their accidents and see a beauty in sailing that I sometimes take
for granted."
The sailors are lowered into the boats using hoists. "It is quite moving
to see 30 disabled sailors all having a great time racing each other."
You need the basic essentials: a good personal flotation device (PFD) or
life jacket, loose-fitting comfortable shorts or slacks, a comfortable shirt,
and shoes with good-gripping soles for staying put on slippery decks.
Beginners often borrow or rent equipment at sailing schools or clubs. Purchasing
a boat is another matter. Boats are comparable to cars, with a wide range
of sizes, styles and luxury extras. A new sailboat design, manufactured by
Escape Sail, is made out of molded plastic. The most popular size, 12.5 feet,
costs around $800 new. Plus, you still need to buy sails and all the extras.
Beginners would be better off checking local classified ads for used sailboats.
"Yachting can be done very cheaply as a hobby," says Schiffer. "All you
have to do is find a skipper who needs crew for a race or competition. Volunteer,
and then it costs nothing to go. Sometimes you get free lunch!"
Whether you follow Schiffer's advice and volunteer or borrow your way to
sailing experience, what would you do with the experience? Career opportunities
exist in sail-making, boat design and building, sales, equipment maintenance
and repair, and even entry into the coast guard.
Turning a love for yachting into a career is most often done through coaching
or teaching sailing. Involvement with local yacht and sailing clubs is another
possibility.
"I believe there is more future in education within sailing in the form
of safety to all who come close to the water. With an increased focus on car
and driving safety, it is a matter of time before sailing and on-water safety
will be as important," says Moberg-Parker.
Wood agrees. "I think a major change will occur in the job opportunities
available to sailors once the government requires everyone to have an operator's
permit in order to operate a boat. This is starting to occur in Canada, and
the U.S. is following. Although initially this is only a classroom theory
course, eventually it will evolve into on-water training and testing. When
this happens, it will require thousands of professionally trained instructors
to train and test future sailboat operators."
"I see potential growth at the community level as sailing is integrated
into community recreation programs or school phys. ed. activities," says Thomas.
Getting Started
To get started in yachting, first you'll need to learn to sail. If you
already know how to sail, check with local yacht clubs or school sailing clubs
and ask how you can get involved in competitions. If you know someone who
sails in yachting competitions, ask if you can crew with them or whether they
will help you to become involved.
If you don't know how to sail, look in the Yellow Pages of your local phone
directory for sailing schools. Also, check with local community colleges or
universities. Many institutions near lakes or coastlines offer sailing as
a course.
Many sailors were introduced to the activity through family or a friend
who sailed. Bloch was introduced to sailing at the YMCA Camp Seaside in Milford,
Connecticut. "Once I experienced sailing, it became a lifelong passion," she
says.
Today, Bloch is a licensed captain. She owns a 43-foot Beneteau, which
she charters. Also, she is one of the founders of the Naples Community Sailing
Center. The center teaches children and adults to sail and runs sailing competitions.
Wood was a power boater and recreational fisherman before getting hooked
on sailing. "I was interested in sailing, but didn't have an opportunity to
try it until a friend took me sailing on his brother's boat. I then joined
my university sailing club, where I learned to sail," he says.
Once you become involved, the opportunities are endless. You can go on
sailing excursions, cruise locally or become involved in competitions by volunteering
on larger vessels. Many companies charter cruises on schooners on which the
vacationers serve as crew.
Associations
American Sailing Association
13922 Marquesas Way
Marina del Rey
,
CA
90292
USA
Internet
:
http://www.american-sailing.com/
Inland Lake Yachting Association
W4680 Tory's Trail
P.O. Box 311
Fontana
,
WI
53125
USA
Internet
:
http://www.ilya.org
United States Sailing Association
P.O. Box 1260
15 Maritime Dr.
Portsmouth
,
RI
02871-0907
USA
Internet
:
http://www.ussailing.org
Publications
Outside Online
Internet
:
http://www.outsidemag.com
Yachtingnet
Internet
:
http://www.yachtingmag.com/
Yachting and Boating World
Internet
:
http://www.ybw.com/
Links
International Sailing Federation
Information about races, upcoming regattas, news in the sailing
world and more
SailNet
An Internet sailing community
U.S. Coast Guard Office of Boating Safety
News and information on boating and sailing in U.S. waters
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