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#1: Welcome to Sailing Course dot COM. This US SAILING educational website will present basic and some advanced information on keel sailboats, safety, navigation and basic cruising. This website can be used in preparation for taking an on-the-water certified sailing course or as a mechanism of continuing sailing education. It is not designed to enable an inexperienced sailor to sail a boat.
#2: Safety should always come first. When on the water a sailor should always wear his PFD ( personal flotation device ), along with a wide brim hat, and a SPF 30 or greater sunscreen lotion. In addition, I carry a knife, a waterproof VHF radio and when possible, pocket flares. Always have your VHF radio on to listen for distress calls, weather conditions and unexpected hazards which you may encounter.
#3: One of the most dangerous situations is when a crew member falls overboard. Drowning and hypothermia can both be life threatening. You should always have a well practiced plan for retrieval. You should immediately throw a flotation device to the person who falls overboard and one or two crew members should serve as spotters, keeping their eyes on the person at all times. To the right is an illustration of a figure 8 method of rescue.
#4: The sides of a sailboat are referred to as port for the left side of the boat and starboard for the right side of the boat. The bow is the front of the boat and the stern is the rear.
#5: The most common type of sailboat is a sloop. This type of boat has a mast and two sails. The front or headsail is called a jib, the back sail is called the mainsail. The sails are hoisted up the mast with a rope or line called a halyard. Lines called sheets attach to the lower back corner of the jib and to the boom. The sheets are used to hold the sails in position under the force of the wind.
#6: Because the force of the wind can be quite strong, a winch is often required to trim or pull in the sails. The following is a video of how to secure a sheet to a winch. View Video
#7: There are two basic turns when sailing. The first is called “Coming About”. In this maneuver the bow is turned through the wind. The following is a video showing a “Coming About” maneuver. View Video	Helmsman: "Ready About" -- The crew readies the sails. Crew: "Ready" Helmsman: "Hard-a-lee" – and the boat is turned bow through the wind
#8: The second type of turn is called a “Jibe”. In this maneuver the stern is turned through the wind. If not performed correctly, the boom may swing forcefully across the boat, creating a potential danger to the crew and rigging. The following is a video of a controlled Jibe. View Video	Helmsman: "Ready to Jibe" -- The crew readies the sails. Crew: "Ready" Helmsman: "Jibing" or "Jibe Ho" -- As the mainsail is centered, the boat is turned stern through the wind.
#9: It is important to know the Rules of the Road. In general, powerboats will give way to sailboats. But sailboats will give-way to fishing boats engaged in fishing activities which restricts their maneuverability and large vessels restrained by draft or by the channel. When a vessel is overtaking another boat, the overtaking vessel is the give way vessel regardless of the type of boat overtaken.
#10 When two sailboats approach each other, the one a port tack, with the boom over the starboard side of the boat, will give way to a boat on a starboard tack, with the boom over the port side of the boat. If the two boats are on the same tack, the windward boat will be the give way boat.
#11: Daymarks and buoys serve as a guide for the location of safe waters and hazards. When entering a harbor in the United States (IALA-B Buoyage System) or going upstream, red daymarks and buoys should pass on the boat's starboard side and green daymarks and buoys should pass on the port side. Remember - Red Right Returning. The picture on the right shows a sloop LEAVING a harbor with the red daymark passing on its port side.
#12: All sailors should know basic knot tying. A bowline is used to tie a line around a pole or ones waist. The following is a video on how to tie a bowline. View Video
#13: A square knot, also called a reef knot, is used to tie two lines together of approximately the same diameter. The following is a video on how to tie a square knot. Knot Section – How to tie a square knot. View Video
#14: Anchoring must be done with caution. One should be sure enough rode or line to the anchor is let out and an adequate depth of water is present along the entire swing radius of the anchorage. In addition, one must also account for changing water depths with tides while one is at anchor.
#15: Docking can be difficult and never should be taken lightly. The fenders, or side cushions on the boat, should be in place. A crew member should also have a fender or pole to try to prevent an inadvertent collision. Never place your arms or legs between the boat and the docking platform. Remember large sailboats have a lot of momentum and approach a docking platform slowly. Reverse will not immediately slow the forward motion of the boat but placing a boat in reverse will often swing the stern to one side or the other.
#16: A sailor should always check the weather before heading out. If high winds are encountered, the amount of sail hoisted should be reduced. The area of the jib or foresail may be reduced by furling the jib. The area of the mainsail may be reduced or reefed, by lowering the sail using it’s halyard and securing cringles (grommets) on the sail which are designed to reduce it’s area. The picture on the right shows a reefed mainsail.
#17: Take your time and review this information. When you ready, take the "Primer Sailing Test". After you pass this test, take the keelboat course on this website and when you are ready to test your knowledge, take the "Complete Keelboat Examination".