Why You Should Get Into Sailing

It’s relaxing. You know that song by Christopher Cross called ‘Sailing’? If that song alone was not able to convey how relaxing sailing can be for you, I don’t know what will! Seriously though, sailing is really an extremely relaxing thing to do.

There really is something to be said about ‘being in touch with nature’ and how it calms you inside and out. Sure, taking a walk in the woods can do that too but somehow sailing brings it up a notch higher doesn’t it? So give it a go and soothe your nerves!

It’s more cost-effective than you think. Many people think that sailing is a pretty expensive activity. Well, it is if you want it to be. However, do note that there ARE ways to indulge in boating without it costing an arm and a leg. For instance, did you know that you can finance your own boat for as little as $200-$300 a month?

Also, most marine lenders are boat men too so it’s kind of easy to work out a deal with them. Try it out before you shoot the idea down. You might find that you’re spending more on other activities you’d rather not do!

It makes for good exercise. Sailing is good exercise too you know. Even if you go sailing purely for recreational purposes, the preparation and actual sailing will provide good activities for you. Now, if you want to make a sport out of boating, then all the more calories you get to burn!

It’s a great way to bond with family and/or friends. With no TV, game console, pool table, and mobile phone to occupy people’s times, sailing is an excellent way to simply bond with family and friends. It’s great way to catch up on what everybody else is doing… and all that with such a great backdrop too!

Serious ME time. Of course, sailing can provide some serious alone time too which all of us needs every now and then. If you need to think clearly without fear of being bothered every now and then, sailing is the perfect way to go.

There’s no traffic. Sometimes, the only thing that prevents us from doing what we want to do is… traffic or the little obstacles we need to overcome to do what we want to do. With boating, the sheer space and sense of freedom you get makes these ‘obstacles’ seem very trivial.

It’s fun! Sailing is simply a very FUN thing to do because there are so many avenues to take once you’re in the water. You can go fishing, diving, waterskiing, or simply cruise along.

Sailing can be the best thing you take up this year so go and just do it!

Manual windlasses are available as either lever-type (back and forth motion) or vertical axis (a circular winch-grinding motion). Lever-type windlasses are generally single speed, and vertical models, like sheet winches, have two speeds: a fast, low-power gear for light loads, and a slower speed with higher power for heavier loads.

Electric windlasses haul ground tackle aboard with a touch of a button or a step on a pedal. Most are available with remote controls for operation from the helm or elsewhere on the boat, and nearly all offer a self-tailing feature which takes in the slack as the line is hauled in and feeds it into the locker below deck.

The pulling power required from a windlass is generally three times the unloaded weight of the anchor and chain, but most experts recommend figuring four times the unloaded weight as a safety factor when anchoring in rocky areas or in adverse conditions.

Horizontal or Vertical

Although personal taste plays a part in choosing either a horizontal or vertical style windlass, much of the decision is by necessity based on the boat’s size and layout. The size and configuration of the foredeck, chain locker and forepeak dictate much of the criteria.

Horizontal windlasses are generally used on smaller boats with limited under-deck space. Very large yacht windlasses and most manual windlasses are also horizontal. The windlass is fitted directly over the hawse pipe and positioned in line with the bow roller to ensure a fair lead. Since the rode does not have to make many directional changes, it generally disappears down the hawse pipe neatly without kinking or jamming. Because the motor and gearbox are located on deck, they are easily accessible. However, they are more exposed to the elements and generally take up more deck space than vertical windlasses.

Vertical windlasses are installed with the motor and gearbox mounted below deck, and are very popular because they leave the foredeck relatively uncluttered. Vertical windlasses are versatile as the rode can be led from any direction. The rode leads from the anchor roller back to a capstan or gypsy, wraps around 180 degrees, and feeds through a hawse pipe and down into the chain locker. Again, the configuration of the boat dictates the feasibility of this system. Since the guts of the windlass are below, the motor may interfere with living space or physical limits of the chain locker. To pay out properly, manufacturers recommend at least 12″ clearance from the top of the stowed rode to the top of the locker. Before purchasing any windlass, the forepeak should be measured to ensure everything fits. The windlass manufacturer can generally provide a plan detailing all the dimensions for common installations.

