fun facts about yacht

December 14

Fun Facts About Yachts: Surprising Trivia About These Iconic Vessels

YACHT UNIVERSITY BLOG

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Yachts are a symbol of luxury and extravagance, often associated with the rich and famous. But beyond their opulent appearance and high price tags, yachts have a rich history and many interesting facts that may surprise you. In this blog post, we’ll explore some fun facts about yachts that you may not have known before.

The word “yacht” comes from the Dutch word “jacht,” which means “hunt.” Originally, yachts were small, fast sailing vessels used by the Dutch navy to pursue pirates and other ships.
The world’s largest yacht, the Azzam, measures a staggering 180 meters (590 feet) in length. Owned by the Emir of Abu Dhabi, it reportedly cost over $600 million to build.
The fastest yacht in the world is the World Is Not Enough, which set a speed record of 70.86 knots (81.6 mph) in 2004. It was built for the James Bond movie of the same name.
The first yacht club in the world was the Royal Cork Yacht Club in Ireland, founded in 1720. Today, there are thousands of yacht clubs worldwide.
The first motor-powered yacht was the Vector, built in 1888 by American engineer George Lawley. It was powered by a one-cylinder gasoline engine and could reach a top speed of 6 knots.
The Queen’s yacht, the HMY Britannia, was decommissioned in 1997 and is now a floating museum in Edinburgh, Scotland. It was used by the royal family for over 40 years and hosted many state visits and royal events.
Yachts were once used as a means of transportation for the wealthy. In the 19th century, it was common for wealthy families to travel by yacht between their homes in different locations.
Yachts are often equipped with luxurious amenities such as swimming pools, hot tubs, and even helipads. Some even have movie theaters, bowling alleys, and basketball courts.
The cost of owning and maintaining a yacht can be astronomical. According to some estimates, it can cost up to 10% of the yacht’s value each year to maintain it.
Yachts can be environmentally friendly too. Some yachts are equipped with solar panels, wind turbines, and hybrid engines to reduce their carbon footprint and lower their impact on the environment.

Yachts may be symbols of extravagance, but they also have a rich history and many interesting facts. From their origins as Dutch naval vessels to their luxurious amenities and high cost of ownership, yachts are truly unique vessels that capture our imagination and fascination.

Trivia about yachts, Yacht Crew, Yacht fun fact, Yachting.

10 Fascinating Yacht Facts for Kids

When you think about a boat, what’s the first thing that comes to mind? For us, we think of tiny fishing boats that fishermen use to get the best catch of the day! However, you might not think of a yacht immediately. Yachts are some of the biggest boats in the world, and they can be found in most major oceans! In this article, we’re going to take a closer look at some fun and interesting facts about yachts, so let’s dive right into it.

10 Interesting Facts About Yachts

1. the word ‘yacht’ is dutch in origin. .

Did you know that the word ‘yacht’ has Dutch roots? It comes from the word jacht , which, when translated, means hunt. Before yacht came to mean what it does today, it also originally referred to a different type of boat. These boats were sailing vessels known for their speed and lightweight structure.

These boats were used by the Dutch Republic Navy to capture pirates and other naval criminals. Eventually, the boats that we now know to be called yachts got their names after Charles II visited the Netherlands, and came across jachten , and the same was anglicized and later stuck.

2. The idea of a yacht first came around in the 17th century.

It’s interesting to note that yachts were first conceptualized in the 17th century. This occurred when the royal advisors suggested building King James I of England’s son a sailing vessel that was purely for his pleasure and leisure. King James later became the first person to commission a yacht for his son, and in the years that followed, various other members of the royal family chose to have yachts built for themselves.

3. There are several different types of yachts.

Did you know that there are multiple types of yachts that serve varied purposes? These types include motor and sailing yachts, catamarans, fishing yachts, and even expedition yachts. Each of these yachts serves a different purpose, such as transporting goods, entertaining wealthy people, and competing in sailing contests.

4. Yachts can be constructed from different types of materials.

Although you might think that the average yacht is constructed with metal and glass, it might interest you to know that the earlier yachts used to be constructed with wood. However, when the 1960s rolled around, yachts were made from fiberglass. In the case of larger yachts that need to last for a longer time, they are made from stainless steel or aluminum. Some yachts are even made from fiber-reinforced plastic.

