Sailing For Dummies
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Sailing can provide adventure, relaxation, recreation, and just good old fun. To enjoy yourself on a sailboat, you need to know the basic sailing maneuvers, sail positions, and rules of the waterway for when you encounter other vessels. And, it pays to know what to bring aboard and what to leave on shore.

How to jibe and tack when sailing

You need to know the two basic sailing maneuvers — jibing and tacking — whether you’re sailing the open seas or an enclosed lake. (Jibing and tacking take you away from or into the wind.) The following instructions and illustrations give you step-by-step procedures to accomplish both.

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Sail positions and their names

When you’re sailing, you use specific terms to describe the position of the sail — along with calling the left side of the boat port and the right side starboard. Check the following figure for the terms that indicate different sail positions.

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Basic traffic rules of the waterway for sailboats

Traffic rules prevent accidents on land — and on water. Just because you’re sailing on open water doesn’t mean you can disobey simple traffic rules. The rules of the water actually call for more consideration than rules of the asphalt, so bear the following conventions in mind as you sail:

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What to bring when you sail

A good sailor always has the right tools and equipment on board. Whether you’re sailing around for just half an hour or spending the day on the water, use the following checklists to make sure you’re prepared for any eventuality. (Remember what happened to Gilligan and friends on their three-hour tour!)

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About This Article

This article is from the book:

About the book authors:

JJ Fetter is a two-time Olympic medalist (1992 & 2000) and multiple world and national champion in sailing. She has been inducted into the National Sailing Hall of Fame and is a four-time U.S. Sailing Yachtswoman of the Year.

Peter Isler is a world-renowned sailor, sports commentator, and writer. He has sailed and won races all over the world and continues to enjoy sharing his knowledge of this diverse sport.

JJ Isler won Olympic sailing medals in Sydney and Barcelona.

Peter Isler is a writer, TV broadcaster, and sailor who won the America’s Cup twice as navigator aboard Dennis Conner’s Stars & Stripes.

JJ Fetter is a two-time Olympic medalist (1992 & 2000) and multiple world and national champion in sailing. She has been inducted into the National Sailing Hall of Fame and is a four-time U.S. Sailing Yachtswoman of the Year.

Peter Isler is a world-renowned sailor, sports commentator, and writer. He has sailed and won races all over the world and continues to enjoy sharing his knowledge of this diverse sport.

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