The Life of a Sailor

Sailors occupy a romantic place in the collective consciousness of American people. When the average person stops to think of the life of a sailor, she probably pictures crashing waves, rowing shanties and time spent on beautiful islands. While some of this picture of sailing life is accurate, the lives of sailors also include harsh realities such as long trips away from friends and family, hard manual labor and the dangers of the open sea.

Types

Sailors generally fall into one of three categories: military sailors who staff naval vessels and engage in warfare, cargo sailors who work on cargo boats bringing loads of goods across oceans to distant ports, and, the most recent, hospitality sailors who provide service to tourists and cruise guests on sailing vacations. Some sailors also enjoy sport sailing, competing in races and regattas or long voyages to demonstrate their sailing prowess.

History

For as long as mankind has traveled by boat, sailors have crewed those ships. The first boats to sail open waters were the dugout canoes used by primitive populations on several continents. Later, the Egyptians made use of the first sails, including primitive sailing technology on some of their boats. The Vikings were some of the most famous sailors, perfecting the use of the sail on their longboats during the ninth century.

Benefits

The lifestyle of a seaman draws many people to take up sailing as an enjoyable hobby. Career sailors enjoy life more on the water rather than on shore as "land lubbers." Sailing can be rewarding, allowing sailors to complete a hard day's work aboard a ship, having accomplished everything through the skill of their own two hands.

Warning

Like any other outdoor sport or manual labor, sailing carries with it is own set of particular dangers. Sailors die every year when caught in large and dangerous storms, and other sailors fall victim to the daily accidents of life on large boats such as boat fires, accidents while operating sails or machinery, and dangers associated with heavy lifting.

Time Frame

Depending on which branch of sailing a sailor chooses, their voyages at sea may vary in length. A sport sailor, for instance, may go out to sail for only a few hours before heading back to a port, while a cargo sailor may be at sea for weeks or months before setting foot on land.

References

• Career as a Sailor
• Sail