Sailing Beginner- Reefing the Jib Sail

In this Sailing Beginner article, I would like to cover reefing the jib sail using a furling. A furling consists of either a plastic pipe or a spool like on my jib sail that holds the furling line and is attached to the jib sail at the foot. The furling line is wound around the spool and when the line is pulled the furler spool rolls up the jib. Pulling on the clew lines unfurls the jib, and both the clew lines and the furler line can be controlled from the cockpit of the sailboat. 

This is very important feature especially this time of year, because it can get very windy with gusts over 20 mph or more especially in a squall can come out of nowhere very quickly and if you are not prepared the prospects of capsizing or getting injured increases. You definitely want to know how to sail a boat by being prepared ahead of time and not waiting until the last minute. Reefing the jib with a furler is just one way you can become an accomplish sailor. The next time you are sailing and a squall comes your way, you know what to do. 

Sailing Tip: Instead of having to tie my furling line to reef my jib sail, I use a clothes line tightener that holds the line by just pulling the furling line to the desired position. And to release it, all I have to do is pull the front of the cinch and pull the line out. You can get a clothes line tightener at any home improvement or hardware store.

Not too long ago I’d wish I knew how to reef my jib as I was unprepared for what was about to happen.  I had just finished a running the lake and was preparing to tack back to my point of origin. However, the wind died suddenly and I was beginning to believe that it was finished for the day and anticipated lowering both the mainsail and the jib sail and using the outboard for my return. 

However I hesitated and my patience and estimation of seeing some storm clouds off in the distance moving fast towards me paid off. In about 15 minutes the wind made an enormous comeback that I had not anticipated what so ever. The wind conditions went from calm to a strong breeze in no time and hit me hard while at full sail.  Wow! talk about an adrenaline rush! It was all hands on deck! Stay tune for my next post for the continuation of this yarn.


I hope you are enjoying my sailing beginner blog, however, if you’re really pressed for time, I have also put together an audio and e book for a nominal price, so that you can learn how to sail while commuting to work or anytime you can listen to your favorite audio playing device. So now there is no excuse for you to daydream any longer about sailing! Get started today, you will be glad you did. Just click this link: www.sailingbeginner.com for more information in getting your hands on a copy of my audio and e book. Until then- Happy Sailing!

 

Sailing Beginner- More Types of Sails

In my last sailing beginner article, I talked about the types of sails that are deployed on modern sailing boats such as the main, jib, genoa, spinnaker and lateen. Another sail that may be useful is the flanker which is essentially a heavy duty spinnaker designed for higher winds of 15 knots and made of heavier material. The flanker would be deployed in higher winds than a conventional spinnaker that is made of lighter material and most likely would not be used in this situation.

The square sail is the type of sail that was used in the vessels of yesterday. They were made of canvas and used for traveling with the wind. However, the lugsail is a new and improved version of the square as the halyard is attached closer on one end than the other and when hoisted most of the sail will lie either fore or aft of the mast. This allows the mast to be shorter than the sail by extension due to being rigged offset in relation to the mast which makes up the difference in height.

The mizzen is a smaller than the main and is raised on its own mast located behind the main mast and can be quite useful for several different applications. Using it is a great way to navigate in busy harbors or in tight areas around other vessels before deploying the main and/or jib. Also in heavy winds the mizzen can be used instead of a storm trysail or jib. And the mast can be useful for a backup vhf antenna, in case the main mast gets damaged. With the addition of a mizzen to a boat will not reduce the performance in anyway, in fact not only will it decrease the inventory of sails necessary onboard, but they will also increase the overall performance of it as well.

The future of sailing may rest with the turbo sail that consists of a permanent vertical airfoil. The turbo acts like that of an airplane wing, creating lift on one side and drag on the other. As a result, the turbo sail is able to provide thrust regardless of wind direction. A vessel equipped with turbo sails can make headway even into a headwind, gaining energy from differential pressure created by the captive vortex both inside and outside the sail. With the help of computers controlling this type of sail, rotation can be achieved to the most efficient angle providing maximum propulsion as well.

Using different type of sails is essential to achieve the best results and enables the sailing beginner and old salts alike to be able to cruise in whatever direction they choose. Sailing ships of yesteryear did not have this luxury as they were hostage to the prevailing winds, as they were incapable of tacking or traveling upwind. However with modern boats the sky is the limit especially with the rising cost of petroleum these days, it only makes sense to discover that the future of boating can be found by looking to the past.


I hope you are enjoying my sailing beginner blog, however, if you’re really pressed for time, I have also put together an audio and e book for a nominal price, so that you can learn how to sail while commuting to work or anytime you can listen to your favorite audio playing device. So now there is no excuse for you to daydream any longer about sailing! Get started today, you will be glad you did. Just click this link: www.sailingbeginner.com for more information in getting your hands on a copy of my audio and e book. Until then- Happy Sailing!

