25 Sailing Facts: Techniques, Do & Don'ts & Much More For You

Being a major medium of traveling and wars for years, sailing has now turned into a frequently enjoyed adventure activity among modern people.

Sailing has not only contributed to taking people from one place to the other. Its existence has opened doors to countless explorations leading the world to see, find, and explore new things.

The unpredictability of winds and seas makes sailing challenging, yet the peace of being surrounded by the blue of the sea and sky is a peaceful feeling countless people enjoy.

Until the 19th century, sailing primarily was restricted to exploration, traveling, commerce, and fishing, but the onset of the 21st century marked its presence as one of the most loved hobbies too. Yachting, cruising, and sailing constitute many ways people enjoy being on a boat, and it demands strength, vigilance, and patience to deal with a sailboat.

In addition, sailing is an effective teamwork promoting activity where people contribute individual efforts to make the big sail work.

Do you know the significance of blue flags among sailors? Keep reading, and you will learn more about blue flags and various other interesting sail facts!

Famous Sailing Adventures

Sailing has been a part of adventure sports for many decades now, following which many famous and iconic instances have occurred, subsequently going down in the history books. Sailing adventures have led countless people to learn more about the thrill of adventure and to go on to sail themselves. These facts include various details from famous sailing adventures!

Laura Dekker was the youngest person to circumnavigate the world solo in a 518-day long sail journey, traveling about 27,000 mi (43452 km). The sailor was only 16 when she completed her journey in her vessel, called Guppy.

In the 1500s, British sailors were partially paid with barrels of rum to sail the boat. In order to confirm rum quality, they would douse gunpowder in rum and check its purity. Gunpowder can only catch fire if the rum contains more than 57% alcohol, hence making it a smart indicator.

Sailing flags or maritime flags, seen on a sail, work as a mode of communication for ships. Sailing flags originated back in 1652, during the Anglo-Dutch wars, to send signals to other ships.

Sailing has been the originator of many popular terms used in everyday life. The term 'loose cannon', used to describe an unpredictable person, was primarily a sailing term that depicted the potential damage a loose cannon can cause.

In theory, as offered by cartographer David Cooke, Cooke Passage, spanning across Port Renfrew, B.C to Quebec, is a straight line route following which any person can circumnavigate the Earth without touching land. One can theoretically sail in a straight line following this route.

The phrase 'Son of a Gun' was also taken from a sailing term that was used for a child born on the deck. If the child was not recognized or claimed by anyone on the deck, including passengers or crew, the child was entered with the term 'son of a gun' on the ship's log.

Joshua Slocum was officially the first man to circumnavigate Earth in the year 1898. Slocum took three years, two months, and two days to complete the navigation.

The term 'feeling blue' finds its roots in sailing as the ship's crew used blue flags to indicate a loss. Blue flags were used as a sign of mourning when a ship lost a captain or any crew member, explaining why feeling blue is literal.

Sailing boats often lead the sailor to meet countless exotic species, beautiful empty beaches, mysterious forests, and various unknown locations no tourist or visitor can reach via land.

Techniques Of Sailing

As simple as it appears, sailing is far more complicated than just hanging the mast and enjoying the wind. Knowing technical details and a strong foundation can help deal with unplanned storms and fluctuating weather conditions. These are some technique-based facts you can remember for an enjoyable sail experience!

Sailing a sailboat along the eastward side is comparatively easier for sailors than westward due to the predictable winds. Eastward receives more predictable winds and currents, making it ideal for sailors to navigate.

Hull length affects the speed of the sail. Boats with longer hulls generate longer waves, which move faster than short waves; hence, longer boats move faster as compared to shorter boats.

Sailing has many different types of knots required to carry out various tasks and to regulate the boat. Learning knots is essential before going on a sailing expedition.

The boat mast follows a rule of thumb according to which the size of the boat's mast is 1.25 to 1.35 times the boat's length.

Beginning sailors are recommended to start small, which means they must start with a small boat. The boat requires a mast to begin practicing with and then the sailor can slowly proceed towards upscaling.

Capsizing is an occurrence when a boat tips on its side or upside down due to uneven waves. It can also deliberately occur when sailors try to protect any oncoming objects to prevent a collision.

Most onboard injuries are caused by the boom, a pole attached below the sail to give it direction and control from the wind.

The direction in which a sailing vessel is moving due to wind and its leveraged speed is called the 'point of sail'. The point of sail also refers to the different angles from the wind where the boat can sail.

Dos & Don'ts In Sailing

In order to ensure an optimal sailing experience, solo or with a team, one must follow a set of sailing etiquettes to have a safe and fun sailing experience. Do's and don'ts are bound to leave your sailing experience safe and trouble-free.

These tips are all curated from years of experience by sailors and navigators through their journey and they grant other sailors a safe, hassle-free experience. Let's look at some of these dos and don'ts.

Starting with a small boat is favorable over directly going for a lengthy, heavy boat. You might want to practice your skills on an easy-to-handle vessel first.

Be aware of the boom. The boom has many instances of causing harm and onboard injuries. Being wary of the boom is the only way to dodge it.

Make sure the sailing vessel has enough safety equipment and vests for the riders. Nobody should sail without safety vests.

Learning basic sailing terms is recommended before leaving for a sailing session with people.

Your first time sailing must be with an experienced person who knows all about sailing and its techniques.

Improve your ability to sense the weather and air. Air has a great role in maintaining the well-being of a sail.

Dress appropriately for sailing sessions. Wear comfortable, water-proof clothes for an easy sailing experience.

Don't overcrowd the sail; invite people according to the vessel's capacity.

FAQ

Did you know facts about sailing?

Many sailing facts are unknown to the world; hence not many people know lots of sailing facts, but sailors and water-loving people take a keen interest in exploring sails and their facts.

Who invented sailing?

The origins of sailing are not clearly known, but researchers believe it came into existence way back in 1st CE at the hands of the Greeks.

What's fun about sailing?

Sailing is a popular sport due to its adventurous and fun nature. Being surrounded by blue with only the wind to give direction to the boat can be exhilarating rather than scary for many people. People can improve their teamwork by sailing with other people while others prefer going solo and enjoying the adventure all to themselves.

When did sailing begin?

Sailing supposedly goes back to around 6000 years ago, but the earliest reported sailing evidence was recorded on an Egyptian vase, depicting it to have begun around 3500 BC.

How does sailing work?

Both the forces of aerodynamics and hydrodynamics are applied to the boat to sail through an uneven, unpredictable sailing route. The wind blowing across the sails works to push the boat forward or give it direction without pushing the sails down due to the deceleration of wind by sail shape.

The sails can be drawn or changed depending on the direction the boat wishes to aim towards.

What to wear while sailing?

Comfortable and waterproof clothing is most suited for your sea voyages, but the most important clothing to wear has to be a life jacket.

Do you need a license to sail?

Yes. Sailing requires a license in many states, but the varying registration and laws in different states allow sailing without a license too.