The romantic notion of sailing is as true
today as it has been throughout maritime history. Out on the water,
sailing can be many different things to different types of people. It can
be exciting, invigorating, relaxing or
challenging. And getting started is
easy! Sailing includes a wide range of boat types,
and any would be appropriate for a
beginner to start sailing. US SAILING even maintains a
national database of places to go sailing or
take courses. Let's take a look:
Small Sailing Boats - "Centerboards" and "Daysailing
Keelboats"
Small boats, for many, are a simple and
inexpensive way to get started in sailing. It is here that the
basics of sailing are most easily learned. Some small boats are designed specifically for
youth, but
most provide a lifetime of enjoyment for adults too.
Generally, small boats, are under
25 feet in length. Most are trailerable and carry centerboards
or swing keels (weighted keels that retract into the boat for trailering). They include a wide assortment of dinghies (open cockpit), daysailers
(with foredecks and gear enclosures) and small day sailing keelboats. Because of their size and simplicity, many small
sailboats can be sailed single handed or with a single crewmember. Their performance,
depending on design, may range from ‘stable and relaxing’ to ‘wet and
wild’.
Many instructional programs
teach on and/or
rent small boats including a majority of
community sailing programs, most yacht club junior programs, and an assortment of aquatic
centers, camps, parks & recreation departments, Y’s, Scout programs, university
and military recreation facilities.
Small Boat Sailor Certification – You may become a certified small boat sailor by completing all the requirements specified in the Small Boat
Sailor Certification Record Book (known more familiarly as ‘The Little Red
Book’). There are skills you must master and demonstrate to a certified
instructor. When all are complete, you simply mail in your booklet to
US SAILING for
official credit posted to your US SAILING
Logbook of Sailing.
KEELBOATS
- "Basic Keelboats to Large Cruising Yachts"
The term 'Keelboat" refers to those sailboats which have a weighted keel (the
vertical fin at the bottom of the boat) which is of sufficient weight to
counterbalance the force of the wind in the sails. So, "basic"
keelboats are most commonly larger than the centerboard and dinghy class of vessel and
start at about 20' in length and go up to about 30' in length.
Typically,
"basic" keelboats include: a standard "sloop" type of sailing
rig - one mast, with a triangular sail in front (called a "jib") and
another sail off the back of the mast (called the "mainsail"); a tiller
steering system; a self-bailing cockpit; and small outboard motor (if auxiliary power is
required due to vessel moorage considerations). Most, but not all, also include a small
enclosed cabin below decks. This below deck area may simply be for gear and sail
storage, or it may include amenities such as bunks, a toilet, water tanks, and cooking
facilities.
Beyond the "basic" keelboat,
the term keelboat continues to describe sailing vessels and yachts through much larger
sizes. A common way of describing the next class of keelboats from about 30' - 60'
is "Cruising" keelboats, "large cruising Yachts", or
alternatively, by a host of more specific names as defined by exact vessel type and
rig. These cruising keelboats typically have a sloop rig, but may have more than one
mast and many combinations of rigs and subsequent names. All cruising keelboats
have auxiliary engines, with most over 30' in length employing an inboard diesel
engine. Most over 30' usually have a wheel steering system. Also, these
cruising vessels are usually set up for the possibility of multiple day trips aboard and
include many of the modern conveniences found in a home: pressurized hot and
cold water, cooking facilities - oven and stove, sleeping quarters, and private bathrooms
with showers. One might also find stereo systems, forced air central heating
systems, entertainment centers, etc - the list can be very expansive!
Most people getting started in keelboats have never sailed before, or their sailing has
been enjoyed on dinghies and centerboard sailboats to date. The first level
certification courses are on the "basic" type of keelboat, where the
fundamentals of sail and vessel handling are learned. From there, through a
combination of learning and continuing experience, the keelboat sailor can progress
through seven certification levels - each on progressively larger cruising sailboats, and
each with progressively more challenging sailing, navigation, and vessel management
skills. Click here to learn about the
US
SAILING "Keelboat Certification
" Program and learn more about each certification level, the standards employed, and
the results for the student at each level. Interested in finding the
school for you. View our list of accredited
Keelboat
Schools.
WINDSURFERS
Windsurfers are are a fun and affordable way to experience
the thrill of sailing. Typically, windsurfers are
fiberglass "boards", much like a surfboard. They come
in various sizes and widths, which help define the level of skill needed to
ride each one. The beginning windsurf boards are wider and longer than
the advanced boards and are great for people new to the sport.
Each board has a sail attached to a rotating mast which is attached to the
board. Colorful, fast, and close to the water, windsurfing is enjoyed
by people of all ages.
While traditional sailing is fun, there is nothing like the thrill and excitement of sailing a multihull, big or small. Multihulls come in quite a variety –
there are catamarans (those with two hulls) and trimarans (those with three hulls).
They also come in many sizes. For example, catamarans can be as small as 9 feet in length and have been built to over 100 feet. Most smaller
cats are referred to as beach cats, running in size from about 13 feet to around 21 feet. There are a great many designs and manufacturers of
these exciting craft, but most folks just call them all Hobies – sort of like we all used to call our refrigerators "Frigidaires." You might have seen
them blasting along shore lines at awesome speeds with the sailors suspended on trapeze wires from the mast. They are small, fast, exciting and
very light.
Because of that light weight they do not need the traditional hoists, ramps and lifts that keel boats have to have, so they flourish in areas like no- or low-cost beaches rather than yacht clubs. This does not mean they are not organized however. Most makes of boats have a class association and there are fleets, divisions and clubs all over the world that are very well organized. We at
US SAILING are proud of our very own Multihull
Council.
Above the 21-foot category is a plethora of multihulls (both cats and tris) that are designed for a vast number of purposes. Some are designed to be light, fast and are usually used for racing. Others are designed with lots of room, heavily built and are great for cruising because they have so much living space within
them, plus an awesome amount of deck space.
And the best part about multihulls is they do not need ballast (heavy keels) to keep them upright. Therefore, most will continue to float if
swamped or holed, while the traditional keelboat will sink to the bottom.
 The downside to multihulls is their width. This is pretty restrictive when it comes to docking or trailing on the highway. However, the most popular and fastest growing of the larger multihulls are trimarans that allow their outer hulls to fold flat against the main hull. This allows the boats to get into normal-sized slips, and to quickly fold, load on a trailer and get on the highway.
For the cruiser, you simply cannot beat the room below and on deck; the comfort of not rocking-and-rolling at anchor; and the best part of multihulls is they are not always leaning over when there is wind.
Click here to learn more about getting
involved in sailing multihulled sailboats. Many sailing schools and sailing clubs
offer multihull rentals, charters, and lessons.
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Keelboats