 

Sailing Beginner- Different Types of Sails

This sailing beginner article is about some of the different types of sails used in modern sailing. On most sailboats there are two basic types of sails that are used, one is the main and the other is the jib. They are standard for boats of larger size. The main is the main power source, while the jib is a secondary source of propulsion and is mainly used in tacking or sailing upwind. They are made from cruising or a light grade polyester known as Dacron and are reinforced at the head, tack, and clew for extra strength. This makes this grade of sail good for light duty use.

For the bigger sailboats, the sail fabric is a performance grade or medium grade of polyester Dacron that is used, which offer good durability and performance. This grade would be used in coastal sailing, cruising, and club racing for boats up to 45 feet long. Then you have sails for blue water cruising that are made of premium grade polyester Dacron. These type is used for offshore sailing and are extremely strong and durable for optimum performance in a wide range of wind conditions.

Another type of sail used in extreme weather conditions is known as the storm sail. These are made of heavy duty Dacron and tripled stitched with reinforced leather at the luff, leech, and foot corners. There are two types, one is the trysail that replaces the mainsail and there is a storm jib that is also used in extreme weather conditions. Both of these types are smaller in size and mostly used for blue water and competition sailing that prevents heeling and keeps the boat under power for navigational control.

A spinnaker is unique type of sail and is designed for going downwind. It works by ballooning or filling with wind at the bow of the boat and is made up of lightweight fabric like nylon and comes in multitude of colors and patterns. When deployed it is called flying and can be optimized for a number of angles to catch the wind by shaping the sail.

A genoa type of sail is similar to a jib, but there is a difference. The jib is no larger than the triangular area that is formed by the three sides to include the mast, deck, and forestay. However, a genoa is larger as the leech will go past the mast overlapping the main. The foot is generally parallel and close to the deck when close hauled.

Another type of sail that was extensively used at the time of the Roman Empire was the lateen [meaning latin] sail. This type is triangular set on a long yard attached at angle on the mast. The lateen is still used on smaller recreational sailboats like the well known Sail and Sun Fish models. Coastal fishermen along the Mediterranean still use this design today. Different types of sails are used for different applications and boat designs. With new computer designs and fabrics, modern sails have a supreme advantage over those of the past.


I hope you are enjoying my sailing beginner blog, however, if you’re really pressed for time, I have also put together an audio and e book for a nominal price, so that you can learn how to sail while commuting to work or anytime you can listen to your favorite audio playing device. So now there is no excuse for you to daydream any longer about sailing! Get started today, you will be glad you did. Just click this link: www.sailingbeginner.com for more information in getting your hands on a copy of my audio and e book. Until then- Happy Sailing!

 

Sailing Beginner- Tacking In Moderate Winds Part 2

This article is a continuation on how to tack in moderate winds, particularly on small bodies of water. On a small lake, you can only sail so far before you simply just run out of water and are forced to turn around. But what happens when you the wind is blowing at 15mph and now you have to turn? Do you tack or jibe? I would suggest in this case you tack or turn upwind, thus avoiding capsizing or damage to your sailboat. Your best bet is to anticipate the turn at least 500 yards before the shoreline. This way you won't run out of water or time before completing the turn. Situations like this allow sailors to sharpen their sailing skills.

Sailing Tip: However, sometimes it's best to recognize your limitations as a sailing beginner, thus preventing damage to the sailboat or causing any injury to yourself or others. It's better to be safe than sorry and to be able to sail another day! So whenever a situation gets to be to overwhelming, the best thing to do is lower the sails and motor home with the outboard.

As stated above, it's your call whether to tack or jibe depending on your situation. However you choose, be sure to duck your head so the boom doesn't hit you or anyone else onboard causing injury. Next you should change sides of the sailing vessel from the starboard to the port or vice versa while making a turn. This will act as a counterbalance using your weight to offset the wind on the sails, and also provides a clear view for you to navigate as well.

Before making the final turn before tacking, be sure that the boom is adjusted at a 45degree or so angle to the stern. Or in other words, the end of the boom is pointed to the back corner at the stern keeping the mainsail at a 45degree angle to the hull centerline. You may have to adjust the boom a little with your boom block for optimum results. This will position the mainsail to the optimum angle for tacking and will provide the necessary lift to propel the sailing boat forward.

Sailing Tip: If you ever feel that the wind at any time is to over powering to the point of losing control along with your nerve, just steer the sailing vessel directly into the wind by pushing the tiller away from you. This works whether you are tacking or jibing. This puts the sailboat in a sailing term known as irons. Once in irons, it takes the load off the sails, thus aiding you to regain control of the sailing boat along with your nerves. This technique reminds me of playing a new video game and you make a mistake. All you have to do is hit the reset button and start over. The same principle is true with putting the sailboat in irons it's like hitting the reset button on a video game.

