Ahoy sailor! Feeling the sun on your face, the wind in your hair, enjoying yourselves on the water… What’s not to like about sailing! It’s a very popular sport, and it has had a large influence on modern life.
Are you interested in sailing, cruising, competitive racing, or charter vacations? Worry not! There is a sailboat that’s perfect for you and a lifetime of sailing adventures awaits! Why is it a lifestyle many dream of? Let’s feel the breeze in the air and sail along with these 5 fun facts about sailing and search out the answer!
1. Sailboats are slow (but efficient)
The average sailboat cruises at about 4-6 knots, (4-7 mph or 7-11 km/h) and has a top speed of 9 knots (10 mph or 17 km/h). It's just not that fast. That isn't to say there aren't any quick boats: they can be incredibly fast. Especially the multihulls, which have to displace a lot less water. They can go up to 50 knots (almost 60 mph or 93 km/h). Most sailboats are slow is because they are small (under 20') - and the hull speed is directly related to the length of the boat. Longer sailboats are faster. So how is a sailboat able to go around the world in under 75 days? Well, they go on all day and night. Also, traveling on water allows you to go in straight lines more often than on land.
2. Some of the youngest sailors in the world are girls
Did you know that girls as young as 16 years old have sailed around the world all alone? We start our blog about the exciting sailing facts with the girls as the youngest sailors in the world. Jessica Watson from Australia and Laura Dekker from the Netherlands were both 16 years old when they completed their sea voyages in 2009. Jessica Watson became the youngest person to sail around the world with no stops and completely unassisted! While the just as impressive Laura Dekker completed her own sailing adventure around the globe.
3. Sailing has changed our vernacular
Many terms and sayings we use every day originate from sailing. This applies to the term “feeling blue” which means that you feel sad or depressed. The saying originated from sailing, because in the past when a ship lost its captain during a voyage, the sailors would sail blue flags, indicating their loss. So if you’re feeling blue, you’re referring to the blue flags that were used to sign that the ship’s crew is in mourning.
4. Sailing gives you access to places that are off-limits to tourists
Did you know that there are a lot of small islands that are off-limits to tourists? Some of these islands are real hidden gems, with exotic species, wonderful landscape, and authentic villages. There are no flights or cruises going there - but you can get there by boat. It can be quite the experience to sign into the island in a 40-year-old ledger, with under 200 names in there.
5. Joshua Slocum is the first man to sail around the world by himself
In 1898 Joshua Slocum, a Nova-Scotian-born American, became the first man to sail around the world by himself. He also wrote a book about his journey named “Sailing Alone Around the World,” which became an international best-seller. However, another exciting thing about this is that the second attempt was made 69 years later. So it took some time for the world to catch up, with Sir Francis Chichester completing his trip in 1967.
