A Sailors Guide To Sailboats
A Sailors Guide To Sailboats
Yes, we all love sailing. However, how many of you actually know a great deal about sailboats? No, I am not talking about the engineering principles behind the sailboats. But it is better if you have enough knowledge about each type of boat so that you can divulge into the type of sailing that you like the most. There are yachts, skiffs and catamarans to choose from. Depending on the function of the boat, there are three main types of sailboats available today. They are day sailing boats, cruising boats and racing boats.
Day Sailing Boats
You can do everything with say sailing boats. Right from enjoying a calm day on a lake to having an activity-filled thrilling day on a river. There are boats of all kinds of shapes and sizes in day time sailboats. However, as their name suggests, these boats are designed primarily for daytime use. There are no facilities for nighttime or overnight accommodation in these boats. So all you can do is enjoy a day and then you have to make sure that you are back in time. The chief types of day sailing boats include dinghies, catamarans, windsurfers etc.
Cruising Boats
However, spending a weekend out on the sea is the ultimate experience that many people dream about. But you can never do that without proper accommodation and amenities. Well, a boat that has facilities for all these is called a cruising boat. Cruising boats are available in a variety of sizes but are usually can be operated by just two people. Cruising boats have all the amenities like a kitchen, a dining space, a bedroom and of course a bathroom. You and your family can be accommodated as cruising boats come in a variety of capacities.
Sailboat Racing
Sailboat racing is the ultimately thrilling sport that can be enjoyed alone or in the company of family and friends. Any type of sailboat can be used for racing. However there are two main types of sailboat racing that is prevalent. The first one is called one-design racing. In this form of sailboat racing, all the boats have to have the same design. This is more of a test for the skill and technique of the racer. On the other hand, the other type of racing called Handicap racing features different types of boats vying for the top spot. This is more of a fun game and the boats can be of varying sizes, speeds etc. So select the type of sail boat that you love and go out there to experience the wind, the sun and the sea gulls.