Now you can proceed in making the turn. Keep in mind, however that when you are in irons, the mainsail will flutter and the boom can become unpredictable as mentioned previously in this article, but is well worth repeating. Safety should be your most important rule of thumb when sailing. The old saying goes it's better to be safe than sorry.

As you resume tacking, you will want to consider any obstacles that you will have to navigate around as well. I usually find that tacking in one direction is better than the other one. I affectionately call the better tack the "payoff tack", or the direction that it is more favorable than the other. So in my navigational tacking strategy, I try to get the most speed and distance while tacking in the payoff tack and tack in the other direction only as long as necessary.

I hope you are enjoying my sailing beginner blog, however, if you’re really pressed for time, I have also put together an audio and e book for a nominal price, so that you can learn how to sail while commuting to work or anytime you can listen to your favorite audio playing device. So now there is no excuse for you to daydream any longer about sailing! Get started today, you will be glad you did. Just click this link: www.sailingbeginner.com for more information in getting your hands on a copy of my audio and e book. Until then- Happy Sailing!

 

Sailing Beginner- Tacking In Moderate Winds

In my last sailing beginner article, I discussed the sailing term tacking which is when you sail upwind or towards the wind. In this article, I will cover how to sail in moderate winds anywhere from 10mph and up to gusts of 20mph.

Doesn’t sound like much, but when using conventional sails with a constant wind sustaining at over 10mph is challenging enough, especially on smaller lakes where the water real estate is very limited. It’s one thing to be on a large lake or the ocean where you have unlimited water surface to sail downwind if necessary, but it’s another ball game when you can’t!

On the little lake that I sail often, I don’t have unlimited amount of water to navigate on, so I have to be on my toes if I’m going to successfully tack back from the far end of it. This lake runs in an east/west direction, and the wind blows either from south to west or north to west.

I put in on the west portion of the lake, so it’s a breeze to sail downwind, but a real challenge to come back. Now add the element from moderate sustaining winds to wind gusts of 15-20mph to the mix and you have a sailing recipe much like that of riding a bull in a rodeo. Ride um cowboy!

Between white caps and a good stiff breeze generated by the mountains that surround the lake, it’s a good thing that my Renken pocket cruiser was built to handle these water conditions. It’s a good stable sailing vessel and the perfect lake cruiser. I hope that one day you too can feel the thrill of sailing and have the same enthusiasm as I do about the sport!

Sailing Tip: You will want to learn how to sail in light wind conditions first with the mainsail, then add the jib sail in a combination of both. It’s a great building block and confidence builder as well.

Although I’ve sailed with both the mainsail and the jib sail together in moderate to gusting winds up to 20mph, I honestly wouldn’t recommend it. It can be dangerous for a sailing beginner to say the least. If the wind is only blowing at 10mph than it’s doable, but again start with the mainsail first then build your sailing skills using both when you have gained a good deal of experience with sailing with just one.

With that said, before I make a turn I judge the wind first by feeling it with my face and looking at my tell-tale a sailing term for a piece of cloth or fabric attached to a stay. Also I glance at the waves about a 100 yards out or more upwind to see how much white is on top of the waves. If I sense the wind is not blowing that hard, I will execute a jibe and make my turn. On the hand, if it’s really blowing hard, I will do a tack or upwind turn, otherwise a jibe turn could compromise my safety and may damage the sailboat.

Sailing Tip: Turning by tack or gibe, it’s vital that you make your turn quickly as the sailboat could get slammed broadside hard enough to capsize it in strong wind gusts. So you don’t want to expose your sailboat to gusting winds broad side any longer than necessary especially without using storm sails.


I hope you are enjoying my sailing beginner blog, however, if you’re really pressed for time, I have also put together an audio and e book for a nominal price, so that you can learn how to sail while commuting to work or anytime you can listen to your favorite audio playing device. So now there is no excuse for you to daydream any longer about sailing! Get started today, you will be glad you did. Just click this link: www.sailingbeginner.com for more information in getting your hands on a copy of my audio and e book. Until then- Happy Sailing!

 

Sailing Beginner- First Sailing Lesson

In the last article of sailing beginner, I went over some sailing terms that’s associated with rigging and raising the mainsail. In this article, I’ll assume that the mast and mainsail are in place and you are already on the water ready to learn how to sail.

Sailing Tip: Once the mainsail is up, I suggest that you not bother with raising the jib sail at this point, wait until you have practiced sailing with the mainsail first. It’s better to keep it simple at this point and don’t worry, you’ll have plenty of time to sail using both sails as well.

