Sailing Myths: Debunked
Since first hitting the water a year or so ago, I have begun
to develop a real taste for sailing. Though apprehensive initially, over the
last few voyages I have realised that many of my qualms about seafaring were unfounded.
I’ve now been out to sea several times and really enjoyed every minute of each
trip. So, in the hope of reassuring other potential boat lovers, here are some of
the misgivings I had about sailing that turned out to have no basis in reality:
You have to be rich
There is a commonly held idea that you must possess the
wealth of a Russian oligarch to own or even step on a boat that isn’t the ferry
from Portsmouth to the Isle of Wight. Whilst it’s true that luxury yachts are
out of most people’s financial reach, sailing as a hobby is not. A small second
hand boat can cost as little as an iPad and annual membership to many sailing
clubs the same as an overnight stay in a hotel. Additionally, there are always captains
seeking crew to work, or just help out on their boats. For many of these
you won’t need any experience just a bit of enthusiasm, making it a great way
to learn about sailing and meet new people affordably.
You get cold and wet
When you think about sailing, the image of a bedraggled seafarer
battling the elements may well be what comes to mind. Although I can’t promise
that you won’t get splashed, there’s no reason with the right clothing, that this
should be the reality. There are plenty of technical clothing brands like Musto where you can find
garments that have moisture wicking base layers and warm inner linings. When
you’re appropriately dressed, and protected from the wind and rain, it can be a
seriously exhilarating experience sailing in stormy waters.
It's not for girls
Speaking to some of my female friends, a few of them have inferred
that sailing is more of a lad’s activity like football or binge drinking pints
of beer down the pub, than something women would enjoy or do well at. This
couldn’t be further than the truth - yes
guys make great deckhands, but there are also plenty of exceptional female sailors
who are just as talented if not more so than their male peers. Although there aren’t
as many women sailors as there are guys, ladies are just as likely to enjoy
and excel at this awesome sport.
You must be young
There are many teenage sailors breaking records and simultaneously
putting the older population off ever stepping foot on a boat. Don’t let them
do this, anyone of any age can enjoy sailing. Of course, if you are younger you
will learn and adapt more quickly, but this is the same as almost any activity.
There are plenty of over-50
sailing clubs which are testament to the fact that there are older people
out there doing it and if you want to, you should be too.
As a newbie, I had a lot of misgivings about going out to
sea, but luckily, I have some good friends who essentially forced
me onto a boat. I am now an avid fan of sailing and am keen to assuage the
fears of others who may not have the pushy companions that I am mostly grateful
to call my mates. If you feel like you may have a kindred spirit in Christopher
Columbus or just have an inkling that you’d enjoy the open sea, give sailing a
go and you may be pleasantly surprised.
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