| Sailing is a boating sport that many say is almost as | | | | sail is attached to and the smaller sails called headsails, |
| exciting as flying an airplane! When you sail a sailboat, | | | | which are in front of the mainmast. Small sailboats |
| you become close to nature and just like flying a small | | | | usually have only one headsail, called the jib. |
| plane, you experience a sense of freedom that is just | | | | The mainmast requires supports, which are called the |
| not the same as cruising in a powerboat or even | | | | standard rigging and the ropes or lines that are used to |
| driving a car. Your sailboat responds naturally to the | | | | manipulate the sails are called the running rigging. |
| waves of the ocean and the wind. You start to feel | | | | These are usually made from nylon. |
| as if your boat is a living part of the natural world | | | | The rules for sailing determine which boat has the right |
| around you! When you learn how to handle your | | | | of way under a variety of conditions. These rules are |
| sailboat yourself, the experience will become even | | | | needed, just as rules for your car on the road are |
| more satisfying and rewarding! | | | | needed, to avoid collisions when boats are sailing close |
| Sailboats were used by the Greeks and Egyptians | | | | together. When you start getting into sailing, your sailing |
| several thousand years before the birth of Christ. | | | | club or school will have all of the information you will |
| Over the following hundreds and hundreds of years, | | | | need about rules and sailing. The United State Coast |
| sailboats were used in war and for transportation and | | | | Guard also has information about the equipment you |
| exploring. Then in the 19th century, large pleasure | | | | need to have in order to sail which is required by law. |
| schooners were used for racing and cruising by both | | | | While you are just starting to learn to sail, you should |
| wealthy Americans and Europeans. Today, there are | | | | always be supervised by an experienced, qualified |
| many smaller sailboats that are available to regular | | | | sailor, either sailing with you or in a nearby boat. You |
| people with average incomes to enjoy. The sport is | | | | should also know how to swim. If you dont, then wear |
| not just for the wealthy anymore! Some of the smaller | | | | a life jacket at all times. On board you should always |
| sailboats are only 8 feet long. There are many | | | | have a pump, bucket, oars, horn and a compass. Also, |
| different types of sailboats such as catboats, sloops, | | | | there should be a life jacket for every person on |
| schooners and yawls. But basically they all have similar | | | | board and life preservers. Remember safety is of the |
| equipment. | | | | utmost importance when sailing on the ocean. |
| A sailboat uses large pieces of sails that are made of | | | | Sailing is a fun and wonderful sport. The more you |
| nylon or Dacron which are mildew, saltwater and | | | | learn about how to correctly handle and dock your |
| sun-resistant. Powerboats use motors to move them | | | | boat, are able to understand the weather on the |
| through the water, but sailboats use the wind. The | | | | ocean and can read the charts concerning the shoals |
| main parts of the sailboat are the principal sail, which is | | | | and channels in your home waters, the more exciting |
| the mainsail, the mainmast, which is the pole that the | | | | and rewarding the sport of sailing will become! |