Next I tilt the outboard out of the water making sure that the gas is turned off and the vent on the gas cap is closed. Then by releasing the tiller rope, I turn the tiller up or down wind until my mainsail fills with air depending on the intended direction I want to sail.

Sailing Tip: I would recommend sailing with the wind or the sailing term is downwind for a while to get the hang of it, before tacking or sailing upwind. Just keep in mind that sailing downwind will be much easier and faster than tacking upwind back to your original starting point! It’s a good reminder to be aware of the time, so that you allow yourself plenty of time to get back.

Sailing Tip: It’s wise to allow half a day devoted to sailing, other wise it won’t be worth the time and effort, unless of course your sailboat is already moored or docked on the water. Because for a trailer sailor, just getting the sailboat into the water involves much more time and effort than a sailing vessel that is already in the water.

Sailing Tip: The tiller is your steering wheel on the sailboat, and if you put the tiller towards the starboard [right side] the sailing boat it will steer left toward the port side. If you position the tiller towards the port [left] side of the sailing boat, it will steer to the right or the starboard side. So unlike a car, the tiller works just the opposite! On the other hand, the ship wheel works the exact same as the steering on a car. So depending on how your sailboat is equipped will determine how to steer it.

Sailing Tip: One of the first basic how to sail techniques you’ll need to learn and master is how to turn or come about. There are essentially two ways to accomplish this, to turn or tack which is a sailing term for turning upwind, or you can turn downwind which is known as jibe which by the way is faster than a tack turn.

The mainsail is now up and the moment of truth is here! You turn the tiller downwind or in a jibe and suddenly the mainsail catches the wind for the first time. Now the sailboat begins to accelerate forward and now for the first time you hear the sailboat gliding over the water with relative ease.

It's the moment, you have anticipated for long time, and one thing for sure you'll never forget this moment for as long as you live! It's beyond words when you see the mainsail fill with the wind and feel it's power for the first time. It makes all the hard work worth while. It defines sailing!

Now depending on the wind direction will determine how you will trim your mainsail to get the most benefit out of it. Running is the sailing term for sailing directly downwind with the boom and mainsail as much as 90 degrees perpendicular to the wind as well as the sailing boat. If the wind is coming off the sailboat at an angle but not directly behind the sailboat while sailing, this is the sailing term known as broad reach where the wind is coming from behind the boat at an angle.

This can represent a wide range of angles between beam reach and running downwind. The sails are eased out away from the boat, but not as much as on a run or dead run (sailing directly downwind). By the way, reaching for modern sailboats is the fastest way to sail.


I hope you are enjoying my sailing beginner blog, however, if you’re really pressed for time, I have also put together an audio and e book for a nominal price, so that you can learn how to sail while commuting to work or anytime you can listen to your favorite audio playing device. So now there is no excuse for you to daydream any longer about sailing! Get started today, you will be glad you did. Just click this link: www.sailingbeginner.com for more information in getting your hands on a copy of my audio and e book. Until then- Happy Sailing!

 

Sailing Beginner- How to Raise the Mainsail

In my previous article, I described some basic sailing terms and techniques on how to go about raising the mast and boom into place on a sailing boat. This article of sailing beginner features on how to raise the mainsail. First, I am assuming that the sailing boat is still at the dock. Now in preparation for sailing, I have to get out in open water by using my kicker. Here's how I do it.

Sailing Tip: I lock the tiller in a straight position by a piece of rope that I have named- the tiller rope, which is a sailing term that is nothing more than a rope tied between two cleats on the each side of the stern of my sailing boat.

I tie the tiller rope just long enough to allows me to wrap it once around the tiller handle, then I'm able to secure the rudder in place by pulling the tiller rope taut by sliding it one way or the other along the tiller handle. Once the tiller rope is tight, it will set the rudder in whatever direction I want. I start the outboard to warm it up, as my 4hp Mariner can be a little cold blooded at times, making sure that it's in neutral, then I untie the boat from the dock. Jumping aboard I put the outboard in reverse and back away from the dock until I am plenty clear of it. Selecting the lever on the outboard in the forward position, I head out away from shore, so that I can raise the mainsail without worrying about running aground or hitting another boat.

Then depending on the current wind direction, I nose the bow into the wind, stop the outboard, and lock the tiller in a straight position keeping the sailboat heading into the wind using the tiller rope. I put the outboard in neutral just in case I need to start it up again to position the bow back into the wind. Tip: Having another person with you is even easier, because one person can keep the sailboat heading into the wind by navigating with the kicker, while the other can focus on rigging up the mainsail.

