Sailing employs the wind acting on sails, wingsails or kites to propel a craft on the surface of the water, on ice or on land over a chosen course.

Sailing is a very popular sport and pastime. It has had a large influence on modern life. Unlike windsurfing and surfing, the sport takes place in an enclosed boat rather than on a board.

Today sailing is mostly a recreational activity. There are two types of sailing - racing and cruising. The average sailboat cruises at about 4-7 mph and has a top speed of 10 mph. It's just not that fast.

Sailing is a large part of world history. An Egyptsian vase from about 3500 BC shows a boat under sail. Vikings were also sailing to North America thousands of years ago. Early history of sailing started primarily as a form of transportation. Recreational sailing did not begin until around the 18th century.

There are a lot of small island 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 in to the island in a 40-year old ledger, with under 200 names in there.

It is not the wind that is dangerous for yachts, but the waves. A storm of any reasonable strength alone cannot cause any damage to the yacht’s hull. The wind cannot turn the yacht over either. But a wave driven by the wind can wash away all equipment and people from the deck, and in case of an overturn, the yacht can sink.

Regatta is a sporting competition of sailing yachts held in accordance with the Racing Rules of Sailing (RRS). Any modern cruising sailing yacht has a motor. The motor is used for maneuvering in marinas, sailing in calm weather and charging batteries.