| You may dream of being the next Olympic gold | | | | a safety boat will be provided at specific times, |
| medal winner, or you may simply want to take | | | | and for a beginner sailor this is essential. They will |
| up sailing as a weekend hobby. But one thing is | | | | also check that you are wearing the right safety |
| certain: joining a good sailing school is one of the | | | | gear, that you are experienced enough to be |
| first things you should consider doing. Being part | | | | there in the first place, and that you are kept fully |
| of a sailing club provides many advantages for | | | | informed about weather conditions. |
| sailors of all levels and abilities, but when you are | | | | If you do buy your own boat, then the club will |
| first learning to sail the benefits are huge. So | | | | usually provide storage space for an annual fee. |
| whatever motive is driving you to take up sailing, | | | | Not many people have their own places to store |
| it is seriously worth considering paying an annual | | | | a boat, and it makes sense to keep it near to the |
| fee and joining a sailing club. | | | | water where you will be sailing. |
| For a start, sailing schools usually offer the chance | | | | One of the best things about joining a sailing club, |
| to take part in courses and to get yourself some | | | | however, is the people that you will meet. Not |
| qualifications. These can range from beginner | | | | only will you be meeting and sailing with other |
| courses to advanced courses for instructors. | | | | people who have the same shared interest as |
| They will not only teach you the basics of sailing, | | | | you, but you will also be surrounded by sailors of |
| but will include useful advice about rigging, tying | | | | all ability levels, some of whom will have sailed for |
| knots, sailing maneuvers, meteorology and wind | | | | their entire lives. Such people are a great source |
| awareness that are helpful to all ability levels. | | | | of knowledge, tips and advice to help get you |
| Once you have taken a course, the sailing school | | | | started on the right track, and are always the |
| will often allow you to rent out boats and | | | | first port of call when you need some sailing |
| equipment to use whilst you are there, meaning | | | | information. |
| that you will often not need your own boat to sail | | | | If you are joining a sailing club in Britain, it is likely |
| in. As well as this, other sailors are always looking | | | | to be approved by the RYA (Royal Yachting |
| for people to help crew their boats for them, and | | | | Association). If in America, it will probably be a |
| as such you can often strike up good partnerships | | | | part of US Sailing. It is important to check the |
| with other sailors and sail for free. | | | | credentials of any club that you join, and only join |
| Besides having a lot of fun, safety will be the | | | | one that comes with a good reputation if you |
| primary concern of the sailing club. For this reason, | | | | want to get the most out of the experience. |