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Beginner Sailing Courses Tips
Study Basic Sailing Terms Before You Learn to Sail
If you just signed up for a basic sailing class, you are probably quite excited. We've all seen how majestic sailing can be. It looks effortless as a sailboat glides along the water but it's not. But when you first attend your sailboat lessons, you may feel very overwhelmed. Sailors talk a different language and--at first--it may not make sense. There are a lot of new terms you will be required to learn. What is the keel? What is the rudder? What does it mean when a sailboat is 'running'? Before you begin to learn to sail, it might be helpful to study some of the basic sailing terminology. Here are some terms and definitions to get you started:
A hull is the body of the boat.
A cockpit is where the crew sits to operate it.
A keel is a vertical fin under the boat that adds stability.
A rudder is an underwater fin that moves to help with steering.
A tiller is a stick used to steer the boat from the cockpit.
Rigging is the adjustable lines and hardware used to control the sails.
Sheets move sails in and out while halyards move sails up and down.
The mainsail is the larger sail that sits behind the mast.
The mainsheet is its sheet.
A jib is the sail set between the forwardmost mast and the headstay.
A headstay is a line of wire or steel rod that supports the mast and adjusts its bend.
The port side of the boat is its left side as the boat moves forward.
The starboard side is the right.
The bow is the front and the stern is the back.
A tack is the way the boat is heading in relation to the wind. Tacking is changing direction from one side of wind to the other--while sailing towards the wind.
At first, these terms will seem hard to remember. But the more you are exposed to the 'lingo' of sailing the more it will stick with you. By taking a sailing course through a certified school, you will have the best chance of learning basic sailing in a way that becomes second nature to you.
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Learn How to Sail in The Florida Keys
Offshore Sailing School Tip: If you love adventure and being near the water, consider taking a basic sailing course at a Florida Keys sailing school.
Reliable breezes make your sailing adventure thoroughly memorable, enjoyable and rewarding. Offshore Sailing School offers a course at Hawks Cay Resort, a beautiful, Caribbean-like location for beginner sailing courses. Located on Duck Key just eight miles north of Marathon, sailing in the Florida Keys is about as close to Caribbean sailing as you can get without leaving the states.
In beginning sailboat lessons, you’ll practice basic sailing skills such as rigging, winch techniques, maneuvering, stopping and starting under sail, spinnaker techniques and boat balance.
When you’re not learning how to sail, there's plenty of other fun activities to complement your learning vacation. Don't miss the Dolphin Connection at Hawk's Cay, an educational experience where you can get up close with these wonderful creatures of the sea. Try your hand at fishing, diving, snorkeling or kayaking--all within a short distance of this fabulous Florida Keys Sailing School.
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Avoiding Sea Sickness When You Learn to Sail
You're probably very excited about your upcoming learn-to-sail class. Enjoying the beautiful water as you learn basic sailing techniques is one of the best benefits of the sport. But, some people who take beginner sailing classes quickly learn that they are prone to sea sickness. No one wants to feel the effects of sea sickness--including dizziness, a sick stomach and vomiting--on their first day out to sea. Fortunately, there are some remedies that work well, including those you get from your doctor and those that are drug-free.
You may want to have some sea sickness pills with you just in case--even if you've sailed before and not had symptoms. But, be aware that like any drug, sea sickness pills and patches can have side effects. A fairly new cure on the market is called Motion Ease, an oil you rub behind the ears. You may find other solutions at your local drug store or health food store. Also, prior to your class, ask your instructor what he or she recommends. Here are some tips for avoiding sea sickness:
*Don't drink alcohol the night before.
*Avoid greasy foods.
*If you have a choice of berths, choose the one forward in the cabin as it it likely to have less pitching motion. Also, sleep on your back.
*Keep busy and positive. If you worry too about getting sea sickness, you probably will.
*Stay up on deck. Offer to steer when you are ready. Keeping your eyes on the horizon helps.
*Get in good physical condition.
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Learn to Sail on Long Island Sound
Offshore Sailing School Tip: If you live in the northeast, you don’t need to venture far to learn to sail. Offshore Sailing School has a Long Island Sailing School at one of its newest campus locations offering sailing lessons for beginners at Fort Schuyler. Long Island Sound is a great place to learn to sail with its many navigational aids to guide your way. Once you’ve achieved basic sailing skills, your Long Island sailing school instructor will discuss the different types of sailboats available, depending on what your sailing goals are.
