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The Magic Of Sailing
Wind is free.
I have been sailing on and off since I was a little kid. The great thing about sailing is — the method of propulsion is free. Yes. The wind is still free. So far, the government has not found a way to tax it. I regard sailing as the ultimate in freedom. There are “rules of the road” in sailing but no roads. Unlike powerboating, sailing takes a high degree of skill. Anyone can take a quickee course in powerboat handling and can rent a boat and head out on the saltchuck or lake. It’s not rocket science. However, sailing a boat is an entirely different matter. It is rocket science! But, more on that later.
Sailing is not cheap but it can be relatively inexpensive if your choice of boat is a sailing dinghy or one of the many mass-produced small sailboats like a Laser 1 or Laser 2, a Sunfish, or an Optimist which are great for kids. Many sailing clubs have club boats available to members for a small fee and a sailing club is a great place for beginners to start. If you are interested in taking up the joy of sailing, this is the least expensive way to try it out. And, you don’t need to live near the ocean. Many small lakes provide ideal sailing conditions for a beginner sailor and some also have sailing clubs.