Check this article on Titanic facts.

5. Each yacht can have cabins of different sizes.

It’s interesting to note that based on the size of a yacht, it can have either two or more than two cabins. Smaller yachts sometimes have convertible berths that are used as a seating area during the day, and a cabin for sleeping at night.

6. Sailing and cruising yachts both serve very different purposes.

Although their names already explain how these yachts differ from each other, we’re going to explain further. Cruising yachts are generally built for leisure purposes and pleasure, which means that they aren’t built for speed or competition. However, sailing yachts are built to withstand all kinds of weather conditions and speed. They must be easy to steer and control, particularly when both the wind and water are strong and dangerous.

7. There are thousands of yachts spread across the world.

At present, more than 10,000 yachts are spread throughout the world. Over 5,300 of those yachts are close to 100 feet long.

8. Azzam is the biggest yacht in the world.

The Azzam yacht is actually considered to be a super-yacht! It was built by Lürssen Yachts, which is a German shipyard. It is 590 feet long, making it the longest and biggest yacht in the entire world. Its beam is around 68 feet, and its draft is 14.1 feet.

9. Many yacht crews live on the yachts throughout the year.

It’s no secret that being a yachter is a full-time career. However, it’s interesting to note that many yachters live on the boats they work on full-time, and serve the yacht’s owner throughout the year. However, although these jobs can be difficult, they are incredibly well-paying.

Read our article on the Sinking of the Lusitania Ship .

10. People in the United States own 23% of the world’s total yacht fleet.

Yacht owners in America make up a significant portion of the world’s total yacht fleet! It’s also interesting to note that these people in the States also own 23% of the superyachts in the world.

In this article, we examined some interesting and new facts about yachts. We were particularly interested to learn about the origins of these huge boats, and how they have evolved since they were invented. We hope that this article taught you something new, and that you enjoyed reading it. Did we miss out on a fun fact that you know about? Let us know in the comments below!

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7 Interesting Facts About Yachts You Didn’t Know About

19th November 2022 12th December 2022

If you’re in the market for a luxury yacht, you might be interested to learn some interesting facts about these vessels. Did you know that yachts can come in all shapes and sizes? Or that they can be used for more than just recreation? In this blog post, we will share seven interesting facts about yachts that you may not have known before. Keep reading to learn more!

7 Interesting Facts About Yachts You Didn't Know About

1. Yachts can come in all shapes and sizes

No two yachts are alike! Yachts can range in size from just a few feet long to over 400 feet long. And, they come in all sorts of shapes and designs. Some yachts are sleek and modern, while others are more traditional in style. There is sure to be a yacht out there that is perfect for you. For example, Sunseeker yachts are known for their modern and sleek designs, while Riva yachts are known for their classic and elegant style.

2. Yachts can be used for more than recreation

While many people think of yachts as simply recreational vehicles , they can actually be used for a variety of purposes. For instance, some business owners use yachts as floating office space or as a place to entertain clients. Additionally, many celebrities and other public figures use yachts as a way to escape the paparazzi and enjoy some privacy. And, of course, yachts can also be used for rescue missions and other important tasks.

3. There are companies specializing in transporting Yachts

While you may think that transporting a yacht would be a difficult and expensive task, there are actually companies specializing in yacht transport. According to the team at Cross Chartering Yacht Transport , these companies have the experience and the equipment necessary to safely transport your yacht to its destination. Additionally, many of these companies offer door-to-door service, so you don’t have to worry about any of the logistics.

4. Yachts can be powered by a variety of methods

Yachts can be powered by gas or diesel engines a 12v100ah LiFePO4 battery or they can be solar-powered. Solar-powered yachts are becoming increasingly popular, as they are more environmentally friendly than traditional gas or diesel engines. Additionally, solar power is often cheaper than other forms of energy, so it can save you money in the long run. For instance, the Eco yacht by Aqua is a solar-powered vessel that can travel up to 7 knots without using any fossil fuels.

