In naval slang the terms standing end and bitter end evoke the different parts of sailing knots, with the former suggesting the strain and the latter referring to the loose end one holds. Thus, most explanations you find about how to tie sailing knots use these expressions abundantly. Hence, in case you are a beginner, it is good to first get familiar with the basic naval vocabulary before moving to more advanced learning levels.



The specificity of catamaran sailing is closely related to the very structure of such boats; tacking for instance is much more challenging when there are no dagger or center boards. One other issue here concerns the downwind move of such boats, and with the catamaran being lighter as compared to the size of the sail, the sailor has to know how to use the jib sail at its maximum potential in order to avoid getting into a wind dead point. This means that the great fun of catamaran sailing comes from the swiftness of this boat due to the use of a larger sail. Hence, with a catamaran you can be 1.5 times faster than the wind.

Though the very name of sailing boat makes one think that the main element in the design is the sail, we need to mention the fact that the sail alone is insufficient when it comes to driving the boat in specific direction. All by itself, the sail would only lead the boat where the wind blows. It is the underwater structural element: the keep, the centerboard or even the hull as such that allow the sailor to go into the right direction. Thus, we could say that the sailing boat is set in motion by the combined action of the hydrodynamic and aerodynamic forces.

Powered by wind, sailing ships have the longest history in the annals of navigation. Before the invention of the steam engine, the combined power of wind and oars was the only one that propelled the vessels. Nowadays, sailing ships are recreational vessels or boats that are ideal for cruises and coast explorations enjoyed by holiday makers and passionate sailors. Despite the large diversity of sailing ships models, there are common features that appear in every design. The hull, the rigging and one or more masts are always present as the basic elements, and they are maintained by the crew that are responsible for the performance of the vessel.

Most people think that the basic sailing apparel consists of the common life jacket, t-shirts and comfy clothes for tropical weather. Generally speaking, this is true if you go sailing in a hot globe area and you stay close to the coasts. But when you are traveling on a longer cruise, you and your crew could get to places with cooler temperatures, and this is when your sailing apparel needs to save you from hypothermia. Windbreakers, jackets and vests should not miss from your baggage; the same holds true for tight sailing hats, water-repellent pants and sailing boots. The latter sailing apparel items are best manufactured from Kevlar due to the high waterproof features of this material.

Then, the hand compass makes an excellent navigation tool that complements or backups the function of the steering compass. A good hand compass allows the sailor to promptly and effectively correct any possible deviation, which could be essential to avoid an eventual collision. Choose such sailing gear responsibly, on quality considerations only: we are talking about your safety and that of anyone aboard.