Adventure Sailing - Glide Like a Pro

Mankind has always maintained a strong relation with the water, which explains, in part, the popularity of sailing yachts and other kinds of wind powered vessels. Travel by sail has a charm and a romance simply not present on motorized craft and consequently, sailing vacations to destinations around the world have become increasingly popular over the last few years.

What Is Adventure Sailing?

Sailing can be simplistically described as the technology that harnesses the power of the wind to travel across the surface of the water. From the 16th through the 19th centuries, the so called "Age of Sail," tall ships sporting yards of canvas on their masts traversed the world's oceans and were the engine by which the globe was opened up and explored by history's great adventurers.

Today modern vessels are powered by engines fed with oil and travel for commerce not adventure. The romance of the tall ships, however, remains undiminished and for those who long for the days when sailing for adventure could make a man's fortunes and garner him a few lines in the annals of history, specialty sailing vacations are the answer to their prayers. These trips can be booked with cruise lines that specialize in tall ships, they can be arranged through charter yacht services, or for the truly adventurous they can be undertaken in private vessels.

Adventure Sailing Equipment

Before booking any sailing vacation find out what will be required of you and see if the company with which you are traveling has a recommended equipment list. One of the most basic requirements on any sailing vessels is shoes that grip the deck and prevent slipping. Similarly, you will need clothing that will blunt the chilling effect of the wind which can be quite brisk even in the summer months.

Since most of your time will be spent outdoors on deck, don't forget the sun block. Even if you've never gotten sea sick in our life, take the remedies along anyway. The "feel" of a sailing ship is quite different from a luxury cruise ship. You will experience more rolling and pitching, especially if the sea is slightly rough, and it may take a bit for you to get your "sea legs." Over the counter sea sickness remedies suffice for most people.

If you are sailing on your own or with a friend, all modern sailing vessels are not equipped with instrumentation to measure wind the velocity, speed, direction, climactic conditions, and ocean depth. GPS units are also instrumental in navigation and have, for the most part, replaced the use of the compass. Communication is carried out by radio or satellite phone.

Continue to: Basic Adventure Cruise Sailing Techniques