Sailing for Beginners

An entrepreneur in the field of chartered flight, Justin Demming has owned Patriot Air in Wadsworth, Ohio, for the past three years. When he isn’t working, Justin Demming is an avid outdoor sportsman who counts sailing among his favorite hobbies.

Many people are intimidated by sailing, assuming that it requires extended periods of initial training before one can take to the water. However, a competent sailing instructor can teach newcomers the basics of the sport in an afternoon, and plenty of good sailing schools offer beginners' courses that last just a couple of days. 

According to the independent resource Discover Boating, novice sailors must master three essential skills in order to safely take a boat out on the water. First of all, they must be able to determine the direction of the wind, using devices such as wind vanes or fabric “telltales” tied into the rigging as necessary. Of secondary importance is the development of the ability to steer the sailboat accurately, a skill which is relatively easy to learn yet critical before tackling the third essential skill. 

This final skill is knowing how to properly trim (adjust) a sail. In short, while traveling in a straight line, the sailor should let out the sheet (the line that controls the sail) until the luff (the edge of the sail) flutters slightly. Then, the sailor should pull the sheet back in until the moment that fluttering stops. Experienced sailors will re-trim the sail whenever they change direction.