If you are looking for a new pastime and want to take on something that is going to both excite and relax you, sailing might just be the answer. There is no more multifaceted sport than sailing; take slow leisurely trips for relaxation or go for speed and exhilaration, the choice is yours.
Freedom To Explore
Taking to the water gives you the opportunity to explore the open seas. Sail around Britain and see this wonderful country from an entirely different perspective. From the Solent to Skye, the UK has some great sailing coastlines and the ever-changeable weather means that you’ll get to experience all the different aspects of the sport too.
If you fancy spreading your wings away from the coastal waters of home, Europe also has some extraordinary waters to travel through. From the freshwater lakes such as Lake Garda and Lake Constance through to the open seas of the Mediterranean, Aegean and Ionian, you are sure to find new and exciting locations to enjoy when you take up sailing.
Even further afield, Thailand, Australia, The Grenadines, Zanzibar and New Zealand are just a few of the places this glorious pastime can take you to. Enjoy magnificent sunsets beneath the sails as you take in all of the natural beauty on offer whilst out at sea.
Sailing Safely
As with all things that offer such great rewards, there is an element of work to be done first. In order to sail safely you will need to be competent aboard a boat and the best way to gain knowledge and experience is by completing a RYA Sailing Course.
Laid out in a series of two-day courses, the RYA Sailing Courses aim to take you from being a complete beginner an expert sailor in an enjoyable, safe and controlled manner. Learn to sail in a dinghy, a keelboat or a multihull depending upon the type of sailing you wish to do and make your way from novice to competent skipper in the hands of highly experienced trainers.
Once you have learnt the basics and progressed on to some of the more demanding techniques you will feel confident enough to take to the water by yourself, and that opens up a whole new world of possibilities.
Sailing Holidays
With the necessary training under your belt you can look forward to exploring some of the aforementioned waters for yourself. Sailing holidays can give you the chance to relax and unwind or push yourself to limits if the ultimate adrenaline rush is what you are after.
Whether you decide to opt for a racer or a cruiser is entirely your choice, but one thing will remain the same – the pleasure you’ll get from being out on the open water. Sailing is a sport that can be enjoyed by all ages, and there’s no upper age limit to when you can take to the water for the first time.
So, why not look into booking an RYA Sailing Course and see if a life on the ocean wave is for you? Once you’ve tried it you may never look back.
Simon King runs Broad Reach Sailing, which offers RYA sailing courses on the Solent on the South Coast.