Never a tip is harmful if taken from a professional. In the field of sailing where hobby meets adventure in the dangers beneath the sea, keep calm and learn more. Do you know why often bright fluorescent orange, yellow and similar colors are used for sailing equipment? Do you know that lifeboats are the most essential items onboard a vessel? In order to equip yourself with the why and how you need to read tips as and when you find the time. It might just be helpful before you head out for your next adventure.
The lessons in physics and geography in school are alright but practical knowledge and survival skills are something you cannot learn from books, illustrations, online videos, and manuals.
You cannot be sure to operate a boat just by reading the instructions. A captain is more than just someone who knows to sail the boat, turn it around and cover a distance. Have you wondered why some boats often tug along a secondary boat of the lifeboat when leaving for a sailing trip?
Small things like this make up the vast array of tips you can make use of. A little knowledge can save your day from turning into a big mistake.
The only tip you need
When it comes down to just one or two most important tips, whether you’re sailing in Italy, the Whitsundays or the Caribbean I’d say two: safety, happiness.
So, you have to make sure everything from the boat and crew are safe. And, everything from the boat and crew is happy. Being a skipper means to note down the above two things before you head into the seas. Try to make sure that the boat is safe, the sail trim is good and you are not running on faulty parts. Make sure always that you are on the right course, the wind is on your side and in right speed.
The manager of the cockpit is not an easy job. Any adventurous skipper can make mistakes under influence. It is a responsible job and you need to keep a lot of things in mind. The checklist is huge but with practice, you are going to get it right.
When it comes to safety, make sure that the life jackets are on everybody, the safety lines are firmly attached, and the crew is out of the way of the boom. These are cautionary safety measures and you must know to communicate with the right vocabulary with your crew and passengers. This is necessary for a pleasant trip even if it is for a couple of days.
When reefing down under sail?
This is perhaps the most taxing time for a new skipper. Your crew and yourself can be at a mess with orders and execution of the right task. It is always the awaited time when you can turn your boat into the wind to begin reefing.
Follow your drill properly and keep it at the tip of your tongue. It is best to do drills with your crew so that everyone is aware and confident of the protocol under the strong gusts of wind.