How to Sail
Sailing the ocean blue is one of the most fun and relaxing experiences of a person's life, but how exactly does one go about sailing. If you are interested in taking up sailing, but do not have the slightest idea how to sail, read on and learn how to tackle this endeavor. Before long, you can captain your very own vessel, and take family and friends out on expeditions that they could only dream about in the past.
First: Perform a pre-sail check and orient your boat
Before you head out to sea, you must perform a detailed visual check of all the standard rigging. Clear all lines of any cleats and winches. Once everything is in order, orient your boat so that it faces directly into the wind. This should allow you to raise your mainsail with ease.
Second: Raise your sail
Attach the tack of the mainsail to the boom of the boat, while also attaching the jib to the shackles on the bow of the boat. Using the jib halyard, raise the front sail, and then tie the halyard off. Both sails are now raised and flowing freely.
Third: Turn the boat
Obviously if you want control of your boat, you are going to want to know how to turn left and right. To turn your boat, pull on the main sheet until the sail is about 45 degrees from the wind. Since you cannot sail directly into the wind, you are going to zig-zag left and right to reach your destination.