Start Sailing Right - Preparing for Sailing

Hello...

As with any sport, you need to be prepared for the event. In the case of sailing, you are going to be outdoors so you need to be prepared for the weather conditions. Appropriate clothing, light loose layers, close toed shoes, gloves if necessary (not just for cold...also for protection of your hands) are all things to consider. In Arizona, this also means sunscreen, hats and bringing water.

Another preparedness issue is proper personal floatation devices. While the skipper is most likely required to have enough life jackets on board for everyone, they are often the Type II Horse Collar jackets. These aren't very comfortable and therefore you are probably less likely to wear it. I always recommend if you intend to do any significant amount of water sports activities that you own your own vest that you have picked out, is sized right for you and that you are familiar with the operation of. This also increases the likelihood that you will wear it!

Before you leave the dock, and probably before you leave your house, and even several days in advance if possible, check the weather report! I have found that your sailing experience depends on the wind! Too much or too little and it is no fun (or too much fun :-) There are some great resources for weather information online: www.NOAA.gov ; www.WUnderground.com ; www.Weather.com ; www.Tempe.gov/wx (for Tempe Town Lake!)

While being prepared by knowing the weather in advance is important, once you get out on the water you need to be aware of the wind. Your sails are the engine and the wind is the fuel. Knowing where the wind is coming from, both where you are now and where you are headed, is key to knowing how to properly adjust your sails. Proper sail adjustment (also called "trim") is key to getting the most out of the wind that you have (more on this later). Be aware of the wind around you by looking at the water's surface. Dark water means more wind, glassy or lighter water means less wind. Look at the indicators on nearby land, things like flags and trees, to get a sense of where the wind is coming from. By the end of class you will be driving to the lake noticing these things looking to see what kind of wind we will have for the class!

I started this segment by referring to sailing as a sport. That implies that a degree of physical exertion will be required. You need to make sure that you are physically fit enough to sail the type of boat you will be on. The good news is that the level of fitness varies wildly from boat to boat. Smaller dinghies like Lasers and Buccaneers require a little more physically than a boat like a Catalina 22 or a Merit 25 (both boats with weighted keels). The important thing is to know your abilities and sail accordingly.

This segment covers chapters 1,2 & 4 in the Start Sailing Right book.