5. Yachts require a lot of maintenance

Owning a yacht is a lot of work! These vessels require regular maintenance and upkeep. For instance, you will need to clean the hull and deck, as well as the interior of the yacht. Additionally, you will need to service the engines and other mechanical components on a regular basis. Of course, you can always hire someone to do all of this work for you, but it is important to be aware that it is a lot of work nonetheless. For instance, the team at Ocean Alexander Yacht Maintenance provides full-service yacht care, so you can rest assured that your vessel is in good hands.

6. Yachts can be a great investment

If you’re looking for a solid investment, you may want to consider purchasing a yacht. While the initial cost of a yacht can be quite high, these vessels often appreciate value over time. Additionally, if you rent out your yacht when you’re not using it, you can generate some extra income. Just be sure to do your research before making any decisions, as there are a lot of factors to consider when purchasing a yacht. For instance, you’ll need to decide what size and type of yacht you want, as well as where you’re going to keep it.

7. There are many different types of yachts

There are several different types of yachts, including motor yachts, sailing yachts, catamarans, and more. Each type of yacht has its own unique features and benefits. For instance, motor yachts are typically faster than sailing yachts, but they can be more expensive to operate. Sailing yachts, on the other hand, are typically slower than motor yachts but can be cheaper to operate. Ultimately, the type of yacht you choose should depend on your specific needs and preferences.

We hope you found these seven facts about yachts interesting! As you can see, there is a lot to learn about these vessels. If you’re considering purchasing a yacht, be sure to do your research so that you can find the perfect one for you. And, if you’re not in the market for a yacht, we hope you now have a better understanding of these fascinating vessels.

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October 21, 2023

10 Jaw-Dropping Facts About Yachts You Never Knew

Welcome to the Luxury Miami Yachts blog! When it comes to the world of yachting, there’s more than meets the eye. Whether you’re a seasoned sailor or a maritime novice, you’ll be fascinated by these 10 jaw-dropping facts about yachts. Dive in to discover the mysteries and marvels of these luxurious vessels.

1. The World’s Largest Private Yacht

The title of the world’s largest private yacht goes to “Azzam,” measuring an astonishing 180 meters (590 feet) in length. This behemoth of a yacht isn’t just about size; it’s also about speed. Most large yachts aren’t built for speed, but the Azzam defies this stereotype by reaching up to 30 knots. Owned by a member of the royal family of the United Arab Emirates, the Azzam is a marvel of naval engineering, requiring a crew of 60 and featuring a host of luxurious amenities.

2. Surprising Speed

While yachts are generally seen as luxurious vessels and not speed boats, some defy this image. The aforementioned “Azzam” can reach speeds of up to 30 knots, which is particularly impressive for a yacht of its size. High-speed yachts use advanced hull designs and powerful engines to achieve these speeds, and they often employ cutting-edge materials like carbon fiber to reduce weight.

3. Anti-Paparazzi Design

In the age of social media and invasive photography, some celebrities go to great lengths to maintain their privacy. Certain high-end yachts feature anti-paparazzi technology that can detect the lenses of cameras and emit a light beam to prevent a clear photo from being taken. This is an ingenious way to enjoy a private life at sea, far away from prying eyes.

4. Cost of Maintenance

Owning a yacht is an expensive affair, but what many don’t realize is that the maintenance can be nearly as costly as the vessel itself. Owners can expect to spend roughly 10% of the yacht’s initial cost on annual upkeep. This includes everything from refueling and restocking amenities to paying the salaries of the crew and ongoing maintenance tasks.

5. Helipads on Board

When it comes to ultimate luxury and convenience, some yachts come equipped with their own helipads. This feature allows for quick and easy travel to and from the yacht, eliminating the need for docking at a marina when you want to go on land. It’s not just about luxury; in emergency situations, a helipad can facilitate quick medical evacuations.

6. Submarines On Board

The luxury of some yachts extends below sea level. Certain high-end yachts come equipped with mini-submarines that can be launched from the vessel. These personal submarines allow passengers to explore the ocean depths without ever leaving the comfort of their yacht. They are perfect for underwater sightseeing, exploring coral reefs, and even some deep-sea photography, offering a whole new dimension to the yachting experience.

