Sailing is a boating sport that many say is almost as exciting as flying an airplane! When you sail a sailboat, you become close to nature and just like flying a small plane, you experience a sense of freedom that is just not the same as cruising in a powerboat or even driving a car. Your sailboat responds naturally to the waves of the ocean and the wind.

Sailboats were used by the Greeks and Egyptians several thousand years before the birth of Christ. Over the following hundreds and hundreds of years, sailboats were used in war and for transportation and exploring. Then in the 19th century, large pleasure schooners were used for racing and cruising by both wealthy Americans and Europeans. Today, there are many smaller sailboats that are available to regular people with average incomes to enjoy. The sport is not just for the wealthy anymore! Some of the smaller sailboats are only 8 feet long. There are many different types of sailboats such as catboats, sloops, schooners and yawls. But basically they all have similar equipment.

A sailboat uses large pieces of sails that are made of nylon or Dacron which are mildew, saltwater and sun-resistant. Powerboats use motors to move them through the water, but sailboats use the wind. The main parts of the sailboat are the principal sail, which is the mainsail, the mainmast, which is the pole that the sail is attached to and the smaller sails called headsails, which are in front of the mainmast. Small sailboats usually have only one headsail, called the jib.

The mainmast requires supports, which are called the standard rigging and the ropes or lines that are used to manipulate the sails are called the running rigging. These are usually made from nylon.

The rules for sailing determine which boat has the right of way under a variety of conditions. These rules are needed, just as rules for your car on the road are needed, to avoid collisions when boats are sailing close together. When you start getting into sailing, your sailing club or school will have all of the information you will need about rules and sailing. The United State Coast Guard also has information about the equipment you need to have in order to sail which is required by law.

While you are just starting to learn to sail, you should always be supervised by an experienced, qualified sailor, either sailing with you or in a nearby boat. You should also know how to swim. If you dont, then wear a life jacket at all times. On board you should always have a pump, bucket, oars, horn and a compass. Also, there should be a life jacket for every person on board and life preservers. Remember safety is of the utmost importance when sailing on the ocean.

One important tip would be to take a boating safety course. There are many courses available across the country for all types of recreational boaters, and for boaters of all ages.Taking one of these courses could mean the difference between a great day on the water with your friends and family, or a bad experience that you would not wish upon your worst enemy.

These courses will cover many aspects of boating safety, proper boat anchoring, safety equipment, boat handling skills, navigation, boating problems and emergencies, trailering, storing and protecting your boat, to reading the weather, and classes geared to courses for kids and younger boaters who want to learn boating and navigation skills.The most popular basic courses generally have from 6 to 13 lessons to provide a foundation of boat operational and safety instruction. Many boating classes will give you the knowledge needed to obtain a boat license or safety certification in many states. Many boat insurance companies will offer discounts on boating insurance to boaters who successfully complete boating safely course.

A safe boater will always have the appropriate nautical charts on board their vessel and will be familiar with their surroundings. The exact meaning of an aid to navigation may not be clear to the boater unless the appropriate marine chart is consulted. Also each boater should file a float plan with a friend or family member that outlines the days activities that are planned. This is helpful to provide the Coast Guard with a general area to search in case you are not back home in a reasonable timeframe.

It is also important to have an understanding of navigation, aids to navigation and the rules of the road. These simple, yet often overlooked basics lead to many unfortunate mishaps on the water. Aids to navigation are the road signs on the water and it is what controls how boats navigate and pass one another. Learning to understand them requires experience and practice. Protect yourself and your family, be better prepared the next time you go boating.