{"id":500158,"date":"2018-02-05t09:41:17","date_gmt":"2018-02-05t14:41:17","guid":{"rendered":"\/\/www.digitopmedia.com\/?p=500158"},"modified":"2023-01-20t03:41:38","modified_gmt":"2023-01-20t08:41:38","slug":"sailboating-safety-guide-beginning-boaters","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"\/\/www.digitopmedia.com\/sailboating-safety-guide-beginning-boaters\/","title":{"rendered":"sailboating safety and health | a beginning guide"},"content":{"rendered":"
sailing. the word conjures up images of sparkling water, blue skies, and sunshine. christopher cross immortalized this popular activity in his 1980 song \u201csailing\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cwell, it’s not far down to paradise, at least it’s not for me. if the wind is right you can sail away and find tranquility. oh, the canvas can do miracles, just you wait and see. believe me.\u201d<\/p>\n
those are some big claims- so we pulled anchor and sailed windward into the topic.<\/p>\n
check out our beginner\u2019s sailing starting guide with safety tips (on not tipping), sailing terms, types of sailboats and more.<\/p>\n
all hands on deck, and read on to learn the ropes.<\/p>\n
yes, that\u2019s right- sailing is good for what ails you. according to the world of sailing<\/em>,<\/a> there are numerous health benefits of sailing. here are a few of them:<\/p>\n sailing entails a lot of hoisting and lowering of heavy canvas sails to move the vessel. this tones and builds muscle in the shoulders and back. add this fitness routine with proper diet and there’s a greater chance of weight loss.<\/p>\n sailing incorporates most muscle groups. when coupled with a healthy diet consisting of whole foods, sailing is a unique opportunity to enhance weight loss goals, according to mysailing.<\/p>\n routine physical activity decreases the risk of cardiovascular issues, and sailing is no exception. regularly \u2018sailing the seas\u2019 may assist with weight loss and control obesity. this lowers the chances of cardiovascular issues.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n being near the water makes us happy. we instinctively know this, and research agrees. a 2012 study published in health & place<\/em><\/a> found this: \u201cproximity to the coast was positively associated with good health, with a small, but significant increase in the percentage of people reporting good health among populations residing closer to the sea.\u201d<\/p>\n being near the water can:<\/p>\n pulling lines, hoisting sails, and other sailing tasks require the entire body to participate. these activities keep the body adaptable and agile. increased flexibility is essential to any weight loss plan. with increased flexibility, there’s a chance you’ll recover faster. add in a healthy diet to your weight loss plan and you’ll never leave the water.<\/p>\n \u201cshipshape\u201d<\/a> is a term that comes directly from sailing, and reflects the needs for everything to be neat, well cared for, and stored in its proper place. the need to be well organized on deck can transfer these good habits to daily life. many often find a renewed sense of organization and orderliness after taking up sailing.<\/p>\n ten\u00a0health benefits of sailing<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n sounds good, right? the next daunting question is, \u201chow do i get started with sailing?\u201d according to boating lifestyle<\/em>, sailing isn\u2019t as difficult as you might think.<\/p>\n most people begin sailing following just a few days of instruction. finding a class on the basics of sailing isn\u2019t challenging; anywhere there is water close by there will be classes. the america sailing association<\/strong> (asa) even offers a free online sailing course for beginners.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n becoming an expert sailor takes years, and there is always something to learn. but getting on the water in your sailboat, after some good instruction, is the best way to grow those new-found sailing skills.<\/p>\n the three most basic skills that beginners need to learn are:<\/p>\n sailing seems quite intimidating to a total landlubber, but in fact, there are surprisingly few sailing accidents and issues when approached with common sense.<\/p>\n statistics show that for every 100,000 people, five will die in a boating accident, vs. 11 who will die in an automobile accident.<\/p>\n additionally, most boating accidents involve:<\/p>\n let\u2019s take a closer look at some of the safety concerns of beginning sailors:<\/p>\n sailboats are very difficult to \u201ccapsize\u201d, which is the dreaded tipping over. sailboats are designed and built to resist capsizing. in fact, a sailboat\u2019s mast must be 30 degrees under water for it to give up trying to right itself. that would need to be a heck of a storm.<\/p>\n pirating is a genuine fear amongst boaters- and for good reason. in 2010 there were a whopping 688 piracy events. maritime piracy laws have changed and gotten much tougher, and the incidence of piracy dropped by almost half that number by 2015.<\/p>\n what happens if someone falls off the boat? well, it seems that this is way less common than you may fear. however, being hit by the boom or slipping off the deck in rough waters can happen.<\/p>\n life vests are quite advanced now, with many styles that inflate automatically when they hit the water. these lightweight, technologically advanced vests make overboard events much less dramatic. the main points concerning life vests is having them onboard, and then actually wearing them.