| There are very few sports that are quite like | | | | few months, you'll be so confident on the water |
| sailing. From a gentle and relaxing jaunt where the | | | | that you won't even recognize yourself from |
| only real noise to be heard is the wind in the sails | | | | your pre-sailing days. |
| and the water lapping against the hull, to the fast | | | | Amazingly, although sailing has its own 'rules of the |
| paced sport where a gust of wind will catch in the | | | | road', no sailing 'driving license' is required. |
| sail driving your vessel forward with a turn of | | | | However, although there is no mandatory |
| acceleration which you wouldn't have thought | | | | qualification for amateur yacht skippers in the UK, |
| possible. It will give you the sense of being at one | | | | the Royal Yachting Association (RYA) offer their |
| with nature, yet in an instant can turn to a duel, in | | | | Yachtmaster Offshore Examination course, which |
| an attempt to control and harness those very | | | | is recognised as the most credible of all yachting |
| forces of nature itself. | | | | qualifications. The RYA offers a number of |
| One of the great things about sailing is that it is | | | | courses from introductory sailing for first-timers |
| so easy to get started. An enthusiastic amateur | | | | right through to advanced qualifications for those |
| can soon pick up the basics in a few hours, but it | | | | looking to charter their own yacht. |
| will always offer a challenge which you will never | | | | One of the best ways to get your first taste of |
| tire of through a lifetime on the water. | | | | sailing and to learn the ropes is to incorporate |
| Many sailing clubs run open days during the | | | | your training into a sailing holiday. By getting |
| summer, specifically designed for getting people | | | | 'hands-on' experience over a few days you will |
| out on the water for the first time, usually in a | | | | become much more confident and adept at your |
| dinghy. | | | | boat handling. Many activity holiday companies |
| Dinghy sailing is an ideal introduction to the sport. | | | | now offer these types of breaks incorporating |
| It has enjoyed an explosion in popularity over | | | | RYA courses. |
| recent years and the opportunities to learn via | | | | Sailing is an activity that anyone can enjoy and |
| this method are ever increasing, whether at a | | | | getting out on the water is a lot easier than you |
| lake, at sea, a marina or water sports centre. | | | | might think! If you're interested in taking up sailing, |
| Dinghy sailing tuition is affordable, widely available | | | | or perhaps getting back into it after a few years |
| and will cover all you need to know to get you | | | | away, then why not contact the RYA who will be |
| afloat with qualified supervision. | | | | able to point you towards your nearest club. |
| Once you've experienced dinghies you may want | | | | So why not give it a go? You may not be the |
| to sign up for a more advanced sailing class and | | | | next Sir Chay Blythe or Dame Ellen MacArthur, |
| move from dinghies to bigger boats. Perhaps you | | | | but once you get on the water, you may find |
| will see yourself as becoming part of a crew or | | | | that you have the same passion for the sport. |
| even have a desire to take up racing. In just a | | | | |