At Offshore’s Long Island sailing school in Fort Schuyler your beginning sailing classes will focus on both comprehensive textbook work and on-water sailing each day. You'll train aboard the Colgate 26, an award-winning sport boat that features a comfortable cockpit and easy handling adjustments. Offshore Sailing School--run by sailing experts Steve and Doris Colgate--teaches its students proper methods for reefing, steering with a compass, sailing wing and wing, tacking and jibing, finding wind direction and much more.
At Fort Schuyler you have the benefit of a campus that blends a comfortable college-town atmosphere with the “greatest city in the world.” Getting to the Long Island Sailing School campus is easy, and accommodations are available right on campus. If you want to learn to sail, do it with Offshore Sailing School, chosen Best of New York by New York Magazine in 2006 for sailing lessons, and ranked #1 by Practical Sailor in both instruction and curriculum.
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Practice Emergency Recovery When Learning to Sail
You may sail for 20 years and never have to recover a crew member who has fallen overboard. Or, it may happen the first day of your basic sailing classes. In this event, emotions can take the best of you and you can easily panic; that's why you should practice responding to a man overboard when you are learning to sail. The most likely cause of someone falling overboard is a strap breaking or coming undone so it's always wise to double check yours before you set sail. When a crew member falls overboard, keep in mind that--especially in a smaller boat--the sailboat may capsize due to an uneven distribution of weight. This is less likely in a bigger boat with a larger beginner sailing class.
Make sure your sailing instructor carefully goes over the man overboard procedures before you learn to sail. When a crew member goes overboard, you must first alert everyone else in the boat by yelling "crew overboard," or a similar command. Then, you should throw a personal flotation device to the crew member. All members of any sailing course should be wearing life vests so the crew member will be safe while you get control of the boat. This type of quick and non-panic response takes practice. Then, designate a spotter to watch as you sail away from the crew member far enough to give you room to maneuver the boat, but keep him or her in sight at all times. When the victim is abeam, turn quickly to come alongside them. Haul the crew member to the boat and come pull him or her aboard.
Learning to handle a man overboard situation is hard to learn from a book. That's why a certified sailing course with an experienced instructor is the best way to learn to sail.
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Sailing Schools Offer Best Way to Learn Sailing
Offshore Sailing School Tip: If you go online or visit the library, you will discover that information on sailing is overwhelming. If you want to learn to sail, which sailing schools are the best? Can you truly learn all the basic and advanced sailing methods by reading about them? While sailing books and online resources are a great source of information for learning to sail, they are best used as a supplement to courses offered by reputable sailing schools like Offshore, which teaches basic sailing and learning vacations in many locations including Florida, New York, New Jersey, The Chesapeake, Bahamas and Virgin Islands.
Why should you learn to sail by taking a sailing course instead of just reading about it?
*A reputable sailing school has certified instructors with a wealth of experience on the water in many types of sailing situations. The best book in the world can't substitute for on-the-water training.
*A sailing school will teach a progression of sailing skills. If you don't take the time to master basic sailing, you may not become proficient at more advanced techniques.
*Offshore Sailing School offers sailboat lessons in beautiful vacation destinations. You’ll have plenty of time for other activities like diving, tennis, golf or kayaking.
*Sailing schools offer unique methods of sail training such as private lessons, family courses and classes for women only. Joining a group class means you’ll meet people with like interests.
*When you learn to sail at Offshore Sailing School, you’ll receive graduation benefits that include free magazines, published sailing tips, discounts on future courses and more. Library books and internet articles don’t offer that.
*Learning to sail at a sailing school is much safer than trying it alone.
When you investigate sailing schools you should use the following criteria:
*Find a school whose teachers are certified by US SAILING--like Steve Colgate, founder of Offshore Sailing School. Colgate is a former Olympian sailor and the author of many books on the subject.
*Find a school where you can earn certification for your work. This will help you advance in the sport and qualify you for chartering a sailboat on your own.
*Choose a school that offers beginning sailing as well as advanced courses so you can progress at your own speed.
*Many sailing schools come and go. Choose one that has been around a long time. Offshore Sailing School was founded in 1964 and has introduced more than 100,000 people to the joy of sailing.
*Choose a school that offers many locations--Learning to sail with Offshore on the Hudson is easy for New York and New Jersey residents. Or, make it a learning vacation at beautiful settings like Chesapeake Bay. You might want to commute for your basic sailing classes and then take a learning vacation in the Florida Keys when you’re ready for a more advanced sailing course. Only Offshore Sailing School offers a choice of many vacation destination sailing schools.
*Choose a school with custom-designed sailboats so, when you learn to sail, you'll have the best instructional equipment. Steve Colgate, founder of Offshore Sailing School, created the award-winning Colgate 26, the sailboat of choice for many training facilities that include the U.S. Coast Guard and US Sailing Academy.