I attach the head of the mainsail to the halyard or the sailing term for mast rope with a shackle secured to the end of it. I feed the mainsail's boltrope into the groove of the mast. The boltrope is the sailing term for the attaching point located on the luff edge of the sail. Then I carefully feed the sail while raising it and making sure that it doesn't get caught in either one of the backstays until it's all the way to the top of the mast. Tip: Keep in mind this all sounds easy enough, but if the wind is really blowing, it's not all that simple. I like to sail with winds of at least 10mph, and it can be difficult at times to raise the sail single-handed. However with a little practice you will come up with your own technique that will work for you.

Next, I tie the halyard onto the mast cleat. Now I am ready to attach the foot of the mainsail to the boom. First, I take the foot section of the mainsail boltrope and feed it into the boom until it's about half way in the boom. I take the line or rope attached to the clew which is a sailing term for the longest part of the mainsail that faces towards the back of the boat, and I pull the rest of the sail completely through the boom and tie the line to the boom cleat.

I then attach the end of the boom using a shackle to a set of blocks located at the stern of the boat. This allows me to angle the boom from the centerline either port or starboard side. Some sailboats have a track system as well that is more sophisticated, but for now I will stick to the basic block set up. Now the mainsail is ready for sailing, question is are you?


I hope you are enjoying my sailing beginner blog, however, if you’re really pressed for time, I have also put together an audio and e book for a nominal price, so that you can learn how to sail while commuting to work or anytime you can listen to your favorite audio playing device. So now there is no excuse for you to daydream any longer about sailing! Get started today, you will be glad you did. Just click this link: www.sailingbeginner.com for more information in getting your hands on a copy of my audio and e book. Until then- Happy Sailing!

 

Sailing Beginner- Mast and Boom

If you are new to the sport of sailing, then I like to welcome you to this fantastic outdoor sport. One of the first things you will want to learn right away is some of the basic sailing terms. In my last article, Sailing Terms For the Sailing Beginner, I discussed some basic term's and if you have not had the chance to read it, I suggest that you might want to read this article first. Being familiar with the basic sailing terms will help you to achieve your goal of sailing. Knowing the parts of the sailboat is paramount if you are going to be able to sail it efficiently. You can't learn to drive an automobile if you don't know the basic parts that are involved in its operation. The same principle goes for sailing. Knowing the parts of the sailing boat that make it operational is also equally important.

One of the first considerations involved in sailing is how to rig up the sails; after all without the sails you would have no means of propulsion. However, The first step is to make sure the mast and boom are in place. If your sailboat is not docked or moored, most likely you will be known as a trailer sailor like me, because you will be taking your boat to the water. Once you off load the sailboat, you will next need to raise the mast which can be an adventure in itself depending on the size of your mast, but once you develop a technique it's not so bad.

The way I raise my mast is that I use an adjustable strap to hold the front of the mast temporarily until I secure the front stay cable to the bow of the boat. Keep in mind that there are two back stays that are in already attached and in place. Cable stays are steel cables that secure the mast into its upright position. On my sailboat there are a total of three. There is a front stay or cable and there are two in the back and all three are adjustable to put the proper tension on the mast keeping it straight. Once the mast is up and secured by the cable stays, I attach the boom. While the mast is fixed, the boom is attached to the mast horizontally and can be adjusted downward for tightening up the main sail. The boom is attached and also Omni-directional in relation to the mast by what is called the gooseneck.

The cunningham or a set of blocks or multiple pulleys is used to put tension on the front of the boom near the mast. On my sailboat there is a rope and a rope cleat to hold the rope that can be pulled down and locked in place, thus putting more tension on the main sail to allow more or less wind to fill it.A mechanical traveller allows the boom to swing on the gooseneck and can have different configurations depending on your sailing boat. My traveller is a simple one that incorporates two blocks, one is a single block and the other a double block intertwined by a single rope and held in position by a rotating cleat.

On my traveller, I cannot hold the boom at a precise angle, because I do not have a track and car. A car rides on a track secured to the stern of the boat and resembles a miniature train car and is secured to the boom by a single rope or block. Without the track and car, the boom cannot be locked precisely in any given angle. In my next article about sailing terms, I will be discussing the different kinds of sails that are used in sailing.

I hope you are enjoying my sailing beginner blog, however, if you’re really pressed for time, I have also put together an audio and e book for a nominal price, so that you can learn how to sail while commuting to work or anytime you can listen to your favorite audio playing device. So now there is no excuse for you to daydream any longer about sailing! Get started today, you will be glad you did. Just click this link: www.sailingbeginner.com for more information in getting your hands on a copy of my audio and e book. Until then- Happy Sailing!

 

Who Else Wants To Learn How to Sail?