7. Origin of the Word “Yacht”

The term “yacht” has an interesting etymology. It comes from the Dutch word “jacht,” which originally meant “hunt” or “hunt ship.” These ships were used by the Dutch navy to pursue pirates and other enemies. Over time, the term evolved to describe a broader range of pleasure or recreational boats, reflecting the change in how these vessels were used.

8. Foldable Yachts

Space is often a luxury that not everyone can afford, especially when it comes to docking a yacht. However, innovation has led to the creation of foldable yachts that can be stored in more confined spaces. These yachts can retract their sides or fold in a manner that makes them more compact, offering a solution for those who may not have the luxury of large docking spaces.

9. Movie Theaters at Sea

For those who can’t bear to miss the latest blockbuster or want to enjoy a classic film in style, some luxury yachts come equipped with onboard movie theaters. These aren’t just any screens; they are full-fledged cinemas with state-of-the-art sound systems, plush seating, and even popcorn machines, offering a unique way to enjoy movies while cruising the high seas.

10. The Sharing Economy Sails

The concept of sharing has reached the high seas. Beyond fractional ownership, in Luxury Miami Yachts people can rent yachts for specific periods, much like renting a car or booking a ride through apps like Uber. These platforms make yachting more accessible to those who may not have the means to own a yacht but still want to enjoy the experience, even if just for a day.

We hope you enjoyed these amazing facts about yachts! Here at Luxury Miami Yachts, we’re all about delivering an unparalleled yachting experience . From speed and luxury to innovation and convenience, yachts offer a blend of features that cater to all kinds of sea adventurers. So the next time you’re planning a sea voyage, remember that yachting offers more than just a touch of opulence—it offers a world of endless possibilities.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How fast can yachts really go? A: While yachts are generally not built for speed, some high-end models like the Azzam can reach speeds up to 30 knots!
What’s the cost of maintaining a yacht? A: Maintenance can be quite costly, often amounting to about 10% of the yacht’s initial price each year.
Do yachts come with helipads? A: Some high-end yachts do feature helipads for the ultimate in convenience and emergency situations.
Can I rent a yacht just for a day? A: Absolutely! With the advent of yacht-sharing platforms, enjoying a day at Luxury Miami Yachts has never been more accessible.

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25 Interesting Facts About Sailing You Probably Don't Know

Sailing is a very popular sport, and it has had a large influence on modern life. I've came across lots of interesting facts about sailing, and list them here.

With such a rich history there are many interesting stories to tell. It has shaped our language and the way we see the world today. Our society and free trade is built on the tradition of sailing.

So in this post I've listed all sorts of interesting sailing facts that I came across while researching the articles on this website. Most of them are beyond the obvious. Surely, the trade winds are named after the trade they facilitate? No, it's actually the other way around.

1. sailboats are slow (but efficient), 2. trade is named after the trade winds, not the other way around, 3. sailing gives you access to places that are off-limits to tourists, 4. the ideal wind speed for sailing is between 8-12 knots, 5. historical sailboats are often misrepresented, 6. you can operate a 100' sailboat alone, 7. the youngest person to circumnavigate the world was 16-year old laura dekker, 8. feeling blue is originally a sailing term, 9. one of the best laser radial sailors is from the netherlands, 10. sailing has been a part of the olympics from 1896 onwards, 11. 'sonofagun' actually refers to your birthplace, 12. the average salinity of oceans is 3.5% - but it varies greatly, 13. the world-record sailing speed is 65.45 knots (75 mph), 14. you can sail for nearly 22,229 miles in a straight line, 15. the first person to circumnavigate the world alone was joshua slocum (1898), 16. the new york yacht club has one of the longest winning streaks in sports history, 17. the largest sailing yacht in the world is nearly 470' or 143 m long - or not, 18. sailing around the world westward is more difficult than eastward, 19. 'he's a loose cannon' ..., 20. the most popular sail rig is based off a moorish lateen rig, 21. the only 5-masted tall ship sunk because of its speed, 22. the smallest boat to sail around the world was 21 feet, 23. sailboats can sail faster than the speed of the wind, 24. the sailing flags originate from the dutch war efforts against the british, 25. the mightiest pirate was a female chinese prostitute.

