In this training video you will learn about your sailing environment, safety afloat and
basic rules.
You will learn what to look for as a sailing area, what conditions and areas to avoid,
and how to gather weather and tide information.
You will see what clothing to wear, as well as how to be towed by a safety boat.
We’ll also give you simple rules explanations.
You’ll see graphical representations of simple situations and we’ll explain which
is the give way vessel.
Firstly, always wear a buoyancy aid or lifejacket if you are either on or near the water, and
you should never sail alone.
You must understand your ability level and respect the elements.
Do not sail if the wind is strong until you have learned the basics on fair weather days.
There is a recognized wind measurement scale.
This is called the beaufort scale.
The blocks in the middle indicate the wind force strengths.
You should limit your sailing to winds up to force 3 or 4.
As your experience grows you’ll be able to cope with stronger winds.
These flag shots indicate fair weather winds, and the water looks like this.
This is an ideal wind condition to learn in.
This flag indicates very rough weather, you can see the flag is flapping violently, and
this is what the water looked like on the same day.
If faced with this situation you must not go afloat.
Do not sail in a thunderstorm, the mast is an excellent lightening conductor.
If one arrives when you’re afloat you must return to shore.
Before you go afloat you must obtain a good weather forecast for your area, and if on
the sea the times of the next high water.
Information on both of these points is generally available on line, in local media, or even
on a mobile phone application.
Tide times are important to understand.
The direction and speed the current flows varies depending on the time of high water,
and can exceed your boat speed sweeping you out to sea if the wind drops.
Tidal currents get particularly strong at harbour entrances and headlands, so avoid
sailing in these areas.
We assume that your boat is in a seaworthy condition and watertight.
If you are in doubt you must get the boat checked by a professional.
It’s a good idea to carry a paddle on board which you can use if the wind drops, a long
piece of rope to be used if you need to be towed.
You should carry a sponge and a bailer, and a small anchor like this is a good idea as
it will help to hold the boat in position if the wind drops.
Make sure that any loose items are tied on so that you don’t lose them if you capsize.
Your boat should have at least two buoyancy tanks to keep you afloat.
They are designed that should one become holed the boat will still float.
The buoyancy tanks form the main body of the hull that you sit on, with an additional tank
at the bow of the boat.
Drainage holes are fitted at the back of the boat to allow you to drain any water that
may collect in the buoyancy tanks while sailing.
These holes are secured with bungs, which must be fitted before you go afloat.
The boat won’t sink if you don’t fit the bungs, but it will fill with water and be
very difficult to steer if you don’t.
You should never sail alone, only sail in an area where somebody could come and assist
you in the event of you getting into difficulties.
A deserted and quiet beach may look an inviting area to learn in peace and quiet, but there
is probably a good reason as to why no other boats are there.
Strong tides and currents may exist, hazardous shipping may operate, unexposed rocks and
sandbanks may also be a problem.
You must choose a location where other boats are sailing.
Sailing clubs are the perfect choice.