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Combine Work and Play With Corporate Sailing Days

If you're looking for a unique way to treat employees or impress clients, why not consider arranging a corporate sailing day?

Outdoor team-building exercises tend to be popular among firms seeking to boost morale and get staff to work more closely together, and spending a day out on the water can be particularly suitable for this purpose.

A yacht trip could additionally be ideal when it comes to organising a meeting with a difference and wowing potential or current clients - making this type of event good for business!

One of the best things about corporate sailing events is the fact that everyone is on the same level when it comes to learning about how to manage a boat out on the water, regardless of their position within the company.

This means those who may not hold a role high up in the firm could reveal their potential for progression while working on the boat.

No prior sailing experience is needed to learn the ropes, as a professional will be onboard with you to guide you through the various procedures and tasks that everyone needs to carry out to get the yacht from one place to another.

Sailing event providers will also make efforts to ensure your boat is suitable for a crew where skill levels may vary from beginner to expert, while your sailing location will be chosen so that the challenges associated with navigating tides and choppy waters are eliminated.

You can choose from a host of different sailing programmes depending on your group and the pace you wish to stick to. There will usually be scope to tailor your activities, so you do not have to settle for a one-size-fits-all sailing day.

One potential option is a full day of sailing, where you arrive in the morning, learn all about your boat and go for a practice trip on it before engaging in a fun race or another sailing activity in the afternoon.

If you have more time to spare, you could alternatively head to the harbour in the evening, stay on the yacht overnight and have a full day of practice and race sailing the next day.

Another idea could be to combine any meetings, conferences or training you might be planning with corporate sailing activities to really make the most of your day out and ensure productivity doesn't suffer while you're away.

For example, you could hold a sales pitch meeting at the yacht club in the morning, before taking your potential customer out for a fun afternoon of sailing. Or you could hold a company presentation for your staff and follow this up with team-building exercises on the water.

If you have even more time on your hands, you may want to consider chartering a yacht for a longer corporate sailing holiday.

The choice is entirely up to you. Many providers will be happy to work with you to tailor your sailing programme for your needs, so make sure you find out the full extent of your options before settling on a specific schedule.

Food and some drink will be included in your corporate sailing package - doing away with the need to find a catering supplier - and this can take the form of a fantastic picnic break between sailing jaunts.

Now that you have an idea of what a corporate sailing day might involve, where should you go? The UK has numerous sites ideal for teambuilding exercises, but for gentle sailing conditions the Solent is one of the best options.

Situated between mainland England and Isle of Wight, this expanse of water is perfect for beginners and offers a particularly pleasurable sailing experience when the weather is fine. It is also easy to get to, whether you're travelling by rail, road or air.



Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/5952329

Learn to Sail for Newbies - Three Steps to Sail in Gusty Sailing Winds!

If you are anything like me, when I first learned how to sail, I hoped that all the days would be perfect, sunny, with light breezes and flat-as-a-pancake water. Sounds like a picture postcard, right? But what do you do when the winds get gusty? Follow three secret sailing tips.

One thing I had to get a grip on was the reality of the sport of sailing. And like any sport, if you want to excel, you want to experience a bit more challenge now and then. And guess what happened?

It turned out I loved the breezy days when the boat skimmed across the water, sliced through the waves like a hot knife through butter. It was fun and kept me on my toes.

So, now that you know the basics of sailing, how do you handle those gusty days? First, all good sailors develop a sense of the wind, weather, and waves. That means being aware of what's happening with these elements. You can expect gusty weather if you:

* see dark splotchy patches on the water to windward.
* sight white caps (white foam on wave tops) to windward.
* fight the sailboat tiller or wheel tough to hold on course.
* start to heel more.
* feel the boat "round up" when in a gust.

All of these are signs that it's time to put your boat into "gusty sailing mode" so that she remains balanced, heels less, and becomes easier to steer.

Reefing your sails will always give you the best solution in gusty weather. But here, we want to discuss other methods to use until you are able to reef your sails. Follow these steps:

1. Pop the Mainsheet

Small dinghy sailors are always "playing" the mainsheet. When I first started to sail, I had a small 14' O'Day Javelin. I held the mainsheet in my non-dominant hand and steering with my dominant hand.

When the boat began to heel a bit too much, I would "pop" the mainsheet out of the cam-cleat, ease it out, and the boat would flatten right away. As soon as the gust passed, I would jerk the mainsheet back into the cam-cleat and sheet it in again. This sequence of "pop and sheet" continued all the time in gusty weather.