If you’ve ever wanted to learn how to sail but for whatever reason you just never got around to it, here’s your chance to learn how. Let’s face it, most of us live busy lives and finding the time and energy for learning how to sail perhaps is just not practical or convenient. Although you may find yourself daydreaming that you’re at the helm of this beautiful sail boat gliding effortlessly across the water to see and explore the world. Or perhaps you would settle for a day on your favorite lake unplugging from the rat race for a while will suffice. Whether it’s blue water or lake sailing, the sky is the limit as there are no roads, stop lights, nor tail gators to ruin your day.

The peace of mind that sailing offers alone is worth the price of admission into this fantastic sport. And the best part is that the wind is free unlike a motor boat that requires expensive petroleum products that pollutes the water and atmosphere, not to mention the expense of maintaining it as well. With that thought in mind, I created this comprehensive sailing beginner blog that you can now learn how to sail for free.

However, if you’re really pressed for time, I have also put together an audio and e book for a nominal price, so that you can learn how to sail while commuting to work or anytime you can listen to your favorite audio playing device. So now there is no excuse for you to daydream any longer about sailing! Get started today, you will be glad you did. Just click this link: www.sailingbeginner.com for more information in getting your hands on a copy of my audio and e book. Until then- Happy Sailing!

 

Here's How I Got Started In Sailing.

It’s been some years since I first went sailing with my brother. At the time, he owned a nice little sailboat that could fit four pretty comfortably. It was a beautiful summer day with a mild breeze and just the perfect day to sail. Many years have passed since that blissful day, but I never completely forgot about it. Until about a year ago, the local news channel was featuring a segment on learning how to sail. And after watching the show, I decided that I wanted to learn how to sail once and for all. So I put it on my to do list. In fact, I was even contemplating enlisting in that same sailing school I saw on television that following summer.

Earlier this summer while riding my bicycle as I often do, I saw a sailboat on the side of the road for sale not to far from my home. I stopped in gave it a once over, took note of the asking price and resumed my bike ride. During my ride I visions of sailing for the first time and that thought ran over and over in my mind. I was thinking to myself how could I purchase this boat and ultimately pay for it before it was gone. So the gears were in motion as to how I could raise the money to park this sailboat in my driveway. After all this was a unique sailing boat as it has a forward cabin, boat trailer included, and all the original equipment including a mainsail and jib sail. And with a little TLC this sailing vessel would be ready to hit the high seas in no time.

Although it took me a while to raise the money to purchase it, in the meantime, I still keep riding by it at least once a week to see if it was still available. During this period one day my wife and I were going to the beach and I drove by the sailboat for her to see and the owner just happened to be outside drinking a cup of coffee. So I stopped and had a little chat with him in regards to the sailboat, although to my it wife seemed like an eternity because were not at the mall. She is not quite as passionate as I am in regards to sailboats. The owner informed me that it was complete even though it had a few minor items that had to be fixed and replaced. My gut feeling right away that this was a good deal and I wanted this boat. Stay tune for my next sailing beginner post.

PS- If you would like to learn more about sailing, then sail on over to Sailing Beginner. Until then- Happy Sailing!

My sail boat! 

Sailing Beginner- Launching the Sail Boat

Sailing Beginner - Launching the Sailboat

In my previous article, I covered briefly how to get your boat trailer ready to tow the sailing boat to the water. This article will cover how to launch it safely. Personally, I never owned a boat before, so I had to learn how to launch one from scratch. Here is how I was able to accomplish a successful launch of my sailing boat.

First, I take off the bow safety chain and the nylon strap at the stern so that the sailboat will float once I’m in the water, releasing it from the trailer. Tip: Here’s a little tip I picked up and that is to disconnect the trailer wire from the tow vehicle before you back the trailer into the water. This will avoid burning out light bulbs unnecessarily because when backing the boat trailer on the ramp the brake light is already hot and once submerged in the water it can easily short out. I know this works, because one day while launching my sailboat I forgot to disconnect the trailer lights and burned out one of the bulbs instantly.

Next I attach a 25-foot piece of rope to the bow of the boat and hang it on the boat trailer. Then I point the side mirrors on my vehicle down, so that I can see the boat ramp, thus avoiding driving off from it. Once the trailer is completely submerged, I put the vehicle in park along with the parking brake. And then I release the sailing boat off the trailer by slowly cranking the winch handle until I determine that the boat is now free from the trailer.
Sailing Tip: A word of caution is merited here, please be careful to keep clear of the boat winch handle especially when the winch is under tension by the weight of the sailboat. My Renken 18 foot sailing boat weighs over 1,200 pounds and creates a lot of tension when on a incline of a boat ramp. What happened is that I accidentally released the winch while being distracted and the handle just about knocked my two front teeth out! Don’t let this happen to you! If you are going to release the boat winch all at once, make sure you position the handle in a neutral position first to avoid any injury. After that mistake…

I release the tension on the sailboat by cranking the winch handle slowly making sure to keep my body clear of it, then once the tension is totally released, I unhook the winch strap from the bow. Then I gently push the sailboat off the trailer while at the same time grabbing the piece of rope I tied to the sailboat earlier so that the sailing boat can’t get away from me. Then I maneuver it as to secure it to the dock. Stay tune for my next sailing beginner post.


