Sailing is an activity that requires balance, skill and determination. It’s a fun, exciting, and social activity. We can wonder if it is a sport though. Let’s first see what sailing is and then find out if it is a sport as well.
What is sailing?
Sailing is an activity that uses the wind to propel a boat across the water using a variety of rigs. Sailing can be done with a wide range of boats, both racing and pleasure craft. Whilst the most common craft in competition is the dinghy, other types of craft are used for leisure. There are many types of sailing, from dinghy racing to ocean racing, day sailing and cruising.
Competitive sailing is normally divided into six disciplines: People with a wide range of specialisms can participate in these events: from beginners learning the basics of sailing on a lake, to experienced sailors competing at the highest level in major yachting events such as the Olympics.
Some of the types of sailing are:
-Lake sailing can be done in almost any type of boat, and you can use a variety of different rigs.
-Day sailing on the open water is a great way to enjoy the sights of the coast or maybe travel inland to explore new areas. Day sailors can explore protected coastal waters, and lakes, or maybe venture out into the open ocean on an expedition.
-Cruising is the ultimate form of sailing. Cruising combines the pleasure of sailing with the adventure of exploring new areas.
-A regatta is a competition where people sail boats. Di The main types of regattas are offshore racing and inshore racing.
– Ocean racing is a type of sailing where boats sail between different ports. Ocean racing boats are specially designed for long trips at sea.
History of sailing
The history of sailing dates back as far as 4000 BC, and it is believed ancient cultures such as the Egyptians and Chinese used primitive vessels for transportation even earlier. The first recorded use of sailing was in Ancient Greece, where sailors would navigate the Aegean Sea in primitive vessels.
The first form of racing was also documented in Ancient Greece, where Corinthian sailors would race their vessels against each other on the Isthmus at Corinth. Later, during the 15th and 16th centuries, large wooden sailing vessels were used to explore the world and trade goods. Throughout this period and into the early 18th century, sailing vessels were primarily used for trade, exploration, and colonization. As new technologies developed, sailing vessels were upgraded with the latest innovations, such as the addition of the steam engine, and the invention of the engine and propeller.
What is needed for sailing?
Sailors can wear clothing that is suitable for the conditions, but for competitive sailing, sailors need specific clothing that helps them perform to the best of their abilities. This clothing is designed to help keep sailors warm and dry.
If you want to be able to compete in a specific sailing discipline, you’ll need to take a course in that discipline. Courses are available at sailing clubs, schools, and community colleges. If you want to be able to skipper your own boat, you’ll need to get a skipper’s license. This varies between countries, so you’ll need to check what’s required in your area. If you want to be able to crew your own boat, you’ll need to get a crewing certificate. Again, this varies between countries, so you’ll need to check what’s required in your area.
Boats can be quite expensive, luckily it is possible to rent one as well. This makes this activity more accessible.
Now that we know the basics of sailing, let’s take a look to see if it is a sport.
What is a sport?
The word “sport” is used as a synonym for physical activity or exercise. You might say that someone is a “sport” because they are active and fit. But what does it mean to be a sport? In the broad definition, it means a physical activity that requires certain skills.
Stricter definitions also require that sports have a competitive element. An activity needs 3 components before it can be considered a sport according to these definitions:
1/ A physical activity
2/ That requires a skill
3/ And has a competitive element
In today’s world, most sports involve competitive games where the goal is to beat your opponent. This means that you can’t participate in a sport without having an opponent.
A lot of sports can be viewed on TV and a lot of people have a favorite athlete. This can inspire them to start practicing this sport as well.
Is sailing a sport?
Based on the previous definitions we can determine if sailing is a sport.
Sailing generally has a physical element as sailors have to adjust the sails by hand. More recently automated systems have been introduced and this removes the physical element from sailing.
Sailing requires a lot of skill as having to be able to navigate and adjust the sails. Most sailors have to follow courses and get a certificate before they can start. It is important to avoid other ships and rocks. Being able to deal with storms and a lot of wind is also essential for a sailor. They have to follow the weather prediction and adjust their route based on this.
Sailing can also have a competitive element. They can compete to be the first to finish a long trip. The focus is on speed and dealing with the elements. There are also competitions that challenge sailors to follow a certain pattern on the water. They have to prove their agility in these cases. This sport is also part of the Olympics.
Based on the previous, we can conclude that sailing is a sport. It has all the requirements of even a narrow definition of this word. It has a physical, skill and competitive element.
Source
https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/sport
