Sailing is a relaxing and thrilling hobby. Sailing has been prevalent from as early as 3000 BC. Explorers from different countries like China, Egypt, India, Europe, and Arabia sailed across the world. Early on, sailors went on small expeditions.
Sailing and Ocean Cruising as an Adventurous Sport and Hobby – A Brief History
New York (USA), September 02, 2017
Sailing is an adventurous sport. It is also a relaxing and thrilling hobby. The sound of seabirds, gentle flapping of sails, and water hitting across the hulls make your sailing experience a memorable one.
Sailing and cruising on the ocean in a medium size yacht is extremely exciting. It offers immense fast-paced action on the seas powered by the wind alone. It is easy to pick up the basics of sailing a medium sized yacht on the sea. Sailing schools teach all essential skills and techniques to become an efficient sailor.
Sailing has been prevalent from as early as 3000 BC. Explorers from different countries like China, Egypt, India, Europe, and Arabia sailed across the world. Early on, sailors went on small expeditions. Wind and muscle power were the major sources of energy to cover long distances on the sea. Primitive man made the small sailing boats using wood from trees. Small cloth pieces were used on top of these boats to sail on seas and oceans.
The earliest civilizations developed along the Mediterranean coast. These civilizations were very interested in navigation and associated disciplines. European nations favored square-sail rigs in their sailing vessels. Arabs used triangular sails. These were more efficient and flexible than the square-shaped European sails. Chinese sailboats were very different. The sail masts were short and based on long bamboo battens. The majority of seafaring nations of that time used similar patterns and materials to build their sailing boats.
Things started changing from the time of the Industrial Revolution. The British Empire spanned across the globe. Distances became longer. There was greater availability of newer materials for building sailing boats. New and innovative designs and developments took place. With major improvements in sail designs, rigging, masts, and other associated navigational equipments, sailing expeditions were extended for longer periods.
As early as the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, sailing was indulged in as a pleasure pastime. It gained greater popularity as a recreational sport than for exploration, transportation, or warfare. In the Netherlands and Europe, flourishing merchants took to sailing as an exciting hobby and a popular means of entertainment. Sailors used small and light sailboats called ‘Jaght’. These small boats were easily navigable. The present-day word ‘Yacht’ has been derived from ‘Jaght’.
In 1660, King Charles I was the first to receive a Dutch yacht as a gift. This prompted the English to build more yachts in similar design. Soon the royal family had two more yachts and they indulged in pleasure racing on their yachts across the seas. The first yacht club, ‘The Water Club of Cork’, was founded in Ireland in 1720. Within the next few centuries, many yacht clubs came into being like ‘The Royal Yacht Club’, ‘The Royal Yacht Squadron’, ‘The Royal Thames Yacht Club’, and others.
Cruising across the oceans in small yachts developed as early as the nineteenth century. In those days, only professional crews could run the large ships. Such ships left harbor only under good conditions. This led to development of small sailing yachts. Such cruising on oceans was for pleasure only.
British sailor Richard Tyrrell McMullen is among the pioneers in modern day cruising. He sailed thousands of miles around British Isles in the later part of the nineteenth century. Other similar cruisers include American Joshua Slocum and London barrister John Macgregor. British couple Eric and Susan Hiscock completed three circumnavigations in different yachts between 1952 and 1976.
Before setting to sail, a little self-education can make your sailing or ocean cruising experience on a medium sized yacht enjoyable. A sailboat or yacht cruises across the water with the help of wind. It should blow across the curved surface of the sails to push your boat forward. The sail redirects the flow of air through wind towards the back of your boat. This creates a lifting force that pushes your boat forward. The curved surface of your sail plays an important role in generating greater force. When wind hits across the sail, it splits and sends back air. This lashes across the leeward or top part of the sail and windward or bottom part of the sail. Both help lift the boat to sail smoothly on the waters.
Wind strength and the point of sail are two major determining factors for the amount of force generated to push ahead your sailboat. Forward and sideways forces are essential. You should maximize forward force and minimize sideways force to ensure a smooth sail. Both forces work together and you can understand the underlying mechanism as you set sail. If the wind is very strong, sails should be flat shaped to restrict wind force.
Guide to Sailing and Ocean Cruising in a Medium Sized Yacht
The Complete Reference Guide to Sailing and Ocean Cruising in a Medium Sized Yacht