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Table of Contents 1. What is Sailing?! 2. Speak Like A Sailor With These Sailing Terms ! 3. How Can A Sailboat Move With Only Wind?! 4. Is Sailing Safe?! 5. Can I Afford the Cost of Sailing?! 6. How Can I Continue Sailing After I Learn?! 7. How to Choose A Sailing School! 8. What Sailing Course Should I Take?! 9. Your First Day of Sailing School! 10. How Can I Get Sailing Certied?! 11. How Does Sailing Feel?! 12. Getting Comfortable With Sailing! 13. The Fears of Sailing! 14. Crew Overboard!! 15. Sailing Isn"t Complicated! 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17
1. What is Sailing?
Centuries ago, sailing was the only way to cross a body of water. Today, it is technically referred to as a sport. However, those of us who have experienced the lore of the sea know it is much more than that. For sailors who cherish the unbelievable feeling of gliding across the ocean, with a gentle breeze filling billowing sails, sailing is a lifestyle. Wikipedia defines sailing as the art of controlling a boat with large (usually fabric) foils called sails. By changing the rigging, rudder, and sometimes the keel or center board, a sailor manages the force of the wind on the sails in order to change the direction and speed of a boat. Mastery of the skill requires experience in varying wind and sea conditions, as well as knowledge concerning sailboats themselves and a keen understanding of one's surroundings. The physics of sailing involves air moving across the sails of the sailboat. When you properly position the sails with respect to the wind, the net force on the sails creates lift and moves the vessel forward. Boats that are propelled by sails cannot sail directly into the wind. To make forward progress, the boat is turned (called tacking) through the eye of the wind. A series of maneuvers, crossing from one side of the wind to the other, allows the boat to progress directly upwind. Youll learn more in tip 3. Sailing is much more than just the act of operating a sailboat, or the physics of the wind and the sails. Sailing has been instrumental throughout history in expanding civilizations and broadening our horizons. It has allowed us to participate in trade, transport, fishing, and exploration. Sailing represents freedom, expansion, and adventure! The first ship remnants discovered date back to 2,900 BC, and there may be older remains not yet found! So we have been traveling on water for almost 5,000 years! One of the first known ships was called a bipod. Built by the Egyptians, it possessed at least 40 oars and only one square sail. The steering device consisted usually of 2 big oars from both sides. Later these ships were turned into warships, with an additional deck for archers, planks like shields to guard the rowers, and bigger sails for faster speed. The desire to sail is practically a genetic predestination. With two-thirds of our world covered in water, most people dwell on or near a coastal area. This, combined with our innate human longing for discovery and freedom, has created a desire to explore the water around us. We want to see where the horizon expands to, and sailing allows us to do this without the constraints of limited fuel or electricity. Wind is a limitless resource!
To truly discover what sailing is...you have to experience it for yourself at one of Colgate Offshore Sailing Schools seven locations.
Learn more by visiting www.OffshoreSailingSchool.com, or by calling (888) 454-7015.
Copyright 2011. Offshore Sailing, Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
If you are curious about the way a sailboat works, and want to see it in action,
you may be ready for the Fast Track to Cruising program where you can learn everything you need to know for sailing, Bareboat Chartering, and Live Aboard Sailboat Cruising in 7 days!
