Is sailing an expensive hobby?
Believe it or not, sailing is less expensive than most hobbies such as flying a small plane. You also don’t need to be super-fit, able-bodies or a strong swimmer to enjoy sailing. All you need is some basic sailing skills and be comfortable to be out on the water in a buoyancy aid. Learning to sail can be challenging, especially for beginners. Here are some of the common difficulties people may encounter when learning to sail: understanding the terminology: sailing has its own set of vocabulary and terminology, which can be overwhelming for beginners.You could sign aboard a sailing vessel with no prior experience and sail as an OS, gradually gaining experience and sea time, which would allow you to “sit” for the exam for the next level up the chain of command. In time, you would find yourself with the license to be captain, or master, of a ship.Simple sails: For beginner sailors, it’s best to stick to the basics sail-wise. Single-sail boats or crafts with simple, straightforward rigging are best as you’re learning sail controls. Affordability: It may be tempting to splash out on your first boat and buy a fancy model, but it’s best to resist the urge.There is no upper age limit with Competent Crew, and providing you have the mobility and agility to sail, you can take part, even with no sailing experience. During the course you will become a valuable addition to the crew, whilst learning the ropes of sailing and life on board.Black Flag Rule. If a black flag has been displayed, no part of a boat’s hull, crew or equipment shall be in the triangle formed by the ends of the starting line and the first mark during the last minute before her starting signal. The U Flag Rule will be in effect. A boat within the triangle formed by the ends of the line and the first mark during the minute before the start will be disqualified without a hearing. If a restart or resail is called, the disqualification is rescinded, unlike the black-flag or Z-flag penalties.Under yacht racing rules, display of the Z flag indicates that a particular false start rule, the 20% Penalty Rule 30. OCS) – that is, over the starting line – during the minute before the start will receive a 20% scoring penalty.