Sailing, sailing

Simple facts about sailing

Sailing is the art of controlling a boat with large (usually fabric) foils called sails. By changing the rigging, rudder, and dagger or centre board, a sailor manages the force of the wind on the sails in order to change the direction and speed of a boat. Mastery of the skill requires experience in varying wind and sea conditions, as well as knowledge concerning sailboats.

In most countries people enjoy sailing as a recreational activity. Recreational sailing or yachting can be divided into racing and cruising. Furthermore use of sailboats can be divided into long-distance sailing (also blue-water sailing or offshore sailing) and daysailing.

Over the thousands of years people have sailed, many different kinds of sailboats have been designed for different purposes. Choosing the right boat for your own uses involves considering hull types, construction, and many other factors.Sailing is both a fun recreation and serious sport. Regardless of the many differences in size and type, all sailboats work the same way to harness the wind for propulsion.