4. Is Sailing Safe?
As with any activity on the water, there are some risks. But if you learn to sail properly, you will know what precautions to take to ensure smooth sailing and a safe voyage. Here are a few sailing safe tips to consider: Take a sailing course - Learn to sail at a reputable sailing school with professional instructors. At Offshore Sailing School you are taught by professional, US SAILING certified instructors who make sure you understand the whys not just the hows of sailing. Learn on the right boat - It is important that you learn on a safe, comfortable, high performance, well maintained boat. Offshore Sailing School uses the Colgate 26 exclusively as its training boat for Learn to Sail, Performance Sailing and Racing courses. Other schools and service organizations enjoy the durability and performance of this boat, including the U.S. Coast Guard and Naval Academies and Maine Maritime Academy. Follow these basic safety rules - Regardless of your level of expertise. Always tell someone before you go out on the water. Always have comfortable, wearable life vests aboard. Know how to handle your boat in all conditions. Know the Rules of the Road and at least basic navigation skills. Research tide, wind and weather conditions - Check the forecast before going out for a sail. Be prepared for whatever the weather might bring, with water proof gear (jacket and pants commonly called foul weather gear) to use if needed. Familiarize yourself with sail control - The best sailors adjust sail settings for different wind and water conditions. They also know when and how to reduce sail area for comfortable control in heavy weather. Generally, sails should be relatively flat when the wind is either very light or very strong, and full when there is moderate wind. Respect the boom - Some of the most common sailing injuries result from simply not being aware when the boom is about to swing from one side of the boat to the other. To avoid a bump to the head (or even possibly being knocked overboard), one of the most important beginner sailing tips is to be aware and respectful of the boom at all times! Learn basic sailing terms. A good sailing course will ensue you understand basic sailing lingo so you can communicate and describe maneuvers easily aboard, and explain accurately what has occurred if you have an emergency. Refer back to tip 2. Practice makes perfect. Dont try to teach yourself! Invest in a good sailing school. Call us today at (888) 454-7015 to set sail!
Learn more by visiting www.OffshoreSailingSchool.com, or by calling (888) 454-7015.
Copyright 2011. Offshore Sailing, Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
No matter what your budget is, Offshore Sailing School will help you find the perfect sailing course to fit your needs. Make sure to check out our Learn to Sail Specials!
Learn more by visiting www.OffshoreSailingSchool.com, or by calling (888) 454-7015.
Copyright 2011. Offshore Sailing, Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
Offshore Sailing School will help you continue sailing. Just ask about our Offshore Cruising Club opportunities!
Learn more by visiting www.OffshoreSailingSchool.com, or by calling (888) 454-7015.
Copyright 2011. Offshore Sailing, Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
Offshore Sailing School uses the Colgate 26 for Learn to Sail, Performance Sailing, and Racing courses. Designed by Steve Colgate after years of trying various production boats: the C26 is safe, ergonomically comfortable, high performance, sophisticated and easy to sail. You can easily go from a Colgate 26 to a typical 35 cruising boat and rent sailboats up to 30 without question. Lastly, make sure the school is adequately insured. Well leave that thought to those of you who are in business and know the costs associated with proper insurance.
Learn more by visiting www.OffshoreSailingSchool.com, or by calling (888) 454-7015.
Copyright 2011. Offshore Sailing, Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
A big cruising boat responds slowly to your touch. By the time you correct (or overcorrect) you have to start the maneuver again. The best racing sailors practice on small boats to get back in tune with the wind and water before they head out on a big ocean race. If you just want to find out what sailing is all about, a two-day experience or a two-hour sailing lesson will give you an idea of whether you want to continue.
The right sailing course for you depends on your prior sailing experience and goals. Review a synopsis of our different courses, then contact us.
Offshore Sailing School has been celebrating teaching sailing since 1964. You will have the peace of mind that your sailing certification was obtained by a school with the most progressive sailing certification education system in the United States.
If you are new to sailing or need a refresher, we recommend the Learn to Sail course. This sailing course takes you from beginner through intermediate level on a fleet of award-winning Colgate 26 sailing school boats. Get comfortable with sailing with the Learn to Sail course. Three full-day and five half-day schedules are available at all Offshore Sailing School locations.
If you have other fears or questions before you set sail, dont fret. All of your concerns will be addressed in your sailing course. Check out more sailing tips, or request a quote for your sailing lessons today!
Its easy and fun to learn the rudiments of sailing, especially in a sailboat that allows you to feel the reaction of the boat to the wind and the water. From then on, it's just a matter of practice and having fun! Every minute under sail can be enjoyable. We do want to point out that you can't learn sailing by reading this eBook or any other resource. You need to get out on the water! This book provides some basic knowledge, but nowhere near what you will learn in comprehensive sailing lessons from a professional instructor at a recognized sailing school. Before long, youll be sailing into the sunset!
Visit What you learn in our courses to see everything covered in the Learn to Sail course. Also, hear from real graduates who share their sailing experiences! For more information, contact us online.