Sailing is a recreational activity that involves controlling a sea vessel with the use of fabric foils called sails. It requires extensive knowledge and experience regarding sea conditions as well as wind behavior. Knowledge about the workings of the sea vessel being controlled is imperative as well.
The sea vessel used in sailing is called a sailboat. In order to control the sailboat, the sailor uses different settings for the sails including changing the settings for the masts and the yards of the sailboat. This part is called the “rigging” of the sailboat. The rigging is the part of the sailboat that is used to propel or move the sailboat in a forward motion. Other components of the rigging of a sailboat include the actual sails and the cordage.
The “rudder” meanwhile, is the part of the sailboat that is used to steer the vessel. There are two types of rudders used on sailboats: Outboard rudders and Inboard rudders. The outboard rudders are rudders that are suspended from the transom or stern. The inboard rudders on the other hand, are rudders that are suspended from a keel. This means that inboard rudders are fully under the water and under the hull while outboard rudders are not. The inboard rudders are controlled using a steering mechanism that is connected to the rudder via a rudder post.
Recreational sailing is also sometimes referred to as yachting. Sailing for recreational purposes is divided into two main categories. The first one is sailboat racing and the second one is sailboat cruising. Sailboat cruising includes extended sailboat trips that cover several weeks or even months, shorter trips where the sailboat remains constantly within sight of land, and simple day sailing.
In sailing, one of the most important aspects is maintaining the sailboat “in trim”. This is the aspect which deals with controlling the sail of the boat: the most fundamental part of which is positioning the sail in the right angle in relation to the wind. The line of control that is used to do this is called the “sheet”. The sheet should always be kept at the right tightness. If it is left too loose, the sail would just flap with the gust of the wind. This situation is called “luffing” in sailing terminology. The best angle for the sail on a sailboat is best determined by pulling on the sheet the right amount just until the luffing of the sail is placed under control.
On most sailboats, 2 or more sails are used in order to optimize and to smoothen the air flow in the sails. Each sail is carefully adjusted so as to produce a smooth and even streamline flow of air over the surfaces of the sails. This smooth streamline or laminar flow of the wind on the sails is referred to as the “slot effect”. With this slot effect, the sails combine to form an imaginary outline that increases the efficiency of the sails. With this combined efficiency, the sails are able to give the sailboat a far more powerful push than they otherwise would if they were used individually or in a different combination.
