subject: Sailing Dinghy - A Throw Back To Ships Of Old [print this page] Some people have no idea what a sailing dinghy is. I'll have to admit, until recently I didn't have the faintest clue myself. That's dinghy with an h. I always thought it was dingy myself. I'm always enjoying learning new things, and sharing it with other people.
The sailing dinghy came about as a way to shuffle goods from larger ships to shore back in the day. Deep docks weren't commonplace things, so the large transport vessels had to park out in deeper water while these smaller boats carried the loads in. These little sail boats turned out to be quick and really maneuverable and the idea of racing them came into being. They are generally manned by a single person, or what's called a two plus crew depending on the size. Some boats can have a sailing crew up of up to eight people.
Skiff style dinghies are the fastest type, thanks to their narrow hulls and flat bottoms. These are often manned by one to three people at a time, depending on how large the vessel is. Cruising dinghies are for the more laid back sailor. They tend to be a bit more stable in the water and have a smaller sail. I was surprised to find out that a catamaran is a dinghy as well. They have two hulls and a flat surface that lends to their speed in the water. Even the Olympics have dinghy racing. There are quite a few classes in Olympic dinghy racing for both men and women.
The sailing dinghy works by keeping the boat balanced. To do this, the crew uses its body weight against the force of the sails. They are built to capsize and you can usually upright one without any assistance. If you yourself are looking to learn to sail these types of vessels, you may be able to learn at your local sailing school or club. Usually these have no age or gender restrictions, meaning that anyone can jump in and learn how to man and control these small and fun water vessels. There are even some racing teams, which can be great fun for the intermediate or experienced dinghy sailor.
Most sailing dinghy types are actually quite fast, even the cruising variety in comparison to some other types of boats, additionally the risk of capsizing is certainly prominent, meaning that those who do not know how to swim may be better off avoiding these vessels all together.
It is entirely possible to sail one of these vessels on your own, or even with some friends. It's important to learn how to sail correctly, not only for your own safety but the safety of those around you. And that this is a sport everyone in the family can enjoy if they want to.
by: Martha Marina
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