Rode Types

All-rope rodes, most frequently used on smaller boats, require capstan-type windlasses. These are similar in appearance and operation to a sheet winch on a sailboat, and haul in the line wound around the drum. Self-tailing is a desirable feature with all-rope rodes.

All-chain rodes, often favored by larger cruising boats, are handled by all-chain gypsies. Self-tailing is unnecessary on a chain gypsy as the weight of the chain peeling off the gypsy will cause the rode to stow itself.

Combination rope/chain rodes are very popular, as even a short length of chain lends a lot of holding power to the anchor and the rope keeps the overall weight of the ground tackle down. Windlasses that handle rope/chain rodes use either a capstan mounted above a gypsy or a single unit with both capabilities. A gypsy handles chain through the use of internal pockets which the chain links seat into. The chain and the pockets must be sized the same or the chain will hang up. Combination models also use a gypsy, but feature an internal groove that handles the rope. The separate capstan/gypsy configuration requires that the chain stopper be set after the rope is retrieved and changed to the gypsy to haul in the chain, while the combination model allows “hands-off” operation. Most combination models require that the chain be joined to the rope by a splice, as the unit cannot accommodate a shackle. Most windlass manufacturers offer a few rope/chain models which handle the most commonly used specifications of each. As a general rule, windlasses for boats under 40′ use 1/2″ line with 5/16″ chain; for bigger boats, 5/8″ rope with 3/8″ chain.

He looked at me and my wobbly jaw, then at his club, and said, “These things shouldn’t be legal; you can’t miss.”

Next week there was a hybrid in my bag. But contrary to Tom, you can miss. The clubber will always determine what the club does. But if ever there was a club to give you more of that feeling of, “Yes, I can play this game.”, then the hybrid is it.

The golf magazines and equipment gurus definitely recommend them. All the golf club makers produce them, and for good reason: they work.

Hybrid utility clubs are a cross between a fairway wood and a long iron, with similarities to both. They are designed to launch the ball up in the air from long distances and tough lies.

Hybrids move the center of gravity back and to the bottom of the club, which is nearly impossible with a standard iron. What this does is help to launch the ball into the air. Hybrids also have a flatter face than a wood and a higher launch angle. This gives the ball a higher spin rate, which allows it to stop faster with more accuracy.

Shaft length on a hybrid is closer to an iron than a wood. The bottoms often have runners or rails, which helps improve turf interaction, whether it is long rough, short fairway or sand. Hybrids also get the leading edge of the face closer to the ground so players can get the ball up fast, even from heavy lies.

Their lofts vary from 16 to the mid 20 degrees like the longer irons. The 3 iron is often the first club replaced with a hybrid. The faithfully converted then often replace their 4 and 5 irons with higher lofted hybrids.

To get the best result from the rough, it helps to understand how woods and hybrids are different. From short rough, the flat bottom on the 3- or 5-wood skids easily through the grass–even easier than a middle iron. But in thicker rough, the heavier club head mass and smaller, more compact head of the hybrid helps keep the club head stable as it plows through the deeper grass. Most hybrids also have more loft than fairway woods. This helps get the ball up and away from the deeper grass.

Hybrids are suited for everyone, from touring pros and scratch golfers to the out-and-out duffer. Look in the bag of most pros on tour, and you’ll see a hybrid. But these clubs can actually help the higher handicapped golfer the most, especially players who have lost swing speed due to age, injury or other conditions that have prevented them from making a full shoulder turn on the backswing.

Hybrids allow for a shorter back swing while launching the ball the same distance typically experienced with a wood. The long narrow face and wide sole of hybrid clubs use a low center of gravity, which helps players with slower swing speeds launch the ball with less effort. This makes a hybrid club similar to playing a wood in that it lends itself to the sweeping style of swing. With a long iron, a player often has to try and pick the ball off the turf, usually with much greater effort.

