Sailing

Sailing

What is it? 

Sailing is the practice of controlling the movement of a boat (or similar vehicle) by using sails and the force of the wind. It first developed as a practical means of moving around on bodies of water, but as time has progressed, sailing has become a highly popular sport and recreational activity. 

What does it involve?

There is a fair amount of physics involved in sailing - an understanding of the forces exerted upon the boat is reasonably essential to learning how to sail successfully! There are many varieties upon the basic sailboat, some of which require a team of people to operate and some which only need one; this all depends on the size and purpose of the vehicle, as some boats are designed for leisure and some for speed and agility!

Why do it and what are the benefits?

Sailing is a great way of having fun on the water, but also has many physical and mental benefits. General cardiovascular health can be improved by regular sailing alongside better muscle strength and endurance, and the mental abilities required to understand the forces in play and keeping track of everything going on can greatly improve concentration.

What equipment do we need?

Taking students sailing will almost always involve travelling to a venue, so the majority of equipment required should be provided for you! You may need to ensure the students are dressed appropriately beforehand - check ahead to see if the provider has any advice. 

Who is it suitable for?

Sailing does involve quite a bit of strength and agility, but younger children can start out on specifically designed learning boats to build up their capabilities - sailing should suit people of any age!

Costs?

School groups should generally cost about £10-20 per student to take sailing, but it depends on what sort of experience you wish to book! Check out the providers in your local area to see what they have on offer and their price range. 

Issues/Things to think about? (unsuitable for age groups, medical conditions etc)

Younger children should always be carefully supervised when around water/on a boat, and you should ensure they are paying proper attention to the safety procedures!

How do we include?

Depending on the severity of the disability, there should be a way of including everyone in sailing! Boats often require many people all doing different things to operate the boat, and instructors should be trained in including people with less physical ability or learning difficulties in their lessons. 

Doing it abroad?

Sailing is popular all over the world, but will be most practiced in countries with large open bodies of natural water, especially the ocean! 

Main website:

http://www.sailing.org

See the list below for venues and providers who deliver this activity: