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Sailboats are slow, but efficient -

The average sailboat sails at about four to six knots (seven to 11 km/h) and has a top speed of nine knots (17 km/h), which isn't that fast. However, they can continue the journey throughout the day and night, making them very efficient.

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The ancient sailboat -

Sailboats were invented around 4000 BCE by the Egyptians and Phoenicians. These ancient sailboats used a square cloth, tied to a wooden log, which was attached to a narrow boat.

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Historical sailboats are often misrepresented -

When we think about historical sailboats, our minds usually picture galleons and first rates. However, there were no large sailboats or sailing ships until the Renaissance period.

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Sailing gives you access to places with little tourism -

Some islands are off-limits to tourism, making them hidden gems. There are no flights or cruises going there, but you can get there by boat.

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The ideal wind speed for sailing -

The easiest wind to maneuver a small to mid-size boat is between eight and 12 knot (15 and 22 km/h). If you're new to sailing, then five to eight knots (nine to 15 km/h) is ideal.

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Trade is named after the trade winds -

Traders of the Middle Ages discovered that the Atlantic had very reliable wind roads, which became known as "trade winds." Trade is the Middle English word for "track" or "path."

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It's possible to operate a 100 foot (30 meter) sailboat alone -

It's definitely possible to operate a 100 foot (30 meter) boat by yourself. However, it's not easy. You need to be experienced and mentally tough. Most sailors tend to stay under 35 feet (10 meters).

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The youngest person to circumnavigate the world was 16-year-old Laura Dekker -

Laura Dekker, from the Netherlands, is the youngest person ever to circumnavigate the world solo. She started the journey in 2010, and completed it in 2012. The trip took 518 days.

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"Feeling blue" is originally a sailing term -

The famous phrase originated when one sailboat lost its captain while on voyage. This led the sailors to sail blue flags to demonstrate their loss.

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Sailing has been a part of the Olympics since 1896 -

Sailing has been a part of all the Olympic Games since 1896, except for the 1904 Summer Games, which were held in Louisiana. It's one of the longest-running Olympic sports.

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"Son of a gun" refers to a birthplace -

Historically, when sailboats would carry women from one place to another, they often gave birth on board. In cases where the newborn wasn't claimed by one of the passengers or sailors, the child would be registered on the ship's log as "son of a gun" (gun meaning "man").

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Solo sailing is also known as short-handed sailing -

The reason for the name is that when sailing solo, the sailor needs to rig all the systems in their cockpit to easily control other areas of the boat while they steer it.

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The average salinity of oceans is 3.5% -

While that's the average, some seas are even saltier. Saline water increases metal and aluminum corrosion. So the saltier the sea, the more maintenance your boat will need.

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Cats were a sign of good luck -

This belief goes back all the way to the Vikings. Sailors would adopt cats, seeing them as a sign of good luck while out on their journeys.

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The world-record sailing speed is 65.45 knots (120.7 km/h) -

Australian sailor Paul Larsen is the fastest sailor of all time. In 2012, he set the fastest sailing speed world record of 65.45 knots (120.7 km/h).

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You can sail for nearly 22,229 miles (32,000 kilometers) in a straight line -

The straight line runs around the Earth, from Port Renfrew, British Columbia, to Port-Cartier, Quebec. And while this is mostly a theory by amateur cartographer David Cooke, it's cool to imagine sailing straight without touching land.

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Sailboat racing is an extreme sport -

Sailboat racing isn't an easy sport, and it's even dangerous when done on a vast scale. There's the risk of getting lost at sea and even drowning.

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The first person to circumnavigate the world alone was Joshua Slocum -

In 1898, Joshua Slocum became the first man to sail around the world by himself. The second attempt happened 69 years later, via Francis Chichester.

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The New York Yacht Club has one of the longest winning streaks in sports history -

From 1851 to 1983, the New York Yacht Club won the America's Cup 25 times over a span of 132 years in a row. It was the longest winning streak measured by years in the history of all sports.

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The sailing flags originate from the Anglo-Dutch Wars -

During the Anglo-Dutch Wars (1652-1674), the British wanted to replace the Dutch as the dominant naval power. The Dutch came up with a flag signaling system to outmaneuver the British, which they succeeded in doing.

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Sailing around the world westward is more difficult than eastward -

It's easier to sail eastward because the calculation of wind and currents is more predictable than when sailing westwards. For this reason, most word-record contenders choose to sail east.

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The origin of "he's a loose cannon" -

"He's a loose cannon" is originally a sailing term. Cannons aboard boats used to be extremely heavy, weighing up to 3,400 pounds (1,500 kg). So loose cannons were dangerous and needed to be avoided, hence the saying.

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The smallest boat to sail around the world was 21 feet (6.5 meters) -

In 2010, Alessandro Di Benedetto won the world record for circumnavigating the world in the smallest sailboat. It took him 268 days and 19 hours.

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Sailboats can sail faster than the speed of the wind -

Most boats can't go faster than the speed of the wind. But some racing boats and most multihulls can. The reason is that these boats generate their own wind, allowing them to "surf their own waves." This increases their speed.

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Sailing superstitions -

One of the oldest superstitions was that whistling during a voyage would bring destructive winds. Except for the ship’s cook, no one else on the ship’s crew was allowed to whistle.

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No bananas on board -

Another popular superstition, prevalent on fishing boats, was that bananas on board meant no fish. Therefore, bananas were extremely unlucky for fishermen.

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The most popular sail rig is based off a Moorish lateen rig -

Known as the Bermuda sloop, it's a fore-and-aft single-masted sailboat rig, which was developed in the 17th century by a Dutch-born Bermudian. It was inspired by the Moorish lateen rig, which they got to know in the Spanish-Dutch independence war.

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The first five-masted tall ship sunk -

In 1902, the first ever full-rigged, five-masted ship was built in Germany. Named the Preußen, it sunk in 1908 in the English Channel due to damage from a collision with a small cross-channel steamer.

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The world's largest sailing yacht -

Launched in 2015, Sailing Yacht A is currently the world's largest sailing yacht. Designed by Philippe Starck for Russian billionaire Andrey Melnichenko, it was seized by the Italian authorities in 2022 due to the EU's sanctions on several Russian businessmen. 

Sources: (Improve Sailing) (iNsailing) 

See also: Historic ships and boats you can visit and admire 

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