Hybrids are extremely versatile. They can be used from the fairway, rough or tee. They are really easy to hit, even off tight lies. They are designed for distance control and accuracy, but you can work them any way you like. Not only will you see longer distances from the hybrid, you should see more accuracy because the hybrid allows for a greater margin for error. They are definitely more forgiving on miss-hits. The days of buying the typical set of clubs, 3 woods and 8 irons, are over. Today, golf bags everywhere are filled with hybrids.

So, if you want distance, high trajectory plus ease of use, go for the hybrids. They come in all prices, and it’s money well spent. They are a great stroke saver. Plus, it’s a lot of fun to watch you playing partner’s jaw drop when you hit a good one.

(c)2009 Linksman Golf, LLC

Currently, such groups can be booked for a sailing vacation that will last from 4 days or 4 weeks. Ships can be charted to go from one point in the US to another. Charters those across the Atlantic might sail south or the west to enjoy the warm waters of the Caribbean.

Tour groups that provide these cruises are suitable for beginners and veterans alike. First timers get learn the basics and at the end of the course get a certificate. To get more experience, they will have to head out to see regularly. Those who don’t have the time can take an online course because although it is not a substitute for certification, it is a good tool in preparation for your continuing sailing education.

But if you are just doing this for fun to spend time with friends, you don’t have to work. Given that charters already assign a trained crew, you can just sit back, relax and enjoy the ocean voyage.

Along the way, the ship will dock in different ports. This allows people to go inland and spend some time ashore. They can sleep there as well or go back to the ship to watch the harbor and the stars at night before it is time to set sail to their next destination.

At sea, the crew might encounter dolphins, seals and whales swimming alongside the ship. As they get closer to land, they will most likely encounter cormorants, guillemots, kittiwakes, puffins, shags, skuas and razorbills among other creatures.

Part of the package includes good quality fresh food so you don’t have to bring anything when you come aboard. Crews will do the cooking but you can assist if you want to get into the action. 

To make such tours accessible to those who are and are not physically challenged, companies make it a point that the meeting points are easily accessible by plane and at cheap rates. Booking can be made through your travel agent or you can make the reservation online. You can look at their itinerary for the year so you know where the ship is going on a certain date.

There are also sailing clubs for the disabled. Some will require you to pay a membership fee while others hand this out for free.

Perhaps the biggest achievement for those who are disabled is to compete against others that have similar disabilities. Established in 1998, the US Disabling Team competes in various races annually and the biggest one this year happens to be the 2008 Paralympic Games which will be held in Qingdao, China about 430 miles east of the Capital.

So whether it is just for fun or to race for the grand prize, adventure sailing vacation has no limits even to those with physical disabilities. This is because they can be trained to run the ship just as well as an able bodied person so they are able to set out to sea and return back to port.

There is evidence to suggest that people have been sailing from Holyhead to Ireland from as long ago as 4,000 years, so the tradition is certainly strong on the island. While this Welsh town remains small, it does boast sailing opportunities that make it popular with those hoping to enjoy a sailing holiday in the area and, with a ferry port that handles in excess of 2 million passengers a year, visitors are sure to find the option to suit no matter what kind of sailing holiday floats their boat.

A number of sailing clubs have made Holyhead their home, meaning that it’s a great area to sail with experienced professionals or simply rent a boat if you’re already a sailing whizz yourself. Berthing is also conveniently offered by Holyhead Marina while the Holyhead sailing club continues to expand its fleet of racing and cruising yachts for the enjoyment of locals and visitors to the area.

Holyhead also has a number of things to see and do on the island itself, including a Maritime Museum ideal for grounded sailing fans and the Breakwater Park where visitors will find the equipment used to build a marina as well as evidence of forts dating to the Iron Age, stone circles and burial mounds in the countryside behind it.

An option perfect if you’re recovering your land legs are the Heritage Trail walks that can be enjoyed on Holyhead. These trails take walkers along the coast, much of which has been declared Areas of Special Natural Beauty, with many Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) and SSSI’s. Visitors to the town will also find superb cultural offerings at the Ucheldre Centre. Converted from old convent buildings, this community centre boasts an art gallery, performance space and pleasant café.