The average sailboat cruises at about 4-6 knots, (4-7 mph or 7-11 km/h) and has a top speed of 9 knots (10 mph or 17 km/h). It's just not that fast. That isn't to say there aren't any quick boats: they can be incredibly fast. Especially the multihulls, which have to displace a lot less water. They can go up to 50 knots (almost 60 mph or 93 km/h).

Most sailboats are slow is because they are small (under 20') - and the hull speed is directly related to the length of the boat. Longer sailboats are faster.

So how is a sailboat able to go around the world in under 75 days? Well, they go on all day and night. Also, traveling on water allows you to go in straight lines more often than on land.

Want to know how far a sailboat can sail in a day ? Check out my other article on the average sailing distance in different conditions (new tab).

Our ancestors found that the Atlantic had very reliable wind roads. These roads were called trade winds, trade being the Middle English word for 'track' or 'path'. The trade winds were so important for the English fleet and economy that the name 'trade' became generally accepted to mean (foreign) commerce'.

If you want to learn how the trade winds work , I recommend to read my post on the Atlantic Crossing .

Did you know that there are a lot of small island that are off-limits to tourists? Some of these islands are real hidden gems, with exotic species, wonderful landscape, and authentic villages. There are no flights or cruises going there - but you can get there by boat.

It can be quite the experience to sign in to the island in a 40-year old ledger, with under 200 names in there.

Small tea house on cliff in bay in blue ocean

The easiest wind to maneuver small and mid-sized boats is between 8-12 knots, while still being able to reach good speeds.

Anything between 5-8 knots is ideal for beginners that are trying to learn to sail. Anything under 5 knots gets tediously slow.

If you like to learn more about wind speeds, I really go into detail in my previous post Ideal Wind Speed for Sailing .

When we think of old skool sailboats (of the late Middle Ages for example), we often thing of large galleons and first rates. However, due to a flaw in the design of the hull, the ship builders weren't able to build large ships until the Renaissance.

The extended beams, running across the entire length of the ship, were too weak, so they would rot out. Large experimental ships would find an early sea grave when they split into two and sunk.

So the huge floating multi-level buildings with 100 cannons only started to be made in the Napoleonic era, when they figured out you could use cross beams to reinforce the hull.

People often ask me what the biggest boat is they can operate. You can actually operate a 100' sailboat by yourself - if you rig it the right way.

World-record holder François Gabart operated the 100-foot Trimaran MACIF by himself. However, it's not easy and you have to be experienced and mentally tough. Most sailors seem to stay under 35 foot.

Sailing alone is also called short-handed sailing, and you need a short-hand sailing rig. Typically this means lot's of automated systems, and all the sheets running to your cockpit, allowing you to operate the sails while steering at the same time.

The hardest part of sailing by yourself may actually be the docking. Some marinas even offer a special service to help you with that, lending a helping hand. If you are inclined to sail alone (or don't have any friends), you should definitely consider switching to a marina that provides this service.

Sailing a bigger boat does have its advantages . They are more stable, for example. Find out all about boat size for single sailors in What’s the Largest Boat One Person Can Operate? (new tab)

16-year old Laura Dekker (NED) is the youngest person ever to circumnavigate the world solo, after Jessica Watson (AUS) did it just before her 17th birthday. Dekker was 16 and 123 days.

She almost didn't make it because of interference of the Dutch government, who didn't think it was a good idea for a teenager to sail the world. She proved them wrong in all sorts of ways.

The youngest circumnavigation isn't recorded in the Guinness Book of World Records, because they don't want to encourage 14-year olds to sail around the world alone.

If a ship lost its captain during a voyage, the sailors would sail blue flags, indicating their loss. So if you're feeling blue, you're actually referring to the blue flags that used to sign the ship's crew is in mourning.

Marit Bouwmeester is one of the most successful laser radial sailors in the world. She's a 4-time world champion and 1-time Olympic champion (2011, 2014, 2016, 2017), and came in second in 2010, 2012, 2015. She's recently won the World Cup in Enoshima, Japan.

Why does this matter? Well, she's from my neighborhood, and a friend of mine is one of her BFFs, which is pretty cool.

Sailing has been a part of all modern Olympic games, except for the 1904 Summer Games, which were held in Louisiana.

This makes it one of the longest running Olympic disciplines around. So if people ask you: 'is sailing a sport?', simply answer with: 'the International Olympic Committee has believed it to be, for over 120 years'.

