How to Sail a Yacht

Sailing a yacht is one of the great thrills of life. It's important to keep in mind, however, that a yacht is basically a floating island that keeps you and your crew from the danger of drowning. As such, it's important to know what you're doing when you sail a yacht. Follow these steps to sail a yacht.

Instructions

Difficulty: Challenging

1. Know your boat. Familiarize yourself with every inch of the yacht you're sailing on, including its engine, sails, lines and, most importantly, its emergency equipment. Before you even think about embarking on your voyage, go over the boat to make sure everything is in working order, paying special attention to the engine and safety gear.
2. Hold a crew meeting. Every crew member should understand their role and responsibility on board the yacht. Crew must know sailing basics, emergency procedures and how to operate the radio. As you assign crew positions, test each crew member on basic yachting skills to make sure that the crew can sail the boat in the case that the skipper gets incapacitated.
3. Set off under motor power. Unless your boat does not have a motor, you should leave the slip and harbor under motor power, instead of under sail power. Motor power gives you lots more control of the boat and goes a long way in preventing collisions in the close quarters of a harbor.
4. Set your sails in open water. When you're ready to sail turn the bow of the boat into the wind and raise the main sail. Once the main is up, raise your jib. If you sail with a furling jib, turn to your desired tack and slowly unfurl the jib and set it.
5. Keep your eyes open and stay alert. It's easy to get caught up in the pleasure and intensity of sailing. But it is extremely important that at least one person (but preferably all on-deck crew) watch the water for obstructions, potential collisions or any looming weather. Vigilance is the most important part of sailing safety and should never be neglected.