Steady Keel is your home for everything related to recreational sailing – both for racing and for the pure pleasure of being on the water.
Sailing is both a relaxing activity and a lifetime pursuit of skilled excellence. There's no better way to test your mastery of these skills than participating in a race at your local yacht club. Racing of various types is open to all skill levels and volunteering to crew a boat can be a great way to advance your sailing knowledge while becoming a part of a community of some of the friendliest people you'll meet.
SAILING IS ABOUT FREEDOM, OPEN AIR, AND ADVENTURE...
THE WIND & ELEMENTS
When we're talking wind, we're talking about the chance to test yourself against the elements. They say successful sailing is about 10% learning your boat and its unique characteristics and 90% understanding the wind. This means judging the surface of the water, surrounding boats, flags and even birds to determine where the air is moving next. Veteran sailors can almost see and feel when the wind is about to shift and can react accordingly. There is no greater satisfaction than mastering the best nature has to throw at you.
THE RICH HISTORY
The development of sailing led directly to the spread of civilization. The wind and sailing technology were a vital part of commerce, communication and political power for at least 5,000 years. As modern technology overtook sailing vessels in the past 125 years or so, the art of sailing has become less of a vital tool and more of a recreational pastime. Sailing's profound contribution to society has a terminology that is deeply ingrained in our everyday language. In fact, many of today's commonly used phrases originated in the early days of sailing. Check out some of those phrases here
THE COMMUNITY
Sailors and recreational cruisers are a close, friendly and welcoming bunch. Even the most serious amateur races are all about who can have the most fun. Local yacht clubs of all sizes pride themselves on being family-friendly, inclusive and as a source for passing along sailing knowledge to the younger generation. Yacht and sailing clubs frequently host open regattas or have calls for outside crewmembers looking to learn. When you find the club for you, membership may be as low as a few hundred dollars a year for an entire family.
A LIFETIME OF LEARNING
A young kid can easily learn to sail a dinghy. As he or she masters each type of vessel, there's always a larger one ahead. Successfully learning to sail imparts a strong sense of achievement, self-confidence and the value of hard work. Being a crew member on a larger boat can bring a sense of camaraderie and mentorship between new and experienced sailors. Sailing helps develop essential skills like teamwork, leadership group dynamics.
REDIRECT YOUR FOCUS
Whether you are on your own or sailing with others, you're required to focus on the water, the wind and your boat. Separating from your normal life and shifting your attention to something else – particularly when you sail far away from the nearest cellphone tower – can change your entire mood and provide recreation even when you have to work hard. Legend has it that sailors invented happy hour thanks to the attitude adjustment provided by a long day on the water.