Learn the basics using a small boat. It is far easier to learn with a small boat because it has fewer sails and lines. Small boats are also more responsive to your commands; the tricks you learn here can be applied later to any boat.
Start with a boat rigged on a single sail. You can learn faster if you focus on knowing the fundamentals of sailing.
Choose the perfect water. When you are starting out, avoid strong currents as much as possible. You also should keep away from waters crowded with people and power boaters.
Get tips from a friend. Don’t make sailing more complicated than it is. Learn what you can from your friends, tutorial books, and instructors. But experience is the best teacher in sailing, so practice your skills with an experienced sailing friend.
Choosing the Sailboat
As was mentioned earlier, smaller boats are perfect for beginners. Don’t despair because small boats are equally as fun as the bigger boats, minus the responsibilities. A lot of experienced boaters actually admit that they had more fun with smaller boats as they learn the tricks of the trade. Here are some things you need to remember when choosing the sailing boat:
The Rig. This is probably the most essential aspect in choosing the boat. Optimists, catboats, and other small boats are designed with a single mast and a single sail, but they can provide good performance.
Size. It is recommended for you to choose a boat with room enough for two individuals. The boat should be at least 12′ to fit two people.
Monohull. A single-hulled boat is great for fun and learning. The catamaran, the multihulls, and trimarans are the ones for sailing enthusiasts.
Hull material. You basically have two types of materials to choose from: wood and fiberglass. Beginners should get hull made from fiberglass because it is relatively easy to repair and maintain.
Keel. Daggerboats and centerboats allow the sailor to sail in shallow water; it gives a great performance if the wind is behind you. On the other hand, the leeboard is created for similar reason but it needs to be altered with every tack.
