Is Sailing Hard? Learn Why the Right Boat, Training & Support Change Everything

Many people ask, “Is sailing difficult?” The short answer-it can be. Without proper guidance,

using the wrong type of sailboat, and lacking safety knowledge, beginners often find

themselves frustrated or even scared. However, is sailing hard when you’ve got the right

setup? Not at all. With the right sailboat, hands-on training, and ongoing support, the

experience becomes smooth, fun, and exciting-even for first-timers. Because sailing

requires more skill and seamanship than driving a powerboat, you get a greater sense of

accomplishment from sailing than power boating. It is very satisfying to make the boat take

you where you want to go using only the power from the wind.

The Wrong Boat Makes Sailing Feel Impossible

Not all sailboats are beginner-friendly. Larger boats may look impressive, but they come

with complex systems like engines, complicated electrical systems that have both AC and

DC, plumbing, Heads (toilets) & holding tanks that can clog up, bigger sails which require the use of mechanical advantage like winches to pull the sail in, and heavy anchors that may require the use of an anchor windless to raise the anchor. These can be intimidating and expensive to maintain. Small sailboats are more responsive, which makes them easier to learn to sail on than large sailboats.

If you are on a small boat and you change the angle of the sail to the wind, in a way that results in the sail generating more lift, the boat will very noticeably speed up. If you sheet the sail in too much, or too little, the boat will slow down abruptly. Pay attention the the feedback you get from your boat. Large Sailboats are much less responsive. If you make an adjustment to the sails on a large boat, you won’t feel anything. You will have to look at the electronic knot meter to see if you sped up or slowed down after adjusting the sails. That is why small sailboats are easier to learn on.

Small sailboats like beach catamarans are built for performance and fun. They’re:

• Lightweight and easy to trailer

• Free of engines and complex electrical systems

• Perfect for launching from a beach or boat ramp

• Designed for speed and excitement

Catamarans, for example, are incredibly fast in light winds. That speed makes sailing feel

more like flying across the water. Sailing fast brings a rush that slow, heavy boats just can't

match.

Of course, these boats come with their quirks. Catamarans are very stable in gentle

conditions, but they become more prone to flip in stronger winds. That might sound scary at

first. But here’s the truth: flipping over is part of the learning process. As you gain

experience, you’ll develop the skills to control your boat even in gusty weather. And if you

do flip, beach cats are fairly easy to right, especially with practice.

Training Turns Confusion Into Confidence

You wouldn’t drive a car without learning how, right? Sailing works the same way. Hands-on

Instruction makes a big difference. That’s why learning on the exact boat you’ll own is so

important.

With hands-on lessons tailored to your boat, you’ll learn:

• How to rig and launch your boat safely

• Basic steering and sail control

• Understanding wind direction and how it affects movement

• Reading weather patterns and staying safe

One question sailors sometimes ask is: What do I do if I find myself in fog, mist, smoke, or any condition that results in restricted visibility? The answer can be found in The International

Regulations for Prevention of Collisions at Sea (COLREGS), aka Rules of the Road, aka

Navigation Rules. See Rule 35, Sound Signals in Restricted Visibility. There is a good chance

you will have little or no wind in such conditions, so you would probably be motoring or

anchored. If motoring, you should keep your speed to a minimum, in case you have to stop

abruptly, which would require shifting the engine from forward to reverse. While motoring,

you would use an air horn to produce one prolonged blast at least once every 2 minutes. The

sound signal for a vessel at anchor or under sail power is the same: three blasts in

succession, namely one prolonged followed by two short blasts at least every 2 minutes.

Vessels less than 12 meters in length are not required to have an air horn, but are required

to have some other means of making an efficient sound signal, whistle, gong, bell, etc.

Concluding Thoughts

Is sailing hard? It can be-but not when you’ve got the right setup. A beginner-friendly

Sailboat, thorough instruction, and real support make all the difference. It turns something

that once seemed difficult into something you can truly enjoy and even love.

Rick’s Small Sailboats LLC is here to make that happen. Every boat sold comes with Coast

Guard-required safety gear and an 8-hour lesson on your own boat. You'll also get a 1-year

Boat US membership and lifetime access to expert advice. If you’re new to sailing or

returning after years away, we’ll help you feel prepared, capable, and excited to hit the

water.