Learning to sail for beginners

Learning to sail can be daunting for beginners, but it's a really fun hobby, and you'll soon be sailing with confidence.

In this guide, we discuss how hard it is to learn to sail, explore how to learn and the average cost of lessons. We'll also highlight some must-know sailing vocabulary and share our top 10 sailing tips for beginners.

How hard is it to learn to sail?

The difficulty level of learning to sail depends on your goals, the type of sailing boat you'll be sailing, and the weather conditions you learn in. If you're just looking to learn the basics so you can sail a small sailboat in favourable weather conditions, it doesn't need to be too hard. The main things you'll need to learn are:

• Basic terminology
• How to rig and de-rig the sail
• Calculating wind direction
• Steering and trimming the sail
• Basic safety guidelines
• Recovery from capsizing

If you're hoping to sail a larger vessel, like a cruising sailboat or sailing yacht, you'll need to learn the above skills in addition to the following:

• Docking and mooring
• Navigation and chart reading
• Understanding tides, currents, and weather
• Engine handling
• Man-overboard recovery procedures

For offshore sailing and racing, you'll need to learn extra skills that will help to keep you safe when travelling out at sea. These include:

• Advanced weather routing
• Long-term provisioning and planning
• Night sailing
• Storm handling
• Racing tactics and teamwork
• Rig tuning and performance optimisation

How to learn to sail

Much like defining how hard it is to sail, the process of learning to sail depends on the type of sailing you intend to do. When it comes to learning the basics, many sailing schools and clubs offer two-day courses which can teach you all you need to know to confidently sail on your own in calm conditions. Learning how to sail a larger boat typically takes between five and 10 days. The Royal Yachting Association (RYA) offer certified courses which are structured, practical, and perfect for building the sailing skills you need.

To successfully and safely race or sail offshore takes years of practice and experience, and the skills required will be built up over time. While learning to sail out at sea requires expertise and resilience, it's worth it for the excitement and adventure you get out on the open water.

How much does it cost to learn to sail in the UK?

The cost of learning to sail in the UK varies depending on the level you're hoping to achieve, where you take lessons, and whether you learn with a sailing club or a commercial school. On average, you can expect to pay:

• Between £200 and £300 for an RYA Level 1 Dinghy or 2 day beginner course
• Between £250 and £300 for a Combined Level 1 + Level 2 4-day course
• Around £55 per hour for a private one-to-one lesson
• Between £30 and £45 for a one-hour introduction lesson

What are the top three basic sailing rules?

If you're sailing for the first time, your top priorities should be safety and simplicity, not memorising every rule. However, it's still good to know a few basic sailing rules to avoid confusion and collisions while on the water.

1. Always look ahead

It can be easy to just watch the sail or tiller during your first sailing lesson, but it's important to always watch where you're heading and look out for other boats, obstacles, and swimmers. Many sailing accidents happen because people don't see obstacles in front of them, which is why it's vital to always look ahead. Don't assume that others will get out of your way and ensure you feel ready to respond if needed.

2. Turn or stop to avoid a collision

There are official right-of-way rules for sailors, but if you're confused or in doubt, just do whatever's necessary to avoid a crash. It's always better to give way than cause an accident or anger someone else on the water, so prioritise safety over rules even if you think it's your right of way. Learn how to depower the sail and turn quickly, which can help you avoid collisions.

3. Give way to bigger and faster boats

If a boat is much bigger or faster than yours, or is carrying a lot of people, it's best to move out of its way. It's likely that they won't be able to stop easily, and you really don't want to risk colliding with a boat that could do yours a lot of damage. Always assume you're the most manoeuvrable, because you probably are while you're learning, and give way to avoid potential issues.

Must-know sailing vocabulary

Sailing comes with a lot of its own vocabulary. While you'll learn this and get used to it with experience, understanding some basic sailing terms – like names for parts of the boat and ways of moving – can help during your lessons. Must-know sailing vocabulary includes:

• Bow: The front of the boat
• Stern: The back of the boat
• Port: The left side of the boat when facing forward
• Starboard: The right side of the boat when facing forward
• Hull: The main body of the boat
• Deck: The surface you walk on
• Cockpit: Where the sailor sits and steers
• Tiller: The handle attached to the rudder that's used for steering
• Rudder: A flat blade attached to the tiller that sits underwater
• Keel: A fin under the boat that keeps it stable and helps it sail upwind
• Mast: The vertical pole that holds up the sail
• Boom: The horizontal pole attached to the bottom of the sail
• Mainsail: The big sail
• Jib: A smaller sail in front of the mast found on some boats
• Halyard: Rope used to raise or lower the sail
• Sheet: Rope used to control the sail's angle to the wind
• Tack: The direction the boat is sailing relative to the wind, and a manoeuvre where the boat turns through the wind
• Jibe: A turn where the stern of the boat goes through the wind
• Point of sail: The boat's angle in relation to the wind
• Close-hauled: Sailing as directly into the wind as possible
• Beam reach: Wind is coming from the side
• Running: Sailing with the wind directly behind you
• Heeling: When the boat leans over in the wind
• Capsize: When the boat tips over
• Right of way: The rules about which boat should give way to avoid a collision

10 sailing tips for beginners

Ready to learn how to sail? These 10 tips will help you on your way:

1. Always wear a life jacket

A life jacket is essential when learning to sail, even if you're a confident swimmer. Most sailing schools require their students to wear a life jacket, and you'll be very pleased you're wearing it if you fall overboard or capsize.

2. Calculating wind direction

Wind awareness is very important when sailing, as your boat's direction relative to the wind determines how you set your sails and steer. To work out the direction of the wind, look for flags or trees moving onshore, or concentrate on feeling the wind against your face.

3. Learn the main points of sail

Learning and understanding the main points of sail will help you move while out on the water. The most important points of sail to learn include sailing directly into the wind, close-hauled, beam reach, broad reach, and running.

4. Practice tacking and jibing

These are the two main turning manoeuvres that you should practice when learning to sail:

• Tack: Where you turn through the wind
• Jibe: When you turn with the wind behind you

Practice these manoeuvres in light winds first, especially jibing, which can cause the boom to swing fast and cause damage or injury.

5. Start in light winds and calm waters

Your first few sailing experiences should be in gentle conditions with light winds and calm waters. It's safer, less stressful, and easier to learn the feel of the boat without battling with unfavourable conditions.

6. Learn basic knots

Understanding how to tie a few basic knots can help you when learning how to sail. Practice tying a figure-8 knot, bowline knot, and cleat hitch, which can help you to rig, tie up, and stay safe.

7. Always look ahead

When sailing, always watch where you're going and keep a lookout for other boats, buoys, markers, swimmers, kayakers, and other hazards. Never rely on others to move, even if you believe it's your right-of-way.

8. Give space and be polite

Don't crowd other boats, keep clear of large vessels, and avoid racing other sailors if you're not sure what they're doing. Right-of-way rules are important, but so is being polite and cautious.

9. Learn how to stop

There are no brakes on a sailboat, so you'll need to learn how to slow down by letting out the sail, heading into the wind, or using a controlled tack or turn to reduce your speed.

10. Stay calm and have fun

Getting things wrong is all part of the experience when learning to sail, so don't let little mistakes get you down. Ask questions, enjoy the process, and celebrate small wins to ensure learning to sail is fun and enjoyable.

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