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.
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!
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!
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