Any visitor taking a ferry from Holyhead will be sad to leave this charming town behind. But visitors will always be welcome to return to the history steeped island, and with so many local legends and myths to explore, visitors are sure to want to visit again and again.

The one of the reason Abaco Island is famous for is Diving trips. The Elbow Cay, Marsh Harbor, Walkers Cay are few where tourist prefer to go. The diving trips are for both experienced and the newcomers, the diving companies operating in island take care of logistic. They provide shuttle service to pick and drop you off at your hotel. It is advisable to book your diving trip in advance.

Another popular attraction in Abaco Islands is sailing, the sailing boat rentals are available for personal, private or group tours. All information available for sailing boats are available in hotels in form tour broachers. The Abaco Island also host private vacation property, which is great alternative to pricy hotel accommodation. The Abaco town close to sea is one such example where large Villas have mushroomed. Some Villas normally are costlier then hotels.The large Villas provide you more room, private setting and feel of royal treatment. Also these villas are filled with amenities.This options good for large families or big group travelling together.

The connection with outside world is either by traveling to three airports on Island or through sailing. The three airports located in Abaco island (Marsh Harbor, Treasure Cay and Walker’s Cay) cater to travelling needs of Abaco Island. The mode of shuttling between airport and hotels is Taxi or Boats. In case your hotel has not provided the shuttle service, you can depend upon local taxi service. A cautious note for travelers, the taxi run without meters but charge reasonable fare. Another alternative to Abaco is ferry service. All this information about Abaco Island is available at airports. If you have booked hotel check with your reservation clark, if they will be sending a shuttle service to pick you from airport.

<br/>

<b>Facts about Abaco Island</b>

<ul>

<li>The Abaco Island is also called as “top of The Bahamas”. </li>

<li>The Island is 200 miles east of Miami, FL , USA </li>

<li>Population close to 13,170 </li>

<li>Abaco Island is 130 miles long and comprises of Great Abaco and Little Abaco and many Cays. </li>

<li>Language spoken English </li>

<li>The currency in use is Bahamian Dollar (US dollar and British pound widely accepted) </li>

<li>Follows US model for electricity configuration 110 v/60, for 220 volt instruments you need adapter.</li>

<li>Document needed to enter the Island are: Passport – Birth Certificate with photo ID, and return ticket. </li>

<li>Popular for Scuba Diving and Sailing. </li>

</ul><br/>

<b>How to get in Abaco Island</b>

The outside connection to Abaco Island is through Air link or taking boat to island. The three airports “Marsh Harbour International Airport “, “Treasure Cay”, and “Walker’s Cay” serve the Island for air link. If you are going to camp outside of these cities, then your final journey will be by taxi or boat. Both are priced at reasonable rate. Check with your Hotel customer service, they might have free shuttle service. The airlines, which operate from Island are American eagle, Bahamas Air, Continental Airlines, Island Express Airlines and Yellow Air Taxi (Chartered Flights).<br/>

<b>Where to Stay in Abaco Island</b>

<u>Green Turtle Club Marina</u><br/>

Daily Rate: $170 – $475 (Depending on season rates vary)<br/>

Description: This resort is located on “Green Turtle Cay” in Great Abaco island. The access to resort is by boat, the length of the beach is around 3 miles. The beautiful harbor is surrounded by some of the most pictureque beaches.<br/>

Contact: Green Turtle Club and Marina<br/>

Green Turtle Cay<br/>

Abaco, Bahamas Out Islands<br/>

info@greenturtleclub.com<br/>

Tel: 1-242-365-4271<br/>

Fax: 1-242-365-4272 <br/><br/>

<u>Abaco Beach Resort & Boat Harbour</u><br/>

Daily Rate: $240 to $680 Per Night (Depending on season rates vary)<br/>

Description:The Abaco Beach Resort & Boat Harbour resort provides fantastic breathtaking waterfront view. The hotel is good for everyone interested in laid back rest to active activities such as Fishing, Golf, Tennis, Swimming, Boating and Watersports. Hotel is close to shopping arena a walking dostance from hotel. All at one place.<br/>