It was a gender-mixed discipline for the most part, until 1988, making it one of the only sports where women and man join in open competition.

Great Britain currently holds the most Olympic medals.

In lesser days, women needed to be smuggled onboard. Then, when the passage took longer than expected, they naturally needed to give birth every now and then. On sea, women typically gave birth between the cannons on the gundeck. If the child wasn't claimed by one of passengers or sailors, it was entered in the ship's log as being the 'sonofagun'.

While 3.5% is the average, some seas are just very, very salty. Saline water - aka saltwater - increases metal and aluminum corrosion, so the saltier the sea, the more maintenance you'll need to do.

The Mediterranean is the saltiest sea on Earth, at roughly 3.8% salinity. The Southern Ocean and the Northern Pacific are among the least saline: 3.4% and 3.3%. The Caribbean are quite saline: between 3.6 - 3.7%.

So better sail to the poles, and stay away from the Mediterranean or Caribbean: your boat will last a lot longer. (I know, it's the worst advice.)

If you want to know more about saltwater sailing , for example how to prepare your boat, I encourage you to check out my post on saltwater boats here (new tab).

Paul Larsen (AUS) is the fastest sailor of all time. He holds the world-record sailing speed for 500 meters (also called outright), and the record for fastest nautical mile.

Outright: 65.45 knots, which equals 121.1 km/h or 75.2 mph
Nautical mile: 55.32 knots, which equals 102.45 km/h or 63.66 mph
Fastest 24-hour: Pascal Bidégorry, 908 nm at 37.84 knots, which equals 70 km/h or 43.55 mph

Ok, it's mostly a theory of amateur cartographer David Cooke, who discovered the Cook Passage in 2015. It's a straight line running around the Earth from Port Renfrew, B.C to Quebec, without ever touching land. While critics claim it's impossible to navigate in a perfect straight line, it doesn't really matter. It's a cool theory, and it's the longest you can (theoretically) sail straight without touching land.

Making the world again a little smaller, Joshua Slocum was the first man to sail around the world by himself in 1898.

It took the world 69 years to catch up: the second attempt was by Sir Francis Chichester in 1967.

Slocum, a Nova-Scotian-born American, wrote a book about his journey in 1900, Sailing Alone Around the World, which became an international best-seller.

If you're interested, you can get his book for free on the Gutenberg project here .

The New York Yacht Club won the America's Cup 25 times for 132 years in a row, from 1851 to 1983. In 1987 challenger Royal Perth Yacht Club ended the streak. Since then, the NYYC hasn't won the cup a single time.

World Cup wins:

United States New York Yacht Club: 25
New Zealand Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron: 3
United States San Diego Yacht Club: 3
Switzerland Société Nautique de Genève: 2
United States Golden Gate Yacht Club: 2
Australia Royal Perth Yacht Club: 1

It's called Sailing Yacht A. BUT: it's actually classified as a sail-assisted motor yacht. It has however three huge Bermuda-rigged masts.

Some say Yacht A isn't technically speaking a sailing yacht. I agree. The second largest yacht is actually the longest REAL sailing yacht. Meet the Black Pearl . She truly is a great yacht, designed to cross oceans under just sail power. At 348' (106 m) it's gigantic, and it's one of the most advanced yachts in the world.

It's made in the Netherlands (I'm secretly promoting the Netherlands here), at the Oceanco shipyard.

So which of these, do you reckon, is the largest?

Most word-record contenders choose to sail eastward, thanks to the stronger and more predictable winds and currents eastward on the southern hemisphere. There are just 5 world records using the westward route, and since 2010 no one set a record by taking a right turn.

In comparison, more than 20 records have been set taking the eastward route.

The fastest eastward circumnavigation: 40 days and 23 hours
The fastest westaward circumnavigation: 122 days and 14 hours

However, most recreational skippers tend to sail westward on the trade winds, because they prefer the tropical seas.

Most people need around 3.5 years to sail around the world . Learn more on the routes and different paces in my article How Long Does it Take to Sail Around the World? (new tab)

... is originally a sailing term. The cannons on a ship could weigh up to 3,400 pounds (or 1,500 kg). You can imagine that a loose one could do quite the damage. So loose cannons are dangerous - and should be avoided at all cost. Hence the saying.

