Optimist yachting is an exciting and adventurous activity. It is nothing to be afraid of for it is just smooth sailing. In this report I will be telling you the key basics of yachting. I will also tell you what it is like, how to recover from a capsize and the parts to an optimist yacht.
The equipment you need might come in handy for when you yacht. The most important thing you need is the yacht. Otherwise you would be sitting in the water. Warm clothing is a great idea because if it is really windy you could get cold. On shore you will need a first aid kit packed with the right things because someone could get injured. You will also need something to contact someone else with because you might get stuck out at sea. Just to make it easier you should take a paddle because if you not catching any wind you will be stuck.
To be able to yacht you need to know the parts to your boat. The part to the yacht that need the most is the hull. The hull is the body of the boat and without it you will be sitting there with the sail and the tiller and you will need to catch a lot of wind. Another important thing you will need is the mast and the sail. You must tie the sail to the mast using a figure of 8 knot and then put the must into a round slot in the hull. Now you will need the tiller and the rudder. They should be attached to each other. You need to clip the rudder into a slot at the stern of the boat. The tiller is what steers your boat making the rudder move through the water. Lastly you will need a centreboard. The centreboard helps the boat not capsize, move to the side and makes it go faster.
Now I will tell you what it is like out there, when to do it if you want it calm or adventurous and give you a few tips. When you are out there it could be a bit scary but it is really fun and exciting. If you want it really scary and adventurous go out when it is really windy but if you want it calm and peaceful go out when there is only a little bit of wind. If you start to tip to one side lean to the side that is going higher so you can balance the boat. If you want to get back to the shore and the wind is hitting the side leave the centreboard in until it hits the shore. This will make it harder for the wind to push you to the side.
If you don't want to capsize you better read this. Now I will tell you what it is like, how to prevent it and what to do if you are sinking. When you capsize it may be a bit scary at first but it really isn’t. If you don’t want to capsize follow these instructions. When you want to swap places don't stand, crawl to get to the other spot. Make sure you have something to scoop the water out with otherwise it will be easier to sink. If you start to sink instead of capsizing, don't hop out of your boat. You may be waist high with water but if you hop out you will be neck high.
Now you need a safety check. Make sure you have a properly fitted life jacket. Don't make it too tight otherwise it will hurt. You must have proper shoes on because there might be glass all over the beach. You must check that all the knots are tied properly because you might sink or sit in the same spot. The buoyancy tank screws and bungs must be screwed in properly otherwise you will sink.
Hopefully this will help you for when you optimist yacht. Make sure the safety checks are all completed and you have the right equipment. If you want it adventurous go when it is windy unless go when it's calm. Thank you for reading.