Contact: Abaco Beach Resort & Boat Harbour <br/>

Abaco Beach Resort & Boat Harbour<br/>

Marsh Harbour<br/>

Abaco, Bahamas<br/>

Phone: 1-800-468-4799<br/>

Reservations: please call 1.800.753.9259 <br/><br/>

<u>The Bluff House Beach Hotel</u><br/>

Daily Rate: $170 to $565 Per Night (Depending on season rates vary) <br/>

Description: The Bluff House Beach Hotel is located at highest point on “Green Turtle Cay”. The hotel has private beach for guest and provides beautiful beach view.<br/>

<br/>

<u>Coco Bay Cottages</u><br/>

Daily Rates: $200 to $350 Per Night<br/>

Description: The Coco Bay Cottages is located at Green Turtle Cay. The place is known for rest and water sports. With beaches on both sides the view are fantastic. <br/>

Contact: Cocobay Cottages<br/>

P.O. Box AB22795<br/>

Green Turtle Cay, Abaco, Bahamas<br/>

USA/Canada – Toll Free: (800) 752-0166 <br/>

Contact number for USA: (561) 202-8149 <br/>

eMail Contact: cocobay1@aol.com<br/><br/>

Above hotels are just are few, search online to get better deals for abaco island. This place offers something for every tourist, be it single, couple or for a family.

1. Make your passport and visas up-to-date before you venture out to overseas destinations. Do not forget to fill the emergency information page available on your passport. It could be really handy in times of crisis.

2. Learn something about the culture of the place you are going to visit. It would save you a lot of embarrassment and ensure a safe vacation. Learning some key phrases of the local language, such as “help”, can get you out of trouble situations if you are separated from your tour guide. In case you are traveling alone, then hiring a guide who speaks both the languages would be very useful.

3. Walking in a group is safer than walking alone, especially in thinly populated areas. Having company or staying in a group would add to your enjoyments. Thieves and robbers usually target those who travel alone.

4. Always use covered luggage tags and try to avoid putting your home address on an open luggage tag. Your company’s address can be used if you are out on business or you can put your friend’s address on the tag if you are visiting them.

5. Keep your ears open to your inner voice. Be aware of your surroundings and follow your intuition as most of the times it is correct. Women, single parents and older people become easy prey to crimes against tourists. So be alert all the time when you are on your own.

6. Before you check-in, make sure that your hotel or resort is not in a crime-prone zone. Keep the phone numbers of local medical practitioners and the local police, if you are putting up at a luxury resort in a remote location.

7. Try not to bring any valuables such as jewelry or electronic gadgets when you go for vacation. Don’t forget to keep your valuables or money including traveler checks and credit-cards locked away in the safety deposit box provided by your hotel.

8. If you are going for safaris or other adventurous expeditions with your family, then you need to take special care of the children. Make sure that they do not leave your side, as they can become easy targets for predators.

9. Don’t be too adventurous while checking out the exotic local cuisine. If you are not careful, you can end up with allergies, dysentery and other types of infectious diseases. Hence, have food only at those places which appear clean and hygienic. Your tour operator can guide you well in this regard.

10. Take proper care of your baggage. Tourists are often a soft target for thieves and pick-pockets. Spending some amount of money in buying locks would actually be a great idea! Various types of locks such as combination locks, lightweight cable locks and different sizes of padlocks can ensure the safety of your luggage while you travel.

This assortment of useful tips for safe travel will surely make your vacation a wonderful experience that will be fondly remembered all your life!

Sailing in Spain will make your visit to Spanish soil that little bit more interesting. Spain is renowned to be one of the best sailing hot spots holiday makers can visit whether they are beginners, master sailors or never even been in a boat before. Around Spain there are over 200 harbours that cater for sailing and boating activates all along the coastline of Spain. When you are searching for a location you should be aware that some harbours will be in the Mediterranean ocean and other will be in the Atlantic Ocean. If you are interested in anything from sailing, to motor boats then you will find what you are looking for along the Spanish coasts.

