It’s surprising just how many misconceptions and misunderstandings there are regarding sailing and boating. It’s a great shame really because it’s often only because of these misunderstandings and incorrect assumptions that more people don’t get the chance to enjoy this incredible pastime or lifestyle.
Often people are put off the idea of sailing simply because they ‘believe’ that they would be unable to, even though the reality is they could. Many parents put their children off, again believing things to be quite different from how they really are.
Here we’ve gathered together the four biggest misunderstandings or incorrect assumptions regarding boating and sailing, and explained why they are wrong. The fact that these four myths are exactly that – myths – could perhaps open the door to more people who would otherwise not give sailing a second thought.
Look, you don’t have to go off and buy a 60 foot yacht on your first go. You’re allowed to start small, and not only do most people start small, many people stay small.
It depends very much on the type of sailing you’re into – whether it is just that, sailing, or whether you’re interested in motor boats, canoes, kayaks or even racing. But a beginner small boat will often only set you back a few hundred, and you can find plenty of great little starter boats for a couple of hundred pounds.
Whilst it’s true that you can spend thousands, even millions, on a yacht, you don’t have to. If even a couple of hundred pounds is too much then you still have the option of joining your local boating club who may be able to hire boats out for the day.
Absolutely not! Many children are able to learn to sail solo, and it really isn’t hard. Of course, you do need to learn the basics, but if all you’re interested in, at least to begin with, is sailing in calm waters, perhaps inland, then you don’t need much in the way of training to get started.
Once you have got your feet wet, as it were, you may decide to build on your knowledge and experience, but many people remain happy just sailing calm lakes or quiet offshore waters. Sailing is a pastime which offers a huge range of levels of access, and to get started is really very straightforward.
There are many excellent sailing courses for beginners, covering everything from the basics of sailing to more advanced yachting or racing skills, and from motor boating to first aid. But to get started with sailing you really don’t need very much – and often a simple beginner’s course is enough to allow you to get started with your own boat in quiet waters.
These beginners courses often cost little more than a hundred pounds, with some more advanced ones costing a couple of hundred.
Again, just as with the choice of boat and the choice of level of difficulty, it is up to you how far you take it, but getting started learning to sail is not expensive at all. For the cost of a couple of family meals out you could gain a certificate which will allow you to sail competently on your own.
Again, you don’t have to have a sixty foot yacht! Yes, mooring fees can be expensive, but most people don’t have any need to moor a boat. If you’re just getting started in boating then you’ll probably just have a small boat, and these will break down small enough to be transported on a trailer and stored in your garage.
As long as you have a little space in your garage then you will almost certainly be able to store your small boat, and have no worry at all about mooring fees.
Many people tend to assume that sailing is expensive, but this is like saying that driving is expensive. Yes, it is if you choose a high performance top of the range supercar costing half a million pounds, but if you start small with a modest sized, economical car the costs are dramatically lower, and accessible by most. In fact sailing costs significantly less than learning to drive and buying your first car.
Boating insurance is available, although not everyone takes this up, depending on the situation, and so you could easily buy a small boat and complete a beginner’s course in sailing for less than it would cost to pass a driving test, let alone buy the car and insure it.
For a young person sailing offers a great opportunity to explore their independence, understand geography, history, engineering and self sufficiency, and provide them with an interest which can literally take them anywhere in the world.
Do you agree that learning to boat is not as expensive or difficult as some people think? Leave a comment and let us know!