Sailing Beginner Terms - Sails

In this article of sailing beginner, I am going to be discussing sailing terms associated with sails. In general there are three general types of sails known as the Mainsail, Jib, and the Spinnaker used for downwind sailing. The main sail is typically triangular in shape and the top of the sail is known as the head where the halyard rope is attached for raising it up on the mast. The bottom of the sail is known as the Foot. The Tack is where the sail is attached to the boom and is located on the bottom luff side of the mainsail or the side closest to the mast. The Clew is where the sail is attached to the boom and is located on the bottom leech side of the mainsail on the opposite end of the mast. As mentioned the Luff is on the mast side of the mainsail and runs the length of it. The Leech is the opposite side of the mainsail and runs the entire length from the bottom or the foot to the head or top of the sail. Although there are various kinds of sails, the mainsail is the workhorse of them all. It allows the sailing boat the ability to sail up or down wind. With that said, as a sailing beginner, you may want to use just the mainsail initially when tacking upwind. Otherwise it can be overwhelming to control two sails at once especially in high winds! The mainsail can also be reefed in high winds, which is nothing more than reducing the area of the sail. More about reefing in my next article. So in essence the mainsail is the most versatile of the three general types of sails because it can be used in all sailing applications, techniques, and adverse weather conditions. The next type of sail used is known as a Jib and this is what I have on my Renken pocket cruiser. Jibs are located in front of the mast, triangular in shape, and are the main source of propulsion when going upwind or sailing into the wind. The Genoa is similar to the jib, but overlaps the mainsail when in place, unlike the jib's leech side that remains in front of the mainsail. The Gennaker is a hybrid of both the genoa and a spinnaker that was developed in the 1990's and is used primarily for racing. Most common of the three are jibs and most likely as a sailing beginner, it's most likely the sail you will use of the available headsails. Also as a word of caution, please be careful using the jib when sailing in high winds, especially if you are sailing perpendicular to the wind. Just recently while sailing, I was deceived into thinking that the wind was not all that bad and raised my jib sail while sailing downwind. It was smooth sailing up to that point until I was forced to make a starboard turn because I had to navigate around a point of land on my port side. I steered my sailing vessel into a port jibe or gybe, and all of the sudden a gust of wind of over 15 knots hit me so hard that I was just short of taking in water on my port side. At this point, my adrenaline put me into high gear and I put as much of my weight on the starboard side almost sitting directly on the side of the boat, and was contemplating on jumping on the keel if I was able. It was either that or jump ship! In this case, I made the split decision to stay aboard. So with my hands white knuckled to the tiller pushed away from me, I was able to counteract the force of the wind and upright my boat. Mind you this is a 1,200 pound sailboat with a keel that weighs over 400 pounds! And I was single-handed sailing that day, but I was able with much difficulty to retrieve the jib while I had my Renken in irons while in the middle of the lake. The last most commonly used of the three general types of sails is the spinnaker. The Spinnaker also called the Kite or Chute is used for sailing downwind or when the wind is behind you. Much like a parachute, the spinnaker fills up with air and creates a maximum amount of lift, thus propelling the sailing boat forward while going downwind. Since a spinnaker can be twice the size of the mainsail, it takes more effort to raise and to retrieve it. I hope that this gives you a general idea of the sailing basics associated with sails. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7315151

Weymouth and Portland to host Open Handicap regatta

The host venue of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic sailing events is set to launch an annual event inspired by the Games. Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy's (WPNSA) Open Handicap regatta is set to take place during the August Bank Holiday weekend. It will combine coaching, fleet sailing and racing. The event will take place on the same stretch of water used during the 2012 Games, close to Nothe Fort. 'Lasting legacy' Three races, inclusive of all classes, will take place on both Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 August. Competitors will also have access to support from Olympic coaches on Friday 23 August. An all classes pursuit race, run under the RYA Portsmouth Yardstick scheme, will be held on the Bank Holiday Monday. John Tweed, chief executive of WPNSA which has developed the event with SailRacer, said: "There will be a WPNSA Regatta Cup awarded and the event will not be one-off, but be part of a programme to ensure there is a continuing and lasting legacy in Dorset and the United Kingdom." SailRacer will stream the event online to allow spectators to follow the live action. Chartered boats will also be provided by SailLaser, the onsite sailing school, to allow those who do not own boats to take part in the racing.

