Whether you are planning to purchase a yacht or renting one for weekends, you need to have the basic tips on how to sail. Even in calm waters, issues can arise if you're not sure what to do. Anyone who has knowledge on how to sail will tell you that it's quite easy to grasp. However, everyone has their own pace to learn things and that's alright. The most important thing to remember is that no matter how tough or easy a task may be, obtaining complete knowledge of it will keep you away from trouble. Which is why, the best thing you could do is get yourself enrolled in sailing and yachting courses to get yourself well-educated. In the following section, we will go over some basic tips on how to sail a yacht. ► Berthing the Yacht The marina has tight spaces where boats and piles will be occupying space. The channels could be narrow as well and the wind might not work to your advantage. So coming and going out of the dock might be tricky. What you need to do is turn the engine on, keep it in neutral, and walk around the dock to decide which path to take. Work with the winds (check its direction), come back to the yacht to inspect the fenders if they aren't tangled, and unplug the shore power. Yachting is a team effort and hence, you need to communicate with the rest of the people on board about how you're berthing out of the pen. The techniques on berthing are taught in detail while you are taking the course as a lot of factors come into play before you can release the line and motor forward. ► Placing the Fenders A lot of times, there are no or very few fenders alongside the wharf and this can cause the yacht to collide and damage its outer coat. You should place fenders at even distance, covering the widest part of the yacht properly. When you tie them to the guard rail, make sure that the bottom of the fenders hang above the waterline. Now your yacht won't always be alongside a wharf in the marina. Sometimes, there could be another yacht right next to it. To protect your yacht from colliding and damaging the other yacht, you need to check which part of the yachts will touch one another. This way, you can decide if the fenders need to be lowered or stay in the middle. Just make sure that you check if the fenders aren't tangled up before you leave the berth. ► Tying the Yacht Tying a yacht isn't similar to tying a small boat. Due to wind and the amount of movement in the water, a yacht can swing in various directions. This can be an issue if your yacht is right next to someone else's yacht or alongside the wharf. Securing the forward, backward, and side movements of the yacht is necessary. During the yachting course, you will be taught how to secure the lines and make proper loops in order to tie proper knots. What happens here is that the yacht is being stopped from moving in any direction so that it won't collide with anything on its sides. ► Anchoring the Yacht To anchor the yacht, selecting an ideal spot is necessary. Every yacht has a plow anchor available that has an electric windlass winch (to raise and lower the anchor). Of course, avoiding rocks will be beneficial while anchoring your yacht; so be aware of the area you are sailing in. Anchoring at the correct depth is also vital because of low and high tides. If you are going to leave the yacht anchored in during low or high tides, there will be variation in tides and you could get swept up somewhere else. A good way to start is by imitating what other yachts have done. Check which side are the yachts facing, where the chain of the anchor is, and how much chain is inside the water. Being closer to similar yachts (same size), you can be sure to avoid any errors. Buying a luxury yacht isn't enough. You have to be sure of what all needs to be done before you set sail. While providing you with yachting tips for beginners, there are certain terms which you may or may not understand completely. Which is why it is vital that you take courses from a professional who has experience and knowledge about yachting. This way, you can familiarize with all the terms used while sailing a yacht. I hope that this article on yachting for beginners helped and that you will pursue your dream to sail through the open waters pretty soon.