Have you ever been sailing?
If you have, you know that operating a sailboat requires special skills and knowledge that can take some time to acquire and practice.
Sailboats have been around for thousands of years, long before recorded history. No one knows when the first prehistoric peoples created sails.
It likely began as an accident that quickly turned into a new mode of transportation. One can imagine someone holding up an animal skin in the wind and discovering that it made their canoe or raft move faster.
Once people realized they could harness the power of the wind to power a boat, sails developed quickly. The earliest sailboats were creations of necessity for uses such as transportation, trade, fishing, and exploration.
The earliest sails were square and only allowed boats to travel with the wind at their backs. Over time, sailing technology developed the triangular sails common today. Improvements in ship design also allowed sailboats to travel more quickly in a wide variety of weather conditions.
Today's sailboats are marvels of modern technology. They effectively combine the forces of wind on the sails (aerodynamics) with the power of the water flowing under the boat (hydrodynamics) to move the boat efficiently through the water. Sails exhibit similar properties to airplane wings, so sailors must learn how to trim (a nautical word for "adjust") the sails to maximize the power of the wind.
Learn more on WikipediaAre you ready to set sail? Find a few friends or family members to help you explore the following activities:
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Do you know your boom from your stern? Jump online to learn the Parts of a Sailboat. Study the diagram and then ask a friend or family member to quiz you on the different parts of a sailboat. How many can you memorize? -
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Have you ever been to a marina? If you live near a large lake or ocean, you may have had the chance to visit a marina to see the many different boats people sail. Figuring out their names and differences can take some time. Check out Types of Boats online to learn more about some of the basic types of boats you're likely to find at a marina. -
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If you've ever been for a ride on a sailboat, then you may have been confused by some of the terms you heard the sailors use. Sailing has a unique vocabulary that you'll want to learn if you ever want to captain your own boat one day. Visit Sailing Terms Everyone Should Know to learn a few of the basics. Share what you learn with a friend or family member.