I hope you are enjoying my sailing beginner blog, however, if you’re really pressed for time, I have also put together an audio and e book for a nominal price, so that you can learn how to sail while commuting to work or anytime you can listen to your favorite audio playing device. So now there is no excuse for you to daydream any longer about sailing! Get started today, you will be glad you did. Just click this link: www.sailingbeginner.com for more information in getting your hands on a copy of my audio and e book. Until then- Happy Sailing!

 

Sailing Beginner- Trailer Sailor

In a previous sailing beginner article, I covered the basic sailing terms of a sailing boat. Learning how to sail is not all that difficult once you understand nautical terms and sailing techniques. But first things first, and unless of course your sailboat is already docked or moored on the water, you can’t go sailing until your sailboat is in the water. To get there you must trailer it to the water. That is why I myself a Trailer Sailor!

However, before towing your sailboat it would be wise on your part to ensure that the boat trailer is in good mechanical condition including that the lights are operational, the tires are in good shape including the proper air pressure, the trailer hitch is in good working order to name a few. And of course to make sure that you have legally registered your sailboat and trailer.
 

Starting with the boat winch, the nylon strap or rope should be checked for dry rot first’ especially if it’s old and has not been replaced. Next make sure that a safety chain is used to secure the bow of the sailboat in addition to the winch strap while it’s on the trailer just in case the winch strap breaks.

Sailing Tip: It may be a good idea to check the state boating laws in your state to make sure that you have met all the legal requirements while transporting your sailing boat. The stern or back of the sailboat should be secured by using a ratcheting nylon strap or a sturdy rope to hold it in place to prevent any incidental damage to your sailboat or worse yet to keep it from falling off the trailer. I prefer a ratcheting strap over a rope because it’s much faster to use. 
 

Now that the sailboat is secured to the trailer, it’s good idea to make one last check to make sure that the lights are connected, the safety chains are secured, and the hitch is secured to the tow vehicle. This final quick check will give you a piece of mind while towing the sailing boat. Another good piece of advice is to keep and eye on both the boat and trailer while driving, because unexpected things can happen at any time. 
 

Sailing Tip: It’s a good idea to carry a spare tire for your boat trailer just in case you get a flat. This way you can change a flat and not have to leave your sailing boat on the roadside while you fetch a spare. Also be sure to have enough life jackets on board for everyone on the sailing boat. I also have a fire extinquisher as well just in case my outboard catches on fire. Speaking of outboards, I check the fuel level and if it needs any I prefer to refuel it before I leave. This way it’s much easier to pour gasoline in the tank when the sailboat is not moving around in the water. In my next article, I will be discussing how to launch the sailing boat safely.

Ps- I hope you are enjoying my sailing beginner blog, however, if you’re really pressed for time, I have also put together an audio and e book for a nominal price, so that you can learn how to sail while commuting to work or anytime you can listen to your favorite audio playing device. So now there is no excuse for you to daydream any longer about sailing! Get started today, you will be glad you did. Just click this link: www.sailingbeginner.com for more information in getting your hands on a copy of my audio and e book. Until then- Happy Sailing!

 

Sailing Beginner- Sail Types

In this article of sailing beginner, I am going to be discussing sailing terms associated with sails. In general there are three general types of sails known as the Mainsail, Jib, and the Spinnaker used for downwind sailing. The main sail is typically triangular in shape and the top of the sail is known as the head where the halyard rope is attached for raising it up on the mast. The bottom of the sail is known as the Foot.

The Tack is where the sail is attached to the boom and is located on the bottom luff side of the mainsail or the side closest to the mast. The Clew is where the sail is attached to the boom and is located on the bottom leech side of the mainsail on the opposite end of the mast. As mentioned the Luff is on the mast side of the mainsail and runs the length of it. The Leech is the opposite side of the mainsail and runs the entire length from the bottom or the foot to the head or top of the sail.

Although there are various kinds of sails, the mainsail is the workhorse of them all. It allows the sailing boat the ability to sail up or down wind. With that said, as a sailing beginner, you may want to use just the mainsail initially when tacking upwind. Otherwise it can be overwhelming to control two sails at once especially in high winds! The mainsail can also be reefed in high winds, which is nothing more than reducing the area of the sail. More about reefing in my next article. So in essence the mainsail is the most versatile of the three general types of sails because it can be used in all sailing applications, techniques, and adverse weather conditions.

