SAILING

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With 90% of all goods transported by ship, the globe is as reliant upon boats now as it ever has been.

 

Sailing and the maritime industry have existed for almost as long as recorded human history, with one of the earliest examples being sailing recorded on a vase from Egypt 3500 years BCE. Whole societies and cultures have been built around sailing, boat building and shipping, including the trade that these boats have enabled (Benders, 2018).

Sailing has always had a certain amount of romance attached to it, from the epic journeys of Odysseus to the opening bars of Hans Zimmer’s Pirates of the Caribbean theme. But it is more than stories and films that drive a £40 billion industry, with sailing as a leisure activity, a sport and a career forming the basis of enormous opportunities available for people with the right skills globally. 

Why should I learn to sail?

This should probably be one of the first questions that any interview process/ blog post should ask everyone.

 

Personal development

Resilience / Resistance / Confidence
Self sufficiency / Networking / Adaptability / Management: personal, horizontal and vertical

Practical skills

Composites engineering / Ropework including splicing / Electrical engineering / Navigation / Fitness 

How do I learn to sail?

Learning to sail can be done in a whole range of ways, depending upon where you are and what is available locally, compared to further afield. 

  • Most sailing clubs and centres (find your nearest here) have the opportunity to try or “discover” sailing, often run at the start of summer. These are times when these clubs put on opportunities to give you a first try of the sport, with a dedicated experienced helper. If you are at university, most universities have sailing or water sports clubs which run similar opportunities to try sailing at the beginning of term (find out more here). It doesn’t just have to be at more formal “discover sailing” days though, contact any club or centre and they will always be happy to help you find out if the sport is for you. You don’t need to own a boat or specialised equipment, just arrive with a change of clothes you don’t mind getting wet in.

  • The most common way to learn the basics is to attend an RYA “learn to sail course” (for dinghies) or “competent crew” (for yachts), in the UK. These are run at sailing clubs or centres, so call, email or drop in to your local sailing club and they will be the perfect contact point to help you learn to sail. While you’re there, there are often members who look for crew and are happy to take less (or in-) experienced sailors and are happy to teach you, if you sail with them. You don’t need to own a boat or specialised equipment, just arrive in clothes you don’t mind getting wet in.

  • Once you’ve learned to sail virtually the whole of the sport is opened up to you. The more time you spent sailing, the more your skills will improve and the more opportunities open up. There are wide range of RYA courses available to teach skills from seamanship, dinghy or yacht cruising, foiling and fleet racing, while many sailing clubs have club owned boats that are available for use. Not only that, but many sailing clubs also have members who are looking for crew, so check crew wanted boards and ask around. Sailing other people’s boats is a fantastic way to build your skills and even the best professional sailors rarely own the boats they sail on. There may be a cost associated with borrowing club boats and purchasing things such as wetsuits, however there are also places to look for deals and even assistance for those facing financial hardship.