1. Rag Bags Versus Oil Guzzlers
A good-natured war between sailors and power boaters has long existed. They are often heard taunting each other across marina docks and in open water. Each boater has trouble understanding what the other sees in their chosen water transportation. Boaters with big engines who get going with a turn of the key think that sailing looks too much like work. Sailors say they might as well stay home as spend any time on a yacht with little to do other than sit back and sip a beer.
2. It's a Sport
Beginners learn to sail beside an experienced sailor or by taking sailing lessons. In addition to learning about wind and how the boat reacts to shifts in the sails, you need to learn an entire new language. You must know the names for the knots and lines you will work while sailing. There's a name for the seat you choose and how you move around the boat.
3. A Place for Everyone
When given a job on a sailboat, you should listen to and respond quickly to the captain's orders. A quick gust of wind can come and go in an instant. You might have to pull in the lines when the mainsail is shifted. When the captain says pull, pull fast and hard. Passengers are often used in sailboat races as dead weight. Called rail meat, extra bodies sit on the rails to tip the boat straight. A sailboat when gaining speed will tilt and the more hull that touches the water, the faster the boat will go. So rail meat sitters shift from side to side as the boat leans, sitting on the high side to push it down.
4. High Seas or low Lakes
Sailboats can be enjoyed leisurely on quiet lakes as well as on the ocean for exciting trips. The only requirements for a sailboat are movements in the wind and a bottom deep enough for the keel to move without hitting bottom. Smaller sailboats have moving keels, which can be lifted in shallow water. These boats are typically day sailboats that do not have cabins for sleeping. Even though a true sailor abhors the sound of an engine, most larger sailboats have an inboard or outboard engine to get through the windless times.
5. Even Techies can Sail
While they claim to be all about the tranquility of the water, sailors get into technical gadgets as much as their powerboat contemporaries. Gear such as depth finders, wind analysis meters and chart plotting devices fill the navigation tables of many sailors. Electric winches and mechanical furling stations save the lazy sailor muscle strain. Also, the jewelry, watches and clothing lines for sailors offer endless opportunities to incorporate their sport into their personalities.
Member Comments