If you are interested in charted Sailing in Spain then there are many groups out there that organise such events for you. The costing of a charted sail can vary due to many variables such as yacht size, crew size, and the length of time you wish to be on the open waters. Such options allow novices who have limited to no sailing experience take to the open waters in complete safety. They will be able to participate with skilled crew members and have a good trip out while on holiday in Spain. If you regard yourself as professional or somewhat experienced then some of these groups will allow you to take the yacht with out the crew onboard so you can sail with your own group of people. Many companies that offer such services will require additional details for proof of such experience and may even take a large sum of money for holding for any possible damage that might occur.

It is possible to get sailing lessons when Sailing in Spain from qualified instructors. You can usually find more information down at the harbour, normally run by the local sailing club. If you are a rookie then this is the best course of action as you learn how to be integrated as part of a crew and learning how to complete all the tasks required to successfully sailing a boat as a team. If you can find a local sailing club or better still a sailing school then usually the courses available to you come packaged as part of a course. Learning to sail is by no means a quick task and will time and dedication. With this in mind you must make sure your stay in Spain is offer a lengthy duration to cater for such a commitment. Some courses can take up to and even over 35 hours to complete before you can get on the open waters a sail a yacht alone or even part of a team.

There are a number of other options related to sailing a yacht that include the hiring of motor boats, rowing boats and even single man sailing boats. Always keep any eye out the local harbour for such equipment to be hired out too holiday makers and locals alike. Make you Sailing in Spain time special.

We will continue this article by presenting what we consider to be the top attractions at the 12th Rio de Janeiro Boat Show. We will start with the Sailboat Bavaria 44 Vision which is the main member of the German Boat Show. This boat offers 3 large and spacious bedrooms and a state-of-the-art bathroom. The boat’s design draws attention thanks to the bold lines of the cabin, with the panoramic windows in the soft curves that flaw naturally. The performance of this boat is achieved with a more Velicer area and a high performance pole as well as a system of internal passage of sheet along with auxiliary engines that provide more power than before.

Moving on, we briefly present the Rio Yacxo Shipyard which will debut at the boat show this year. It is the only boat that measures 33 feet and offers two enclosed cabins and double beds. Six people can comfortably sleep on the board mainly because the “V” shaped sofa can be transformed into a third bed for two people. The cockpit of the boat has plenty of space for 12 people and in the construction of the cockpit the manufacturers used glass fiber and PVC foam which resulted in a very resistant yet light boat.

United State’s biggest attraction will be the Lazzara 74, forerunner of the boat that revolutionized the waters. With the LSX 92, launched just last Fort Lauderdale Boat Show, the Lazzara, almost a family business had already collected a sea of praise with the previous model, the LSX 75, seems to have come very close to the answer. So with other words, the Lazzara 74 will surely be a great hit. The Lazzara 74 is equipped with 4 Volvo IPS engines which are considered to be extremely efficient in terms of fuel consumption as well as silence and airworthiness issues.

Last but not least, at the 2009 Rio Boat Show, visitors can take a glance at the revitalized Delta 32. The Delta is the largest manufacturer of sailboats in the country and this year will re-launch one of its popular boats, the Delta 32. This boat now comes with a lot of interior innovations that provide extended comfort in comparison with the anterior model. The boat offers two cabins for 4 people and a large bathroom and other facilities for a relaxing stay.

All things considered, the 12th Rio Boat Show has plenty to offer: great boats, lovely scenery, incredible atmosphere and many more. If you plan your vacation during this period, make sure that you spend a few hours at the show; we assure that you won’t regret it.

            Sailboats are different. We heel over (lean), the drinks usually fall over and, listen to this, we have plastic cups to drink from.  Power boaters have real glasses! You can hear the ice clinking!! On sailboats there is not much drinking. This is due to the fact that when sailing we heel, or tack, the drinks. If not getting spilled, they are mixed up from moving to the other side of the sailboat. It’s times like this that you’ll read about in the newspaper; a boater was rescued from the water. It’s possible that it was a guest or crew member aboard a sailboat that was chasing his drink before both were launched overboard. When we do get to our destination, you never see us on deck drinking or otherwise. We are usually below sleeping to regain our strength. Aerobics knocks us out. Then once we do regain our strength, its back on deck and look out… we’re fixing, adjusting, and tightening everything in site. Then, you guessed it, back to sleep. When we are back to ourselves, we are usually sanding down teak, varnishing, or oiling it. We do break out the alcohol, but we have wine. We are reserved. How reserved, I don’t know.  If you remember, we’re drinking out of plastic.

