For a long time, there have been debates whether sailing qualifies to be classified as a sport or not. Sailing can be classified as a sport because it requires the sailors to put in so much skill. All activities involved in sailing will test your mental and health fitness.
Sailing can be physically demanding, and a person must be at least somewhat physically fit in order to be a competent sailor. Boats normally require someone to monitor their parts and perform ad hoc adjustments; some parts are large and heavy, and some adjustments must be made quickly.
Before you are ready to be in a sailing competition of any fashion, you are supposed to utilize much of your time in thorough research in learning how to develop your skills. Though sailing might not have an equivalent appeal for sponsorship deals or televised events as the most established sports available, it is an important sport.
Overview
Sailing is classified among the world’s oldest sports and was still among the 1900 Olympic sports in Paris. Over time, there have been changes in the types of boats that are allowed to compete. A lot is used to determine the kind of boats to participate in a sailing competition.
Some of the critical things you are supposed to know before you have started sailing are:
– Important terms
– Knowledge of tides and weather conditions
– How a boat works
– Join a sailing club
Sailing has been split into different types, which are;
1. Fleet racing
Fleet racing is the most popular form of sailing. It involves boat racing around a course. It can either be a handi-cap or one-design. One design racing means that boats in the competition are all of the same design and use the same sail area. In handicap racing, different types of available boats can race against each other.
2. Match racing
In competition racing, two matching boats race beside each other. Match racing is one duel of tactics and strategy, and the aim is basically to be leading to cross the final mark.
3. Team racing
In team racing, two teams, each having three boats compete against each other. Team racing is a fast-paced battling style that depends on swift tactical decision-making and superb boat handling skills. The first international team racing Olympic competition was held in 1921 with the first British-American series sailing in 6M yachts, each team having four partners.
4. Cruising
Cruising can be classified as the most enjoyable sailing discipline. You are open to cruising for a coastal sail during the day or long-distance cruising, which might cover international journeys.
Picking the right sailboat
It would be best if you considered your location and the level of experience you have. If you can only access the rough oceans, getting an open dinghy might not be the best idea. A Sunfish is best suited for lakes.
Another thing to consider is your budget. To have a good boat, you should choose one that is priced higher. Though there are many cheap options, they are not ideal and should never be selected.
Knowing the type of activity to do with the boat is another crucial thing to know. The options include fishing, cruising, or recreation. Choose one that suits your intended purpose.
Best sailboats beginners can use
Learning how to sail a basic sailboat is very easy. While you are in the right environment, you will only need minimal experience to begin cruising. Beginners are supposed to learn the basics of sailing on the correct boat and in a controlled environment. A repetitive mistake among many beginners when starting their learning journey is choosing the wrong sailboats. By doing this, the beginners are quickly frustrated and turned off by the activity. The best sailboats beginners are recommended to use are;
1. Sailing Dinghy
The sailing dinghy has some features that make it suitable for beginners. Some of these features include affordability, the small size of the boat, difficulty to capsize, ease to operate, and precision. Though the sailing dinghy has been designed for kids up to 15, it can still be used by adults. The boat has ideal control characteristics and can hardly capsize.
2. Sunfish
The Sunfish is a small, 13 feet long speedy sailboat. The sailboat is suitable for beginners is its delicate handling, ease to master, shallow draft, and large sail area. However, the Sunfish is relatively easy to keel over and heels aggressively.
3. Laser
The Laser is the closest competitor to Sunfish. Its handling characteristics are similar to those of a Sunfish. However, many consider the Laser an upper stair from Sunfish in difficulty since the boat handles more like a racer. Though it is simple and small, beginners must have some skills to operate it.
4. West Wight Potter 19
It is a fiberglass boat that has been designed for beginner friendliness, easy handling, and safety. Compared to the options of sailboats available for beginners, the West Wight Potter 19 could arguably be the best and certainly among the safest. The buoyant material used to make the boat makes it unsinkable. The West Wight Potter 19 is not prone to bellicose heeling and has excellent handling characteristics.
Sailing and physical fitness
The importance of exercising, staying healthy, and keeping fit have been emphasized a lot over time. Since sailing is an activity that involves physical exertion, it helps the sailor to keep fit. It will work in many aspects of your physical fitness. You will develop strength in the core and muscles by pulling lines, maneuvering the rudder, and hiking your boat. The specific sailing exercises you can try include partial crunches, single-arm rows, and squats. Among the reasons why sailing can be termed as the world’s best sports include;
1. Sailing is a mental game
To be the best sailor, you are required to be strong, light, fit, and fast, and smartness of the thinking capacity is required. Aspects such as correct positioning of the boat when getting closer to a mark, picking the next shift, or even making the correct sail choice for the sea conditions require more mental fitness than physical. Among the world’s celebrated sailing tacticians is Brad Butterworth. You learn how to think quickly and coordinate your actions with your brains to learn how to sail.
2. Age does not inhibit sailing
Sailing brings both the young and old together without discrimination. In some competitions, you are likely to find a mixture of winners of all ages. The only aspects you are required to have to go for sailing are keenness and enthusiasm.
3. Exploration
You are always going to feel an element of exploration when sailing through the sea. At times, having the tides and winds take you is also an adventurous event you can want to experience. Other adventurous events you will enjoy when sailing include exploring new islands or discovering a slice of paradise previously unknown. The adventures put sailing as the best sport arguably.
4. Sailing falls under a solo sport and team sport
Choosing whether to compete for solo or with a team is one of the fantastic sailing aspects. Therefore, you can decide whether you will compete with a team when you want to have a good time socializing or go for solo races when you require some solitude. For couples retreat, you can make the team with your partner and compete with other couples. The possibilities of having fun while sailing are limitless.
How demanding sailing is physically
Is sailing physically demanding is a question many ask themselves. The sailors who compete in big races and operate big boats certainly must be in perfect shape and athletic. It is believed that professional sailing has equal physical hardness as extreme sporting activities such as mountain climbing. Sailing is much simpler than other sports. You are supposed to get a skilled instructor to show you the sailing basics. To have a sailing certification to prove your sailing capabilities, you will take ten days of learning. However, to become a Yachtmaster, you might have to take many years of learning.
Final Verdict
By sailing, you are having fun and taking care of your physical fitness through the exercises involved. To break away from your daily monotonous schedule, you are encouraged to equip yourself with sailing skills so that you can have a fun activity to do whenever you are free. When you decide where to get the skills, you should consider a professional sailor willing to train you for money. To others, sailing is a career that puts food on the table and takes care of bills. Many have taken it as a serious sport and are now harvesting through participating in the Olympics or training people who want to know how to sail.
The adventures you will encounter when sailing is unique, and no other sport can provide the same. When you live near a shore, you have a better advantage than a person who resides far away from a water body. However, you are supposed to observe all the measures sailors must know to avoid unintended mishaps. Compared to the experience and fun you will get from the activity, no money can be compared. In general, sailing is a sporting activity you should invest in if the charges are unfavorable for you.