The next type of sail used is known as a Jib and this is what I have on my Renken pocket cruiser. Jibs are located in front of the mast, triangular in shape, and are the main source of propulsion when going upwind or sailing into the wind. The Genoa is similar to the jib, but overlaps the mainsail when in place, unlike the jib’s leech side that remains in front of the mainsail. The Gennaker is a hybrid of both the genoa and a spinnaker that was developed in the 1990’s and is used primarily for racing. Most common of the three are jibs and most likely as a sailing beginner, it’s most likely the sail you will use of the available headsails.

Also as a word of caution, please be careful using the jib when sailing in high winds, especially if you are sailing perpendicular to the wind. Just recently while sailing, I was deceived into thinking that the wind was not all that bad and raised my jib sail while sailing downwind. It was smooth sailing up to that point until I was forced to make a starboard turn because I had to navigate around a point of land on my port side. I steered my sailing vessel into a port jibe or gybe, and all of the sudden a gust of wind of over 15 knots hit me so hard that I was just short of taking in water on my port side.

At this point, my adrenaline put me into high gear and I put as much of my weight on the starboard side almost sitting directly on the side of the boat, and was contemplating on jumping on the keel if I was able. It was either that or jump ship!

In this case, I made the split decision to stay aboard. So with my hands white knuckled to the tiller pushed away from me, I was able to counteract the force of the wind and upright my boat. Mind you this is a 1,200 pound sailboat with a keel that weighs over 400 pounds! And I was single-handed sailing that day, but I was able with much difficulty to retrieve the jib while I had my Renken in irons while in the middle of the lake.

The last most commonly used of the three general types of sails is the spinnaker. The Spinnaker also called the Kite or Chute is used for sailing downwind or when the wind is behind you. Much like a parachute, the spinnaker fills up with air and creates a maximum amount of lift, thus propelling the sailing boat forward while going downwind. Since a spinnaker can be twice the size of the mainsail, it takes more effort to raise and to retrieve it. I hope that this gives you a general idea of the sailing basics associated with sails. Until my next post- Happy Sailing!

I hope you are enjoying my sailing beginner blog, however, if you’re really pressed for time, I have also put together an audio and e book for a nominal price, so that you can learn how to sail while commuting to work or anytime you can listen to your favorite audio playing device. So now there is no excuse for you to daydream any longer about sailing! Get started today, you will be glad you did. Just click this link: www.sailingbeginner.com for more information in getting your hands on a copy of my audio and e book. Until then- Happy Sailing!

 

Sailing Beginner- Learn How To Sail

If you want to learn how to sail, first you must learn the sailing basics. One of the most profound items on your basic list should be safety, and this starts with the sailing basic fundamentals with proper equipment and rules of the water. Once you have some basic knowledge, then you will be able to safely sail with a crew or privately on your own. One of the most obvious but an important aspect of sailing basic training is that your sailing boat must be in tip-top shape. From bow to stern your sailing vessel must be in serviceable condition including the mast, boom, and sails. You should have a front bow light that is green and red, a mast and stern light as well. You will want to make sure that they are working properly and your battery is charged. Your sailboat should be equipped with life jackets for everyone on board as well. If you have a kicker or outboard, you should make sure that it is working properly and you have plenty of fuel for it. Also, you should know how to operate it as well especially when you are going in out of port or in the case of an emergency.

 If you are contemplating blue water sailing on the ocean, In case you have an emergency from weather conditions, an accident, or an equipment malfunction of any sort. You will need additional equipment such as a life raft, navigational instrument, marine vhf radio, and an emergency transponder to name a few. Additionally you would want to have extra food rations, flashlight, rain gear, and extra clothing if the weather conditions should change. Next you will need to know basic nautical laws that will keep you and anyone else with you safe when on the water. You will have to know what the different buoys signify and how to safely navigate around them. Also you will need to be able to navigate safely around other boats as well. 

For example, when two sailboats approach each other, they may not be guided by the same wind. In this case, the boat with the wind on its port side should give way for the other boat. When they are guided by the same wind, the windward side boat should give way for leeward side boat. Thus it would help prevent an unnecessary collision. Another important sailing basic tip is to always let someone you know where and when you are going sailing. This way if something should happen to you, your family or a friend could alert the Coast Guard that you may be in trouble and could save your life. Stay tune for my next sailing beginner blog post, until then- Happy Sailing!

Ps- I hope you are enjoying my sailing begginer blog, however, if you’re really pressed for time, I have also put together an audio and e book for a nominal price, so that you can learn how to sail while commuting to work or anytime you can listen to your favorite audio playing device. So now there is no excuse for you to daydream any longer about sailing! Get started today, you will be glad you did. Just click this link: www.sailingbeginner.com for more information in getting your hands on a copy of my audio and e book. Until then- Happy Sailing!