Sailing Club Spotlight North Lincs and Humberside Sailing Club

The honour recognises the club's growth over the past year, which has been North Lincs' first as a recognised OnBoard club. RYA Humber OnBoard Development Officer, Liz Wrigglesworth, said: "This is the first year the award has been presented in the Humber area. "I chose North Lincs & Humberside Sailing Club (NLHSC) to receive this award in recognition of all their great work in their first year as an OnBoard club." "Over the past year, the club has run over 400 first experience dinghy sailing and windsurfing sessions and recruited 17 new, regular young sailors. "Their regular youth training evenings have proven to be a big hit with local youngsters, as they learn to develop their sailing skills in a boat or on a board." She added: "North Lincs & Humberside Sailing Club are very worthy winners of this award and they should be proud of all they have achieved during 2012." In accepting the award, Vice Commodore Angelique Lansley, paid tribute to the club's volunteer instructors and helpers. "We are absolutely thrilled with the award and never expected to receive it in our first year as an RYA OnBoard club." she said. "We couldn't have done it without all the hard work from our very dedicated volunteer instructors and helpers. "We ran weekly windsurfing and dinghy sailing sessions for youngsters in the area, which were well attended as well as our 'Sportivate' project, which encouraged even more youngsters to give sailing a try. "Our sail week in the summer was also a tremendous success and having good coverage of the sailing events during the Olympics definitely inspired some to have a go! She added: "Next year is all about looking at what we learned this year, making some improvements, where we feel we can, and making sailing and windsurfing accessible to even more youngsters." Run by the RYA, OnBoard is a grass-roots programme which introduces sailing and windsurfing to young people aged eight to 18, through schools, youth groups and training centres. Over a ten year period, OnBoard aims to introduce a minimum of 500,000 children to sailing and windsurfing nationwide, converting around ten per cent of them into regular participants. For more information and advice on how to get involved in sailing, visit the Royal Yachting Assoction website at www.rya.org.uk or log on to the NLHSC's site at www.nlsail.co.uk.

Sailing the Rebel dinghy - a potential Olympic skiff 2016

Preparing for heavy sailing weather before it arrives!

Safety and preparation go hand-in-hand for heavy weather. Crew, topsides, and below decks need to be readied if you suspect a blow in the offing. Even if it never develops, you will have the peace-of-mind that you, your crew and small sailboat are well prepared for what may come your way. John Jamieson (Captain John) here offers some salient advice: Crew Safety ~ Take Care of Your Sailing Crew Why place sailing crew first? Your crew represents the most important element in successful sailing. Heavy weather sailing--in particular in cool or cold weather--can take a toll on crew. Take care of yourself and your crew first, whether there is only one or a full crew. Count on the fact that most sailing crew shy away from discussions of sea sickness, fatigue, aches and pains, etc. Take the lead and suggest that all crew begin sea sick medication, rest, and hydration at least 48 hours before a trip. This will help control sea sickness and fatigue. If sailing in cold weather, make sure that crew have adequate outerwear. Be alert for the first sign of hypothermia--shivering. Rotate watches at a more frequent interval to keep your crew rested and warm. If sailing in warmer weather, make hourly hydration your priority. Encourage your crew to drink water or one of the popular electrolyte replacement beverages (Emergen-C, Gatorade) to keep hydrated. Deck Topsides Safety ~ Clear, Lash, and Coil: Think of anything in the open of a sailboat as topsides. If you climb from the cabin to the cockpit, you are 'going topsides'. Clean decks make for safer sailing. Matter of fact, a quick study of sailboat racing disasters shows this one factor again and again. Those boats that had clean, clear decks sustained less damage, less injuries, and less rescues! Keep the bow and side decks free of debris or sailing gear and fenders. After each tack or reach or trim, insist that lines be coiled. This needn't be anything fancier than a simple stack of bights. Mainsheet and Genoa sheets need to be ready to run, free of kinks and snarls. Use extra lashings on liferaft canisters. Check the lashings on flaked headsails stopped off along the toerail or lifelines. Double check lifeline end points (cotters, rings, pelican hooks). Tape over pelican hook bales. Turn cowl vents around so that the open vent faces aft. This will keep the cowl from blowing out of the mount in gusts or waves that break aboard. Below Decks Safety ~ Lash and Stow Below Stuff lockers that you suspect have loose gear with towels, pieces of foam, or rags. These will keep small containers or silverware from rolling about. Double check that locker hasps, latches, and dogs are closed and anchored. Stow any loose gear with bungee cord or line to prevent 'missile hazards' (flying objects that can cause injury or damage when the boat takes an unexpected roll).