The Bermuda sloop is a fore-and-aft single-masted sailboat rig that was developed in the 17th century by a Dutch-born Bermudian. It was inspired by the Moorish lateen rig. They got to know this rig in the Spanish-Dutch independence war, where the Spanish used the boats.

It replaced the gaff rig thanks to it's superior maneuverability.

Want to know everything about sail types and rigs? I've written a killer guide on it, explaining precisely what kind of sail you're dealing with, and what it's used for. I think it's a great post, one of the best on this blog actually. Read it here (new tab).

In 1902, the first ever full-rigged five master was built: the Preußen. It was the only 5-masted full-rigged ship ever built, until the Swedish sail cruise liner Royal Clipper was launched in 2000.

(To be clear: there were other five masters, but none of them was a tall ship.)

It sailed between Germany and Chile and was capable of transporting large amounts of goods at high speeds. Its hull length was 433' (132 m). She carried 47 sails (which is a lot).

In 1910, just 8 years after her launch, she sunk in the English Channel due to damage from a collision with a small cross-channel steamer, 'Brighton'. The Brighton underestimated Preußens speed, at 16 knots.

Legend has it the skipper said: "a sailboat can't go that fast" - after which the two collided.

She's an impressive sight:

Black and white image of five masted tall ship

Alessandro Di Benedetto, who is also called the Crazy Italian, has a special world record on his name. He circumnavigated the world in the smallest sailboat: a 21' (6.5 m). It took him 268 days and 19 hours, which is not very fast.

But it's an impressive accomplishment, especially seen the fact that he's been dismasted around Cape Horn. To deal with his dismating, he made a junk rig that got him all the way back to France, finishing his world-record attempt successfully.

Most boats can't go faster than the speed of the wind. But some racing yachts and most multihulls can. The reason is two-fold.

The reason it's possible is that boats generate their own wind, allowing them to 'surf their own wave' so to speak, increasing their speed.

Secondly, keelboats have a displacement hull: they push the water forward, which means they have to deal with resistance, and this resistance increases when the speed increases.

But this isn't a problem with the rise of multihulls. Multihulls use flat beds instead of a keel, which means the hulls are floating on top of the water surface. This allows them to go much faster, since they don't have to deal with water resistance.

Want to know how to calculate the hull speed of any boat ? If you're like me and like to nerd out about these kinds of things, I definitely recommend to go check out my article on the average speed of sailboats (opens in new tab).

During the Anglo-Dutch wars (1652-1674) the British wanted to replace the Dutch as the dominant naval power. The Dutch admiral De Ruyter and Grand Pensionary DeWitt came up with a flag signaling system to outmaneuver the British. It was a success.

To be fair, this is more of fun trivial knowledge, and not so much a sailing fact. Consider it a bonus fact:

Ching Shih (which literally means 'widow of Zheng') was the mightiest pirate that ever lived. She had over 300 junks under her command. The ships were manned by between 20,000 - 40,000 men, women, and children. She fought major naval powers, such as the British Empire, Portuguese, and the Qing dynasty.

She's without doubt the most successful pirate ever. Unlike many others, she wasn't executed, but actually died as a free woman in her own home. Quite the story.

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read your 25 facts. excellent, interesting, short to the point, really unknown and enlightning facts that made me curious and search more info. thanks!

Shawn Buckles

Hi Miki, thanks and great to hear you’ve enjoyed the article. You’re welcome!

Wayne Hughes

Hi Miki, Tonight we have our local small sailing club Annual Prizegiving - I am the MC - Sincere Thanks for your research and article as they will give interesting facts to be sprinkled throughout the evening.

Narrabeen Lakes Sailing Club - Sydney, Australia - 115 years old this year

Ray Bradley

Very interesting reading,with some humour thrown in. Thankyou

I JUST WANTED TO SAY I WAS DOING MY HOMEWORK AND I was sooo happy to find out I got good grades thank to this website I give it a 👍🏻

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Whether you are superyacht crew, a member of the superyacht industry or just a superyacht fan, we bet these are some of the facts about the industry you didn’t know about!

