| you set sail in a sailboat, make sure you have | | | | Beyond that, it depends how keen you are. Some |
| prepared yourself and the boat properly. If you | | | | people polish their hulls to get an extra bit of |
| are racing a small sailboat, you need to make sure | | | | speed, and make their crew wear sopping wet |
| you know where the course is, and that the rig is | | | | thick sweaters so they are a bit heavier,and can |
| as good as you can get it. If you are cruising in a | | | | counterbalance the force on the sail when they |
| bigger sailboat, you need to wort out the | | | | lean out or go on the trapeze. |
| passage, prepare a passage plan – this is | | | | In thinking about the 'go-faster' bits it is easy to |
| compulsory in some waters now – and | | | | forget about the essentials. For example, are all |
| make sure you have adequate equipment and | | | | the access panels screwed in securely, is the |
| provisions. | | | | rudder pivoting freely, but not too freely, and are |
| Most important of all, if you are cruising you need | | | | its bearings sound? Are any of the sails likely to |
| a good weather forecast. Also, don't set too | | | | blow out if it gets very strong? Do you have any |
| much score on the forecast. If you are going on | | | | other sails? And are all the clam cleats, cleats and |
| a short passage, and returning the next day, that | | | | blocks working smoothly? |
| is not much of a problem. The forecasters reckon | | | | Generally, you do not have to worry about these |
| on 90% accuracy for the next day, 30% for the | | | | things on a larger sailboat – you just check |
| day after that,, and only 10% for three days out. | | | | them over at the beginning of the season. At that |
| Even so, you can still get caught out. Twice, I hit | | | | time, you also get the engine serviced, or do it |
| gales when returning from a short passage the | | | | yourself, and during the winter get your sails |
| next day – once was when I as still doing | | | | cleaned and, if necessary, repaired. |
| my sailing course, and ours was the only boat | | | | Whatever sailboat you sail, do prepare before you |
| from the school to get back that day. | | | | go to sea, and use a checklist of things you must |
| Of course, on a longer voyage you have to rely | | | | do each time. We have one on board, and we |
| on your knowledge and on the boat – | | | | find it invaluable, even though most of things are |
| boats can keep going long after we humans have | | | | done in a routine, almost on automatic. You need |
| cried 'enough'. | | | | to make your own checklist because all boats are |
| On the other hand, if you are racing a sailboat | | | | different, and we all sail in different ways. |
| 'round the cans' you will not have to worry about | | | | Use your checklist, and then you can relax |
| the weather the day after the race! But you still | | | | knowing that if you follow it, you will be reday to |
| want to know what is forecast when you do | | | | leave the harbour or beach – and have fun |
| race, so you can make sure your rig is up to it. | | | | with your sailboat. |