“Sailing an Elitist Sport?” Sailing Myth Exploded

There is a misconception that sailing is an elitist sport.  Whether that’s dinghy, offshore, tall ship, or competitive sailing, a perception exists in the minds of people wanting to enter the sport that it’s only for the well heeled with lots of money.

Did you know that the origins of sailing have shaped this misconception?

I have lost count the number of occasions I have heard this phrase during the fifty years I’ve been sailing, and I can well understand just how this popular sailing myth has become firmly established; and stubbornly remained.

So just how did this misconception occur?

Ships and vessels, together with horses, form the oldest form of transport and go back approximately 5,000 years in association with the ancient Egyptians and Romans. In the beginning they were used purely for commercial reasons; horses to link settlements, and sailing for fishing and of course crossing continents.

Pleasure sailing can be traced back to the Netherlands in the early 1600’s. Initially it became the pursuit of rich merchants and the aristocracy. Purely and simply because only the wealthy possessed the means to satisfy their leisure desires.

In 1660 as a public relations exercise, the Dutch monarchy presented Charles 1 with a beautiful yacht, and hence the birth of pleasure sailing in the UK. The first yacht club was formed in Ireland in the early 1700’s and in England in the start of the 1800’s. The Royal Yacht Club was formed in 1820 by King George 1V

It can not be disputed that in the early days of pleasure sailing it was dominated by the wealthy, and hence elitist. My theory, and of course it is purely my theory, that because of its elitist beginnings the unfair myth has remained in many quarters to the present day.

I can without doubt categorically prove that sailing is anything but elitist.  I also firmly establish that for the budding sailing enthusiast the sport can be taken up at a very nominal cost.  Dinghy, offshore, tall ship and competitive sailing can be accessed by everyone… simply visit your local sailing club and find out.

My mission statement for the future sailor is to ignore the myths, just get out there, find out for yourself and satisfy the enthusiasm.

 

David Scott-Preston

Who Is David Scott-Preston of Learning To Sail Guide?

Welcome to this blog on learning to sail without it costing a fortune.  I’ll be posting regular updates, hints and tips on how you can participate in this amazing sport, whatever your age or budget.

You may be thinking who is David Scott-Preston and why should I read what he has to say… right?

Well, let me explain, my fifty year love affair with sailing began on one of those balmy summer Sunday afternoons… actually, casting your memory back to the age of 5, all past summer days appeared to have been hot and sunny.

I was visiting the seaside with my mother, father, brother and baby sister. We were very fortunate to always live near the coast and a river estuary. This was on the sands at the mouth of the River Ribble at Lytham St Annes in the North West of England.  The Ribble flows from the port of Preston out to the Irish Sea at Lytham.

As the family relaxed on the travel rug after lunch I was eager to go exploring!

I have always been drawn to boats and water from as far back as I can remember.  As inquisitive kids do, my brother and I came across a small open fishing boat anchored and beached on the sands, and we duly climbed aboard.

Our inventive imagination ran riot, as we pictured ourselves sailing out to sea in search of a tropical island and buried treasure. I was the captain of course and my brother was Jim Hawkins.

We knew enough about the seaside to be aware that the tide was coming in. On that part of the west coast it comes in quickly.

Before long we were afloat, but of course riding at anchor. This feeling was sensational to boys of 5 and 4.

Yours truly, however, decided it may be a good idea to untie the painter… the length of rope secured from the boat to the anchor!

Very quickly the boat gathered up speed and began to float up the river mouth. It is not unusual for a 6 knot tide to flow up the estuary in this location. For the uninitiated that is much faster than normal walking pace. My brother and I, on our adventure were thrilled to bits at our new found experience; until of course our parents realised our predicament.

This tale has a happy ending. The weather was perfect, the tide was coming in, and there were local fishermen nearby. It was easy for my dad to find a local boatman to bring us back to harbour no worse for wear, and no harm done.

BUT I was hooked.  The die was cast, and I have been around boats of all descriptions ever since… I’ve sailed single handed, in a crew, and now regularly compete.

The key learning point from my initial experience though is that it could have ended very differently. Inclement weather, tide on the ebb, and nobody nearby.

The golden rule when learning how to sail is as follows:-
Visit a local sailing school, sailing club or yacht club affiliated to the RYA (Royal Yachting Association), Canadian Yachting Association,  American Sailing Association,  Yachting Australia.

This will guarantee that you will learn in a safe environment and be taught by suitably qualified instructors… plus have a great deal of fun too.