            Now, let’s get serious. It’s not like that at all. Well, some of it is, but generally not. Sailing is just that – sailing through the water, and with some people it gets through to their hearts. I’ve sailed from Montauk to Bermuda, taking 4 1/2 days and, on some of those days, there was not a need to even adjust the sails. I’ve gone to Block Island and Nantucket needing to only attend the sails (winching and adjusting) rarely. It’s once you get through the “Boot Camp” and venture out on your own that you realize how mellow sailing really is.

With a powerboat, as the weather changes and the waves get bigger or smaller, they just adjust their throttle. Our throttle is those sails, Main and Genoa. As the wind picks up, our sails are either reefed (brought in some) or taken down to only one sail. And with the opposite (wind easing), we put out more or even bigger sails. All this action is physical. Do we do it all the time? No, but as weather fronts roll by, it definitely keeps us busy. So when we have a sailing trip that is just perfect, we don’t forget. How often is the weather perfect? Sea conditions? Wind? All this has to come together to achieve that perfect sail. Who has patience for that? Because, it doesn’t come that often. Usually something is off. Well, we’re always waiting for that perfect sail. Sometimes it seems like a long time, especially if we are just drifting with no wind. You know and I know we have engines, but we’ll wait and just drift with sails up for a puff or two to come along. I don’t know why we don’t just start our engines. It can’t be the fuel usage. We only use up to a gallon an hour. Even at full throttle, we don’t use much fuel, and to tell you the truth, we don’t go that fast either. That could be the reason, or I think we just like our surroundings and want to savor the moment as long as we can. We are always rushed on land; I guess this is our break.

            It’s a great feeling to be out on a sailboat, not worrying where the next fuel dock is, but only looking forward to that next breath taking harbor or cove. To be out for days sailing, offshore, seeing whales, dolphins, tuna, flying fish, and then hundreds of miles later, pulling into an island harbor people normally take planes to. It’s not that difficult. It’s almost easy. The hard part is having the time. Oh, that so precious commodity.

            There are sailboat clubs and associations that hold races, which include not only racing sailboats, but a “cruising” division for the rest of us. Here is where you hone your skills by knowing your tides and currents to add a boast. Tweaking those sails to get every bit of knotage out of them. Tacking (oh no!) as efficiently as possible to pull ahead of others and take every advantage. This “racing” builds knowledge and know-how in all weather conditions from race to race. Some are long (Around Long Island Race) and some are short (around a few buoys in a bay), but in all, determination to be more efficient, faster, and quicker, comes from your growing racing knowledge which in turn makes you a better sailor. Hey! Did I give away a secret or something? To give some examples, you watch the surface of the water for wind puffs, the skies for changes (dark clouds coming in or different formations).  Your electronics help by giving you other information about your last sail adjustment, i.e. did the knot meter on board show a plus or a minus to your knotage before? Is the depth sounder showing quick depth changes that might slow you up, caused by undo currents or wave action? This awareness gradually becomes automatic as you strive for other tell-tail signs to bring you ahead.

There is more than just getting addicted to racing. There are those before and after get-togethers, award dinners, and barbecues. It’s the finding of new friendships, boating pals and mates, plus maybe a few of their racing secrets that just tightens it all up. The funny thing is that you don’t have to be rich. Sailboats come in large and small sizes. Even trailerable sizes of 26 feet or so with roomy interiors. These naval architects are working hard for us to give that performance with comfort. A tough combo, but they’re making strides. By going on other sailboats for an afternoon sail, or as crew in a race, you get to feel the different characteristics of other models. Their upwind and downwind abilities, the amount of heeling at certain wind speeds, and other aspects. All this unknowingly makes you a better sailor, giving you the option to look at further destinations. Ones you never imagined.