Sailboats and Yachts

Sailboats are fun!

Whether you have a small dinghy, a dayboat, a racer or a cruiser, sailboats are fun. You can have fun with a sailboat without getting on the water just by tinkering with it.

But for me sailboats are for sailing – from one place to another, either along the coast, up an estuary, or across oceans. Many people get their fun racing sailboats, either 'around the cans' or across the seas. Some even race sailboats round the world, which is an epic voyage - as Ellen MacArthur did in the B&Q, beating the record.

Once you step onto a sailboat you are in a different world. It gives slightly under your weight – a lot if it is a small boat – and from then on there is the constant movement as the current, waves and wind move the boat about. The movement is all part of the joy of sailboats.

 

Around-the-world-record breaker

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.

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.

Here are some articles to start with...

sailboats articles:
Mini-Cruiser Sailboats
Do you love sailing, and want to cruise – but on a small budget. If so, a mini-cruiser sailboat could be for you. These boats are inexpensive, easy to handle, can be kept at home and trailed Read more...
Small Sailboats
By John Hartley
Small sailboats are from about 10 to 18 feet in length (3 to 6 metres). Small sailboats are often called sailing dinghies, because almost all have open cockpits without any cabins. Small Read more...
Catamaran Sailboats
Catamarans are among the fastest sailboats, specially the larger ones. A catamaran has twin hulls, but as these are very narrow compared with a monohull sailboat, they slice through the Read more...
Balboa Sailboats
Balboa sailboats are great little cruisers – mini-cruisers. There was a range of models from 20 to 28 feet, and all were designed for use with outboards, from 4 to 20 hp, depending the size of Read more...
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Rolex GMT Master, Explorer, & Yacht-Master Watches Now Available at Melrose Diamonds
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