1. Rope Handling
In addition to learning about wind and how the boat reacts to shifts in the sails, you need to learn an entire new language when you start sailing. There are names for the knots and lines you will work while sailing. Almost every crew member will work the lines on a sailboat. Even if you just hold a line while another crew member moves around, there are plenty of chances to injure your hand or fingers. The wind can whip up in a second and pull your slack line taut and run through your hands in an instant.
2. Cover Yourself
Gloves are the best protection against rope burns and other hand injuries. Sailing gloves typically are lined in the palms with leather or suede and have the tops of the fingers open. They are comfortable and easy to keep on even when you are not handling a line. The open fingers make it easy to tie knots and open a beer. The gloves also have a Velcro strap around the wrist so that you can make them snug enough so they won't slide off when you are holding tight on a line. If you invest in nothing else for sailing, then get a good pair of gloves and skid-resistant boat shoes.
3. Pay Attention on Board
A lot of activity is going on when a sailboat is underway. You have to pay attention to where people are walking and when the sails are shifted. Sailors crawl on most every surface of a boat, including where you may be sitting. If you don't realize that a crewmember is quickly moving in your direction, then it is easy to get stepped on. Watch where all the lines are curled so that you don't get your fingers caught in a line as it pulls out, even if you are not handling that line, it very well could be passing near your hands.
4. Know Your Way Around
Take a quick tour of a boat before you get underway if it's your first time on that sailboat. Know where all the hatches are and which ones are open and could fall or be closed when your hands are nearby. Check out the galley and any stoves or hotplates that might be turned on. When a sailboat starts heeling, things go flying and if you are in the cabin, it is easy to lean to catch yourself and land on a hot surface. Watch for loose items inside the boat that could be harmful as well when the seas get rough.
