Boat Blunderer sailing a laser dinghy

Hobie Cat 18 - fast and fun

hobie cat sailing

Sailing

Sailing - Different Types of Sailboats

When you learn to sail, you will hear different sailboat terms like monohull or multihull. But just what does this sailing terminology mean? Follow this easy sailing guide to look at the different types of sailboats to help you decide on the best to fit your brand of sailing! Monohull Sailboats - Pros and Cons Pros: Mono means "one" of something, so in sailing, a monohull means a sailboat that has just one hull. Most sailors on the water sail on boats with a single hull. They are easy to sail, cheaper to purchase, simpler to rig, and take up less room when docking or turning. Most new sailors learn to sail on small monos called dinghies. Once they learn how to sail aboard a dinghy, sailors might move up to the larger cruising monohulls. These cruising sailboats heel over less than their dinghy cousins, have more room to move around, and might have a head (toilet and/or shower), galley (small kitchen), and inboard or outboard engine. Cruising sailboats with single hulls have made successful voyages across every ocean in the world. Cons Small monohull sailboats like dinghies heel over a lot. If they heel too much, they can flip over. Larger monohulls heel over too, but most of these will not flip over because they carry extra weight in a "keel" below the waterline. The keel helps to counter-balance a lot of the heeling. In breezy conditions, you will begin to heel a lot and the boat will become more difficult to hold on her sailing course. You will need to reduce sail--called "reefing"--when this happens to keep the boat balanced and easy to steer. Single-hull sailboats can have limited space for supplies like food, clothing, sailing gear, water, fuel. You will need supplies like this if you go cruising for the weekend or longer. The longer you stay out cruising, the more supplies you need. So, on a monohull sailboat, you need to be careful to be extra careful to load the supplies the correct way so that the boat stays "in trim" (in balance and level). Multihull Sailboats - Pros and Cons Pros: Multihull boats have more than one hull, attached by cross members. Catamarans have two hulls with a wide flat area or cabin space between. Trimarans have three hulls. Both boats give you a lot more living space for supplies and living aboard. Boats with multiple hulls tend to heel much less than monohulls because of their wide beam. This gives a much more comfortable ride in most calm to moderate sailing weather. Underway or at anchor, these boats give you more room for sleeping and offer more privacy for friends or guests that come aboard to cruise with you. Below the water, these boats have less depth--of "draft". That means you can poke into coves and shallow waterways where deeper draft boats could not go. And that opens up a whole new cruising world for you. Cats and Tris can skim across the blue green waters in the Bahamas and Caribbean to explore new areas that other boats could not. That's one reason these boats are so popular for island cruising. Cons: Multihulls cost more than monohulls because you are buying two hulls (or three in the case of a trimaran), instead of one hull. Overall maintenance costs can be higher because you have two hulls to take care of. Marinas may charge more for boats with multiple hulls. They take up more dock space than a single hulled boat. Multihulls need more care when sailing. Because they heel less than their monohull cousins, you need to be careful not to carry too much sail. This could cause the boat to become unstable and in extreme conditions, cause the boat to capsize. Reduce sail sooner than you think on windy days to keep the boat balanced and sailing at peak performance. At anchor, multihulls tend to sway back and forth because most of the boat lies above the surface of the water. Two or three hulls present a lot of surface for the wind to blow against. Rig an anchor bridle that looks like a "V" from pontoon to pontoon. Join the anchor line to the apex (point) of the "V". This will help the multihull behave in a windy anchorage. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6974541

Spotlight on Sailing Gear

Yacht racing and dinghy racing are popular participant sports in the waters around Great Britain. Sailing sports, such as these require special sailing clothes. There are many companies that specialize in producing high quality sailing clothing, like sailing jackets and trousers, as well as footwear and accessories meant specifically for sailors. Modern sailing clothes are generally made of synthetic materials, which are waterproof. Modern sailing jackets are engineered to provide protection from the elements, along with a high factor of comfort. Being the outer layer, the jackets must be waterproof, and they must be able to protect against the winds that are present over open waters. This protection, however, must be done with minimal loss in comfort. The sailing jackets, therefore, are designed and manufactured with a degree of breathability so the sailor does not feel stifled. Anoraks and parkas are also convenient for mariners, especially in colder weather. Sailing trousers are tailored for comfort and durability. Deck work on yachts and dinghies can be hard on these trousers, so they are often compiled of durable fabrics, such as nylon. There are also many brands of sailing trousers that are designed to dry quickly, so that the sailor wearing them is not burdened down by soaked clothing or chilled by the cold waters that may wash onto the deck. Sailing trousers are necessary accoutrements for those participating as yachtsmen and as dinghy racers. Specially designed jumpers and smocks are also important articles of clothing for sailors. Like the outer layer of sailing clothing, jumpers and smocks must also be breathable and comfortable, while maintaining a level of insulation against the outer air. A polyester layer of clothing is also helpful to be worn near the skin to wick perspiration from the body out through the other layers of clothing. Sailing accessories and footwear are also beneficial additions to a sailing outfit. There are multiple varieties of footwear used by sailors that include deck shoes, sailing and dinghy boots, deck trainers, and sandals. As with other articles of sailing clothes, the sailing footwear must be proficient at keeping the sailor's feet dry so that blisters and discomfort can be avoided. Accessories that are useful to yachtsmen and dinghy racers are sunglasses, gloves, and hats. Polarised sunglasses and hats are extremely important for sailors on sunny days, because the sun reflects off of the surface of the water, so it is possible that the eyes will receive damaging UV rays from the sun itself and its reflection across the water, while gloves protect the hands when working with lines on the deck of the vessel. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6865580

Lazer sailing big air and waves

Tornado Sailing Action

Moth Sailing

Sailability Scotland in the Round Shuna Pursuit

Sailability Scotland’s challenger fleet, including Paul Noble will, will be joining the Round Shuna Pursuit race on 26th August 2012. Clyde Corinthian Yacht Club has kindly allowed them to take part in their well-established event to help raise funds for Sailability Scotland. This is the first time that they have entered such an event to raise funds but they’re keen to step up to the challenge. They will be joining roughly another 50 boats who will also be taking part. The race will be taking place at Craobh Haven and will cover a distance of around 10 nautical miles. Support is already gathering for the challenge as Mark Hampton, Principle at Craobh Haven Watersports, will be allowing the Sailability Scotland sailors to use his facilities free of charge. Sailability Scotland tries to help people with all levels of disabilities to get on the water and enjoy sailing but is looking for people to sponsor Paul Noble and his fellow sailors to help increase opportunities on offer to disabled sailors and to increase the numbers getting out on the water on a regular basis. The Challenger sailors do have their own traveller series with venues for 2012 including Strathclyde Park, Helensburgh, Loch Venachar, Bardowie Loch and Lochaber Yacht Club. They also organise a number of sailing experience days at various venues to increase participation numbers. Despite all the activity they run, Paul is still very much aware that the Shuna Pursuit will be a real challenge to him and the rest of the fleet but is motivated by the impact it could have on their resources and programme. If you are interested in finding our more about this challenge or would like to sponsor those taking part then please get in touch via email: sailability.scotland@tiscali.co.uk

Sailing Club Spotlight Stone Sailing Club

RS Feva sailing 20-35 Knots

2012 British Sailing Team - London 2012