Of course, it is only when you hoist the sails that a sailboat comes into its own. The wind fills the sails and you start to move forward. If you have just switched off your auxiliary engine, the lack of noise is a relief. The sails tauten, and the sailboat heels over.

Then, you need to adjust the sails, and set your course. In a sailing dinghy, you will need to lean out to counteract the force on the sails – and on some you go up on the 'trapeze.' I know many people who love these boats, but I prefer a larger boat with a keel. Here's a nice little mini-cruiser sailboat.

A sailboat that is sea-kindly, but which can move across the sea whatever the weather, but still show a turn of speed in fairly light airs. Such is my boat Zefka, a 33-foot sailboat.

To me, sailboats are for cruising the seas, although I have yet to sail across one of the main oceans of the world. I understand that many people get pleasure from sailing different sailboats in different ways racing, pottering or cruising– that is the wonderful world of sailboats, which we explore here.