One of the keys to being able to enjoy sailing trips much more is to have basic notions of sailing. It is true that if you carry out an expedition with us you will not have the need to get at the helm, however, knowing more about how this type of boat works will help you live the trip more.
In addition to the basics of sailing, it is also a good idea to familiarize yourself with the anatomy and maneuvers of the sailboat. In this way, when you board the sailboat and start to hear terms such as bow or stern, you will surely have a much clearer idea of where to go or what area of the boat it refers to.
In this article we are going to focus a little on all this, to learn more about the sailboat. From here we recommend that, even if you do not become an expert in sailing, you do take these aspects into account so that your experience on board our sailboats is a much more complete experience.
Anatomy of a sailboat (main parts of the ship and basic instrumentation)
The first thing you should be clear about when getting on a sailboat is its anatomy. Getting to know the sailboat better will help you get better inside it and you won’t have to invest time in the expedition to familiarize yourself with it.
The main structure of the sailboat is the hull and it is the part that serves to keep the sailboat from sinking and stay afloat. Depending on the sailboat, the hull may be made of wood, metal, or fiberglass.
Above the hull is the deck. The deck is the upper part of the hull where you will find most of the boat’s facilities. When you go on an expedition with us, you will surely enjoy spending time on deck to enjoy the scenery and feeling the sea breeze on your face.
Another main element of sailboats is the mast. You will recognize the mast of the sailboat easily, as it is a high pole made of wood or aluminum that is responsible for supporting one of the main parts, the sails. It is difficult to understand a sailboat without its sails, since they are made of fabric and controlled by the ropes, and are responsible for propelling the boat. Hence the name sailboat.
One of the parts that is submerged and that you won’t be able to see with the naked eye is the keel. The keel is the structure that extends from the bottom of the hull and helps keep the sailboat stable so that it does not capsize.
Finally, the rudder. Like the steering wheel of the ship, the rudder is the blade used to steer the ship and set the course. The rudder is located at the rear of the boat.
The basic instrumentation may vary depending on the boat, as there are a large number of rigs that are carried on board to facilitate navigation and also improve the safety of the boat.
In this way, we find devices such as the Probe for measuring depth of the water, GPS to position the boat, the compass to determine direction, the VHF radio to communicate with other ships, and the shore or the Plotter, a fairly advanced GPS with which we can navigate to established points more easily.
Basics, Essential Maneuvers
When you go aboard a sailboat, you will surely hear a lot of basic concepts that, if you don’t know them, will surely go unnoticed. As for the direction of the wind, windward is understood as the direction from which the wind comes and leeward where the wind goes with respect to the situation of the boat. When it comes to a sailboat, knowing this terminology well is important.
Earlier we mentioned the stern, which would be the back of the boat or the bow, the front. As for the right side, this is called starboard while port is the left part of it when looking from the stern to the bow. In addition to terminology that refers to the parts of the boat, you may also hear the length, which is the length of the boat, or the beam, which is its width.
As far as essential manoeuvres are concerned, upwind is sailing against the wind and tacking when the sail is turned around to change direction. Gybe is changing tacks with the wind astern and docking and undocking refers to when we leave or return from sailing.
Finally, another important manoeuvre that you will surely perform during your sailing trips is anchoring. Anchoring consists of leaving the boat still in a specific place using the anchor.
Principles of Sailing
When sailing on a sailboat, the main component to take into account is the wind. Due to the importance of the wind in the propulsion of the sailboat, there are different types of navigation depending on the direction of the wind.
- Upwind sailing refers to when the wind enters in the direction of the tack, from the sides of the boat.
- Stern sailing when the wind enters from the stern, i.e. from the back of the sailboat.
- A port bulwark is when the wind enters from the left side of the boat.
- Tacked navigation to starboard when the wind enters from the right side of the boat.
- Cross-country navigation when the sailboat receives the wind from the side at a 90º angle.
- Quartering is a combination of upwind sailing and cross-country sailing.
- A long sailing is when the wind enters through the fin of the boat.
Security Basics
Being clear about the safety concepts of the boat is no less important than knowing the parts of it or knowing the main rules of navigation. On a sailboat you will come across safety equipment that can save your life in the event of an emergency.
This is not difficult safety equipment to use, as we are talking about a life jacket in case you fall into the water or a safety harness that is used when sailing in difficult weather conditions. These safety harnesses or lifelines are recommended when going out on deck and the boat is sailing through stormy waters. In addition to this, it is also important to have a first aid kit on board and communication equipment such as VHF radio.
Otherwise, it is important to check that the safety equipment is in good condition before going out to sea. It is also important to know the boat’s emergency procedures so that, in the event of an emergency, you follow them to the letter.
Main Rules of Sailing
Knowing the main rules of sailing will also help you better understand your trip. As far as the right of way is concerned, a motor boat must always give way to the sailing boat. In the event that two sailboats are crossing, the one with the wind on the port side will have priority over the one with the wind on the starboard side.
In the same way as with vehicles, sailboats also have light signals. Sailboats must display navigation lights at night to indicate their position and direction and, if they are anchoring, display the appropriate signal to recognize this maneuver in the distance. In the event of reduced visibility, fog signals may be used.
As for maneuvers, there are also some rules. When it comes to crossing a ship there is the rule of the right, a rule that states that ships approaching from opposite directions must pass to the right of each other. The four-course rule states that a ship changing course must do so gradually to avoid collisions.
Finally, it is important to always maintain a good vigilance. This will improve the safety of the sailboat and also that of other boats by preventing them from colliding with it.
