With summer fast approaching you might be thinking about taking up a new hobby, due to the (hopefully) warmer weather during summer months you may be thinking about watersports in particular as a good area to start with. There are a vast number of popular water sports you can begin, one of the most favoured ones is sailing and there are a number of reasons why.
Cost
Although many people think that sailing must be a very expensive sport to get into, there are a number of ways that you can save money and protect your budget when starting out on the sport. Firstly shopping around when looking for sailing lessons, the cost of lessons can range widely so doing your own research for the best value for your money is your best bet. Some providers can even offer discounts for blocks of lessons.
For sailing equipment and sailing clothing there are a number of reasonably priced retailers nowadays that provide quality sailing gear. Remember just because it is labelled as sailing equipment doesn’t mean that it can’t be used for other watersports and activities. For example your sailing base layers can be used for a wide range of other uses.
If you aren’t 100% sure that sailing is going to be a long term hobby then you might find it less daunting to rent or hire a sailing dinghy. Although long term it could work out costly, if you’re planning on only sailing as a seasonal hobby then this might be the most cost effective method.
Easy to learn and maintain
The thought of heading out alone and sailing a boat independently can seem daunting, however, sailing is actually much easier to grasp than you may initially expect. In fact, it is not unheard of for individuals to pick up the basics of sailing within a single afternoon with a highly qualified instructor.
If your family already owns a sailing vessel or a boat business, it is fairly easy for you to learn sailing with the help of your family members. Not only that, but you can also learn about the details of how these vessels work, the machinations of how the sails ascend and descend, where the 316 Stainless Steel Machine Screws and the hex silicon bronze lag bolts should go, and what it takes to keep your boat in good condition. Overall, it is a fairly accessible and highly engaging skill to have, which is all the more reason one should consider taking it up.
Exercise
Another reason to invest in your first sailing equipment and take the plunge with sailing is that it is a great form of exercise. If you find going to the gym a bit tedious then starting a watersports hobby like sailing can be a perfect way to get in your weekly exercise without dragging yourself to an evening gym class. Sailing helps to build stamina, strength and coordination and you can burn up to 400 calories an hour.
Escape time/quality time
Sailing can be a great opportunity to create some ‘me time’ within your diary, when life is getting in the way, heading out on to the water can really help. Making time in your schedule to pursue a hobby not only will help to improve your physical health but it will also do wonders for your mental health.
As mentioned there are a number of benefits to starting sailing and starting the watersport may be easier and cheaper than you think. Employing some smart shopping techniques like shopping around and looking at other options can really help you to save a lot of money. Before starting any new hobby make sure you do enough research to identify if the sport is really the right one for you.