A word about sailing. Like anything else, it's a skill.

Modern sailboats are engineering marvels, but basic skills are required to know how to function efficiently on them.

If you're invited out on one for more than a day, take a basic course in sailing: learn the different parts of the ship and how they work; learn the various types of sails and how to raise them and manage them.

Although many sailboats have auto pilot and GPS for navigation, the skipper may become busy and ask you to help out and it helps if you know a few knots and how to raise and lower sails.

Because of things like GPS and auto pilot, you don't need to learn navigation unless you're going to own your own sailboat…and then, you should.

The Coast Guard Auxiliary teaches courses in basic sailing and navigation.

Sailing can be a lot fun, but the more you know about it, the more useful you will be to the skipper and the more you will get out of it.

Mike Bear

www.raptureofthedeep.org

[Sent from my 'Crackberry' Curve]