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Sailing

Questions about wind-propelled water vessels, their maintenance, handling and rules governing their use.

2,485 Questions

Why did Ferdinad Magellan sail?

Magellan sailed because he wanted to find a western trade route to Asia.

What is the right hand side of a ship called?

The right hand side of a ship, when stood looking towards the bow is starboard.

Sailboat is to sail as?

Sailboat is to sail as kite is to fly, just as airplane is to wing and oil tanker is to engine.

Why cant you put dimples in boat hulls?

There's no law against it, but it will slow your boat down.

What is the importance of lateen sail?

The lateen is believed to have been used in the Eastern Mediterranean as early as the 2nd Century ce (common ear). The effective use by the Arabs caused it's rapid spread through the Mediterranean. The lateen sail was so popular because its ability to sail into the wind. Prior to the lateen a majority of sea vessels used square sails (which one can imagine wouldn't sail into the wind very effectively). The lateen made up a majority of ship sails during the Age of Discovery (When Columbus discovered the Americas). The lateen made it possible to sail faster, farther, and more efficiently. An elite ship during the Age of Discovery was the caravel, its elite status can be attributed to how effectively it utilized the lateen sail.

What is the function of the main sheet on a sail boat?

Contrary to popular assumption, a 'sheet' on a sailing vessel is not an area of canvas but a rope. Sheets are those ropes that control the trim of the sails, which is to say the angle they are set at. (To maximise performance, sails are set at different angles depending on the angle of the wind relative to the direction you want to go in.) The 'main sheet' is therefore the rope that controls the angle of the main sail. On the most common type of leisure yacht, there is one mast, normally rigged with two triangular sails: one that is attached at the bows of the boat, and one that is set aft of the mast, with its bottom edge fixed to a swinging wood or metal boom. It is this second type of sail that is referred to as the 'main' (even though the sail at the front often has the larger area on a modern yacht). On such a yacht, the 'main sheet' is the rope that controls how far the boom is allowed to swing away from the central fore-and-aft line of the boat, and as such it is a major component in determining how fast and comfortable your ride is. Though the analogy is far from perfect, it bears some comparison to a car's accelerator pedal.

How did the galleon work?

These multi-decked sailing ships were used as armed cargo carriers from the 16th to 18th centuries. They generally carried three or more masts, with square-rigged sail plans on their foremast and mainmast, with a lateen fore-and-aft rig on their rear masts. They were the mainstay of maritime commerce into the early 19th century.

What vessel displays yellow lights when towing?

A tugboat pulling a barge will display yellow lights when underway. Be careful not to go between the barge and the tugboat though!. There is a thin line connecting the two. A man once killed his whole family by hitting that line.

Is there a sailing boat called a dory?

There is a boat called a dory, though they seldom have sails

Is Sir Peter Blake dead?

Yes, he was shot by pirates on December 5th, 2001.

What are some good names for a boat?

'The Minnow' will always be dear to me...

What should an operator of one vessel do when he hears a long blast from another vessel?

There is no such thing as a "long blast", it is called a "prolonged" blast lasting between 4-6 seconds.

-If you agree with the arrangement you would sound the same signal, then take the necessary steps to effect a safe passing. If there is any doubt though the danger signal of five short needs to be sounded.

ETA: Rules of the Road, Rule 34-international

A.) One Short blast means "I am altering my course to Starboard."

Two Short blasts mean "I am altering my course to Port."

Rule 34-Inland

A.)One short blast means "I intend to leave you on my port side."

Two short blasts means " I intend to leave you on my starboard side."

What is peter Blake's famous quote?

"To win, you have to believe you can do it. You have to be passionate about it. You have to really "want" the result - even if this means years of work. The hardest part of any big project is to begin. We have begun - we are underway - we have a passion. We want to make a difference."

Green and white light on vessel at night?

You are looking at the Starboard (right) side of that boat. If it is moving, it is moving to the right.

How does the skipper control the direction of a sailboat?

One therory is that most skippers have the force.

A good firm grip on the wheel or tiller. Wihtout that device, steerage is lost.

What sound signal indicates a sailing vessel is underway in the fog and how frequently?

Rules of the Road

Rule 35

Sound Signals in Restricted Visibility

(C) A vessel not under command, a vessel restricted in her ability to maneuver, a vessel constrained by her draft, a sailing vessel, a vessel engaged in fishing, and a vessel engaged in towing or pushing another vessel shall..........sound at intervals of not more than two minutes, three blast in succession, namely one prolonged followed by two short blasts.

Why were caravels able to against the wind while other ships could not?

the reason why caravels could sail against the wind is because they had a very big triangular cloth which would let them flow with the wind

What lights are needed for boating at night?

Head lights, port, starboard and stern lights (on 28' pontoon boat).

What should you do if you see a red and a white light on a vessel at night?

Without seeing the actual configuration there isn't enough information to make a decision. Am I seeing the port side aspect of of the vessel? A port side running light at 112.5 degrees and a masthead light at 225 degrees? Where are the lights in relation to each other?