6 traits and skills you develop when you sail a boat

Experiencing sailing for the first time may seem a little overwhelming. However, the truth is that with any new endeavour comes anxiety and a sense of fear. Indeed, if you think about it, people who haven’t been afraid of anything are those who haven’t tried anything new.

Besides, embarking on a sea voyage without any worries may lead to carelessness and a series of discomforts that you could avoid. Such will be the depth of your commitment to sailing that you can expect to develop the following six very useful traits and skills.

1. You become a Team Player

When sailing on a boat, you will realise the importance of the team. Besides the leader (skipper) who is the cornerstone of the team, every other member on a boat is not less necessary. Imagine a machine in which each part, big or small, plays a crucial role in its operation and you will easily understand how team work is essential when manoeuvring a sailing boat.

2. You say Goodbye to your comfort zone

Water is a totally different environment than the ones you are accustomed to. That being said, while sailing, you will discover that many of your “land” habits are quite obsolete when you are on board. Sailing will open a whole new world that you will get to know over time.

3. You focus on solutions

It is true that sailing reinforces your ability to concentrate and improves your solution-orientation skills. The minute you step on a boat, you are deeply focused on observing that everything is where it is supposed to be. You may, also, find yourself planning every move and predicting every problem that may appear while coming up with a list of solutions.

4. You learn to tie knots

Tying knots is one of the practical skills you develop on a sailing boat. Whether it’s a bowline, half-hitch, reef knot or a figure-of-eight, a knot is an essential tool to ensure that the boat is secure and everyone can enjoy their vacation safely.

5. You fix minor repairs

When you spend a lot of time in the sea, you realise that there is nobody else there to do all the necessary tasks on board besides you and your fellows. So, you are responsible to fix any minor malfunction or breakage that may come along the way which in time, makes you even more self-sufficient and a better leader than you ever were before.

6. You learn to interpret wind and weather conditions

Weather conditions in general and the wind in particular are the most important factors on which you base the speed and the direction of a sailing boat. Learning to read the wind is not only a perfect skill to master but also a valuable experience.