You can use this same a similar, but slower method on larger, more stable sailboats. Pop the mainsheet, ease the sheet out a few inches, and re-cleat the mainsheet. This spills high octane wind higher up off the water and decreases heeling and makes steering easier.

2. Feather Up in a Gust

If a gust hits before you have time to pop the mainsheet as described above, allow the boat to round up just to the point where the forward 1/3 of the mainsail luff begins to flutter. This "feathering" technique de-powers the mainsail, dumps the wind, and flattens the boat.

Take care not to let the boat round up too much--you don't want to go into "irons" (the boat points into the wind, stops, with all sails fluttering). Keep your boat speed up and maintain good steering control of the tiller or wheel.

3. Push the Mainsheet Downwind.

Larger sailboats have an athrwartship (a direction across the boat from side to side) track called a traveler track. Your mainsheet attaches to a "traveler car" on the traveler track. You can slide the traveler car (or "car") along the traveler track.

You keep the car in place with stops, which are either plunger-type pins or screw pins on each side of the car. In lighter winds, you keep the car centered along the traveler track. But in gusty winds, you want to re-position the car downwind to de-power the mainsail.

Move the stops and traveler car down the traveler track to leeward (downwind). This helps your boat sail with less heel and it will be easier to steer.

Learn to sail like a pro when you use these three, fast temporary control techniques to keep your small sailboat balanced and under good control. Experience the thrill and excitement of gusty weather sailing to gain the confidence you need to sail anywhere in the world!



Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6443533

How to Sail Like a Pro - Five Steps to Better Tacking When Short Handed

When you first learn how to sail, you had a lot of sailing crew to help you out. Tricky maneuvers like tacking or jibing were a snap. But what happens when you have to tack up a narrow channel all by yourself--singlehanded? If you want to learn to sail like a sailor, you'll want to practice maneuvers like this under sail! Follow these five easy steps on your way to master the art of short-handed sailing.

Singlehanders have their hands full with sailing, lookout duties, and navigation. You can learn to perform complex maneuvers like tacking or jibing with careful preparation and execution. Remember, we are talking about cruising sailboats here, not small, easy to maneuver sailing dinghies. In a larger sailboat, it always starts with preparation.

1. Prepare the Traveler and Windward Winch

In light to moderate winds, keep the mainsheet centered along the traveler track. Insure that both track stops are tight and in place on either side of the mainsheet car. That way, when you tack, the mainsheet car will remain centered.

In heavy air, you will have the mainsheet several holes downwind along the traveler track. Duplicate this position on the windward side now. That way, after you tack, the mainsheet car will slide (or you can give it a push) downwind to the same relative position on the opposite side of the track.

Prepare your headsail for tacking. Wrap the lazy sheet two times around the windward sheet winch. This prepares the sheet for grinding and the wraps will save you time once you make the tack.

2. Set Your Over-the-Shoulder Mark

Stand up; position your body with your shoulders perpendicular to the centerline of the boat. Without moving your body, turn your head and look over your windward shoulder. Pick a "steady up" point. Because most boats are able to tack through 90 degrees, this simulates the approximate point you will look for to "steady up" on after your tack. Tacking causes a momentary loss of orientation. Picking a reference point ahead of time will make tacking as easy as 1-2-3!

3. Conduct a 180 Degree Scan 2X

Often forgotten, you must make a complete half-horizon scan from the bow to stern on the windward side of your boat--before you tack. Check for boats approaching from upwind, boats off the windward beam that may present a problem when you steady up, and boats approaching from astern. Do this twice--not once--twice. It takes but seconds, but adds volumes to sailing safety.

4. Face Forward Throughout the Execution

Singlehanders should face forward at all times when tacking for sailing safety. This way, you can maintain a lookout throughout the maneuver. This will also help you retain much of your orientation and you will find your "steady up" point faster.

5. Scan Again and Fine Tune

Complete the tack, steady up on your reference point, sheet the headsail to the best of your ability, and make a second scan. At this point, do not go for perfect trim on the headsail. You must conduct a quick, second scan, but this time make a full 360 degree scan. After you see that you are clear and have room, complete the trim of the headsail.

Make sheeting in the headsail easier if you allow the boat to head up a bit. Once the headsail luffs, it will relieve tension. Sheet the headsail leech to within 1" to 2" of the leeward spreader. Next, find that fine, razor edge that puts you right on the wind. Fall off just enough to fill the mainsail. Steady on a new reference point (if necessary). Now your boat should accelerate like a young full-blooded stallion full of vim and vigor!

Learn how to sail like a pro when you become proficient in short handed maneuvers like tacking and jibing. You will become a more highly confident and skilled sailor--wherever in the world you choose to cruise.



Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6142356

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