What to know before you go sailing in Boston
Are you ready for a day on the water?
“I think sailing is the kind of thing you’ll try once and you’ll know if it’s for you,” said Francois Asselin, head sailing instructor at the Boston Sailing Center.
You can find out if it is, in fact, your thing during the Boston Sailing Center’s open house program, which takes place monthly between April and July. During the open house, visitors can go on a free 30-minute sail around Boston Harbor with an experienced sailor. The next one is June 15 from 1 to 4 p.m., and reservations are required.
“The great thing about sailing is that, even after years and years, there’s always something to learn,” said Asselin, who has worked at the center for 25 years. “It’s something that people do all their lives.”
If you’re a newbie who plans to start sailing this season, Asselin offered the following four tips to prepare for a day on the water.
Start with a class
A beginner’s course doesn’t require any experience, Asselin said. Founded in 1977, The Boston Sailing Center at Lewis Wharf in Boston offers classes at all levels of sailing and teaches more than 400 students a year. It’s an adult sailing school, which means students must be at least 18.
For families looking to sign up kids to sail, you can check out Community Boating, Inc. in Boston, Courageous Sailing in Charlestown, and Piers Park Sailing Center in East Boston, which all offer youth programs, Asselin said.
Know that you’ll be participating
If you think that taking a class means a leisurely ride on the water where you can kick back, sip a drink, and sunbathe, think again.
“In sailing it’s not just about being on the water,” he said. “You have to operate this big machine.”
You need to know how to rig the boat (or put the sails on), how to raise the sails, how to steer the boat, and how to land the boat at a mooring, Asselin explained. You also need to understand navigation, wind strength and direction, and high tide and low tide. You will learn all of this in your class, he said.
Think ahead when it comes to seasickness
If you usually get ill on the water, there are some steps you can take ahead of time to feel better, according to Asselin. Ginger helps with seasickness, so he said it’s a good idea to pack ginger products in your bag such as ginger snaps and ginger ale. You can also use motion sickness medicine and products such as dramamine, patches, and bracelets.
“When you start to get seasick, it’s too late to take remedies,” Asselin said. “So if you are prone to seasickness, you have to take it before.”
It’s also a good idea to consider what you eat and drink before you sail.
“If you are hungover or you just had a big meal of fried clams — greasy food and alcohol doesn’t help,” Asselin said.
Take the right clothes for a day on the water
Sure, it’s a beautiful, sunny day out — but you should still pack a jacket when you go sailing, Asselin said.
“Typically, the temperature drops on the water, and it’s cooler out on the water,” he said.
You should also pack sunscreen and a hat, and prepare to possibly get wet.
“Even on a nice sunny day, if it’s very windy, you are going to get wet,” Asselin said.