<\/p>\n don\u2019t forget life vests for the 4-legged fam, too. dogs and cats are not natural swimmers, especially when frightened or injured.<\/p>\n the thought of becoming a part of a sharks diet is totally revolting. however, even counting shark \u201chot spots\u201d, there are only an average of 5 shark attack fatalities each year.<\/p>\n according to tracking sharks<\/em><\/a>, \u201cthe majority of shark bites are clustered on the eastern coast of florida. this is due to rough surf which creates limited visibility for the sharks. of course with surf comes surfers. more people in the water leads to the possibility of more negative interactions.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n in 2017, tracking sharks<\/em><\/a> recorded nine fatal shark attacks. we are far more likely to die in a car wreck than to get eaten by a shark. if this still doesn\u2019t quell your fears, here are a few shark attack prevention tips:<\/p>\n sharks are not as safe as humans are, though. humans kill about 100 million sharks every year, according to national geographic.<\/p>\n navigation systems on modern boats, and maritime charts are pretty advanced these days. additionally, navigation skills are taught in all beginner boating safety classes. finally, there are several excellent apps for navigation. staying found is easy, it seems.<\/p>\n ok, you have taken the classes, decided that sailing is for you, and now on to the big step: buying the boat. what sailboat is the best bet for beginners?<\/p>\n according to the american sailing association<\/em> (asa),<\/a> a smaller, more responsive boat makes sailing easier to learn. the asa\u2019s beginner courses are taught using 22-foot sailboats. these boats are bigger than a dingy, but still a manageable size for feeling how the wind and water affect the sailboat.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n discover boating<\/em><\/a>, however, warns against buying a boat that your family will outgrow too quickly. a 22\u2019 to 27\u2019 smaller keelboat is safe, roomy and decently priced. it is less likely to capsize than a smaller boat as well. there is room for guests and gear, and a \u2018head\u2019 (bathroom) and small kitchen is often included as well.<\/p>\n even so, over time you may want more speed and space than your first sailboat can provide. with this in mind, it is great to research what sort of smaller boats sell well in your area. this way, when you are ready to move up, there will be plenty of interest in your sailboat, making it easier to sell. here are some additional resources on buying a sailboat:<\/p>\n like any new skill, knowing the lingo is half the battle in navigating the learning curve. knowing basic boating vocabulary prior to taking boating classes will make learning easier. here are some terms you should know before your first launch in that new sailboat, reported on discoverboating<\/a>:<\/p>\n want more? check these out:<\/p>\n being a good and safe sailor means having the proper gear on board. here is a good list of necessary gear for crew and vessel:<\/p>\n this list is for a 30\u2019 keelboat:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n a handy chart supplied by boatsafe.com<\/a> outlines all the minimum items required by the uscg for recreational boats. the requirements differ by the size of the boat. some states require additional items, and boaters should be sure to check out state boating laws as well.<\/p>\n many people think that owning a boat of any kind is an expensive undertaking. however, if you can afford another car, you can probably afford a boat.<\/p>\n the boating market is chock full of used, older sailboats that are in perfectly good condition for a landlubber wanting to convert to a sailor. fiberglass never wears out, so with lots of new boats flooding the marketplace, used boats offer lots of choices at reasonable prices.<\/p>\n of course, the cost of your sailboat will be determined by both the size and the age of the boat. beginning sailors who plan to purchase a 22\u2019 keelboat can get a good quality used sailboat for around 10k- about as much as you might expect to pay for a decent used car.<\/p>\n there are plenty of websites dedicated to used and new boat sales. you can browse the costs online, and decide which boat best matches your budget. check out these websites:<\/p>\nmuscle strength and increased physical endurance<\/h3>\n
weight loss<\/h3>\n
cardiovascular health<\/h3>\n
mental well being<\/h3>\n
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enhanced flexibility<\/h3>\n
organizational skills<\/h3>\n
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how to get started with sailing<\/h2>\n
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is sailing safe?<\/h2>\n
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capsizing<\/h3>\n
aaaaarrrggg! what about pirates, matey?<\/h3>\n
person (or pet) overboard!<\/h3>\n
sharks<\/h3>\n
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for more on sailboating safety, visit these sailboating sites:<\/h3>\n
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getting lost<\/h3>\n
what sailboat to buy?<\/h2>\n
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basic sailing terms<\/h2>\n
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what to bring when sailing<\/h2>\n
for the crew<\/h3>\n
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for the vessel<\/h3>\n
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is sailing affordable?<\/h2>\n
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how much does a sailboat cost?<\/h2>\n
cost to purchase<\/h3>\n
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