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Sailing
Questions about wind-propelled water vessels, their maintenance, handling and rules governing their use.
2,485 Questions
What is a safe wind speed for a sunfish sailboat?
Depending on your skill level anywhere between 5 knots and 20 knots. For someone that is just starting i don't recommend over 11 knots.
What does a single white light on a boat mean?
A single white light on a boat means the boat is moving.
What are the benefits of wearing a sailing jacket?
There are a few benefits to wearing a sailing jacket. The 1st being that they are very well made to withstand the harshest weather and are quite stylish. Another good reason is they are waterproof so keep you dry whatever the weather may be.
When you are trying to bring someone into your boat from the water you should bring them in?
...over the stern, to prevent the boat from tipping over/capsizing - which could happen if you try to take them in over the side.
If the boat has an engine - particularly an outboard engine - it's really important to turn it off before pulling the person close.
Why is a dinghy called a dinghy?
source of the word is from India
Hindi ḍi·gī, variant of ḍe·gī, ḍe·gā, float, raft.
Is sailing a sport or a hobby?
Yes.
Sailing could be seen as both. Yes it depends what part of sailing you do, if you take it competitively and race then it can be a sport (as it is in the olympics) or if you just cruise then it can be seen as a sport but it is more of an activity :)
A down rigger is a person on the ground who calls for a high rigging point to be moved to its proper position, referencing pre-rigging marks on the ground that are too difficult for the up riggers to see.
Do you need a license for sailboat chartering?
I'm not sure what you're asking here. If you mean do you need a license to charter (rent) a boat to go sailing, then depending on where you're located, probably not. The charter operator will want to ensure that you know how to handle the boat, but unless there is a state requirement for boater certification (which is becoming more common), no license is required. If you want to put your boat into a charter pool so someone else can charter it, then any licensing requirements would probably be handled by the charter operator. If you want to become a charter operator, then there would certainly be a number of hoops to jump through, and some sort of licensing would probably be required.
Where do people sleep on a ship?
When crossing the Atlantic ocean in a ten meter sailboat, I found that the safest place to sleep was on the deck. But that was after rogue waves tossed me out of my bunk a few times. Some boats are equipped with hammocks, but they will bump you against the bulkhead in the night (or whenever you are trying to catch forty winks).
With a square rigged sail, the wind simply pushes the boat along.
With a fore and aft rigged sail, the wind is caught at an angle and slices on past the sail, pushing the sail hard down wind and a bit forward. A deep keel on the bottom of the sail boat tries to stop the downwind drift and, as a result of a bit of a push forward on the sail, the sail boat manages to scoot across the wind a bit.
Square rigged ship:
http://sailing-ships.oktett.net/golden-state.jpg
The wind just blows the boat down wind.
Fore and aft rigged sailboat (a sloop)
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_98ZiJEAKrlI/Rql8iSS1u5I/AAAAAAAAFc4/hwyku_OY29E/s400/9%2Bsm%2Bsb%2Bpassing.jpg
Note that the sail boat is tipped over a bit (heeling). This is due to the wind trying to push the sail boat down wind and the bottom of the sail boat (the keel) trying to stop the drift down wind. The wind is slicing off the sails and pushes the sail boat a head a bit.
A Jib is a secondary sail which is generaly smaller than the mainsail, and is usually possitioned at the frount of a boat (a foresail). It is generally triangular and is used to counteract the turning force of the mainsail around the pivot point of the vessel in some classes of boat.
What are two modern day ways of signaling distress while sailing?
Doing a mayday call over VHF is still the most common way to make a distress signal, however now all VHF sets have a DSC button which when hit send out an automatic distress signal to all receivers in range with location and distress information.
What do white buoys with orange markings indicate?
A white buoy with an orange marking most likely indicates that you should proceed through the area with caution. The buoy often marks rapids, rocks, or sandbars.
Describe the setting of the whispering statue?
The setting for this book is a Yacht Club. It doesn't say where though.
How long does it take a sail boat to sail a certain distance?
It depends on the speed of the vessel, the wind speed, the place and how choppy it is.
Which yacht won the first Americas Cup race?
That could almost be a trick question. The first race, put on by the Brits in 1851, wasn't called the America's Cup. However, it was won by a boat called America, and subsequent races for that trophy became known as the America's Cup race. The winner of the next race, the first race known as the America's Cup race, was a boat named Magic. So, the answer to your question could be either America or Magic depending on which you consider to be the first America's Cup race.
A yellow buoy in the water means caution. They can mean there is danger of pipes, dredge lines or other dangers.
If you were traveling by sailboat what information might be helpful?
Destination, weather conditions, course, tides, traffic, local rules, navigation hazards. The ability to sail.
When a personal water craft is overtaking another vessel which vessel must give way?
The overtaking craft should give way, as the overtaking craft should be the one with the most control, as it is initiating the move.