Extreme Sailing Series - 2012 highlights

winter sailing escapade

Scottish Challengers Review of 2012

Sailing Club Spotlight Salcombe Sailing Club

Sailing Club Spotlight Channel sailing Club

A sailing club has raised money to help train sea rescue volunteers. Channel Sailing Club presented £1,300 to the Solent Sea Rescue Organisation(SSRO) this week to support its work to stop people dying at sea. Members, who meet weekly at Epsom Sports Club, often go sailing in the Solent between the mainland and Isle of Wight. The club’s Commodore Diana Coman said: "Our members spend a lot of time sailing in the Solent, and if any of us get into difficulty, it is likely that one of the local rescue services will be called out. “We just wanted to support and important volunteer service." Over the past two years Channel Sailing Club has held raffles, cake sales and other events to raise money for its Commodore's Charity, which donated to SSRO.

Sailing Club Spotlight Porthpean Sailing club

THE 2012 season may have drawn to a close on one of the stormiest weekends in recent years, but Porthpean Sailing Club are already looking forward to next year's action – and you could be a part of it. There are fewer better sights than that of a fleet sailing across the coast line on a Sunday afternoon. But as pleasurable as it is watching from a distance, Porthpean is encouraging more sailors, with or without experience, to join this friendly, family club. Boasting around 80 members, from aged seven upwards, the club is hoping to attract more members before sailing starts again in March next year. In the meantime, the club hosts social evenings every Wednesday (from 7.30pm) from its clubhouse. Those interested in sailing are more than welcome to attend. The club's press officer, Chris Hazell, who regularly joins in on the sailing action, would like to see more people getting involved. He said: "Our objective is to raise awareness, and to encourage new members, both with and without their own boats. "We have people of all ages, anybody can give it a go, whether they've sailed before or not, it's really easy to get involved. "We'd especially like to hear from youngsters, at the base of the pyramid, and the future of the club." During the season the club hosts three races a week, regularly attracting more than 20 boats. The club class is now the tasar, an exciting, and very fast boat to sail. For those who wish to sail something different (including one or two Scorpions), there is a handicap fleet, where race times are adjusted to allow for the varying speeds of the different boats. The club has hosted National Championships, and has run 21 successful events, and one World Championships. This year the Tasar National Championships were held at Porthpean Sailing Club, with around 30 of the UK's best tasar crews in action. And as well as bringing the country's most talented sailors to the county, there are also the economic benefits. Hazell said: "When the Nationals take place we bring a lot of business to the county, which can only be a good thing." Next year, the club could well boast two world champions, when husband and wife tasar team Jeremy and Susan Hawkins compete in the World Championships in North America. Hazell said: "I really think they have a very good chance of winning, which would just be fantastic for the club." For more details on Porthpean Sailing Club visit their official website, www.porthpeansc.co.uk

Prout 45 catamaran

Bavaria Cruiser 36