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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.
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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.
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Here are some articles to start with...
Pilothouse Sailboats
Good for heavy weather sailing, but not so good in hot climatesPilothouse sailboats have an inside steering position – this is the pilothouse. So why buy a pilothouse sailboat? A Read more...
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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...
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Choosing The Right Boat For You
By John Rodgers
If you’re a first time boat buyer the choice of boats available for purchase can be bewildering. How do you make sense of all the choices? Well, the first time boat buyer needs to avoid Read more...
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Pilothouse Sailboats
Good for heavy weather sailing, but not so good in hot climatesPilothouse sailboats have an inside steering position – this is the pilothouse. So why buy a pilothouse sailboat? A Read more...
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