1. there are currently 5,396 superyachts over 30m / 98ft in length operating in the world.

According to the SuperYacht Times ‘The State of Yachting 2022’ report, as of the end of 2021, there were 5,396 yachts over 30m / 98ft in operation. In addition, there are also around 92 superyachts out of service, while about 202 superyachts have been completely lost since 1945.

2. 95m / 312ft superyacht Kismet was used on set of a “Six Underground” Michael Bay movie featuring Ryan Renolds, Melanie Laurent and Dave Franco

Kismet has been filmed in the 2019 Michael Bay’s action movie ‘Six Underground’. Shooting in Taranto, Italy, the streaming company invested USD 150 million on the realisation of the action film, that starred Ryan Reynolds, Melanie Laurent, Dave Franco, Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, Adria Arjona and Corey Hawkins.

A party scene with around eighty guests and several other scenes were shot on board. Some of the explosions were also actually shot on board Kismet. And, according to cinematographer Bojan Bazelli, the filmmakers needed to be extra-mindful during the shootout scenes not to damage the teak floors which they had to protect in case they burned down.

3. The fastest superyacht in the world is M/Y Foners, reaching a thrilling 70.10 knots

The 41.5m / 136ft Foners has raced to the top spot as the world’s fastest superyacht, reaching the speed of astounding 70.10 knots. She’s been difficult to catch up with, having maintained her position for over 20 years since her delivery in 2000.

Her speed is produced by two 1,280hp MAN engines coupled with three Rolls Royce 6,700hp gas turbines that drive three KaMeWa water jets.

4. Motor yachts make up 84% of the global fleet and sailing yachts make up 16%.

5. working on board a superyacht is more than just a career.

Yachting is a career that, for its obvious perks, attracts many people. Travelling the world, earning great salary, working with state-of-the-art equipment, meeting incredible people and making lifelong friends are just some of the great things about yachting.

Unlike other careers though, yachting is an all-encompassing life adventure. Yacht crew generally live on board yachts full-time and go wherever the yacht goes. This means that one day you might be in Spain, the other day in France, and it could be a while before you can go back home to see your friends and family. It's a unique lifestyle with lots of perks but not necessarily a great match for everyone. If you are a hardworking and adventurous individual though, it could be just what you're looking for!

6. To be able to keep the 22 tonnes of exterior glass that make Oceanico’s yacht DAR, German glass maker TILSE had to develop a special sealant and glue that had to be approved by Lloyd’s

The most obvious feature of the 90m / 295ft superyacht DAR is the seamless black glass that encloses the superstructure. Oceanco’s task was to enhance the views from inside while keeping the outside from looking in. Even with lights on, it is impossible to make out what is behind the glass from the outside.

To be able to keep the 22 tonnes of exterior glass, German glass maker TILSE had to develop a special sealant and glue that had to be approved by Lloyd’s.

7. Clients from the United States own the largest share of superyachts over 40m / 130ft, owning 23% of the total world fleet

American buyers have had the largest share of superyachts over 40m in length at the end of 2021, with a share of 23%, followed by Russian owners with 9% of the fleet, and United Kingdom and Greece with 6% each. Turkey and Italy close out the list of top owning countries with 5% each.

Clients from the United States have purchased the most new-build yachts over 40 metres in the past 10 years, having acquired 18% of all of these yachts.

8. At 107m / 350ft Black Pearl is one of the largest and most ecological sailing yachts in the world

Black Pearl is a yacht of superlatives. With her three 70m carbon masts she can set 2,900 square metres of sail on the world’s largest Dynarig system. The masts have a folding system that allows the yacht to pass safely through the Panama Canal.

According to her manufacturer, Oceanco, she can cross the Atlantic without burning even a later of fossil fuel. This is thanks to her innovative propulsion system that harvests kinetic energy under sail.

Under sail, the boat’s propellers turn backwards, generating up to 480kW of power for use and storage on board. This allows the boat to operate silently for extended periods.

9. Explorer yachts are gaining popularity with its built segment growth of 33%

According to the Global Order Book published by BOAT International, there is a recorded 33% rise in expedition yacht build. Explorer yachts are built to be able to cruise in the most remote areas of the world, which allows the owners and guests to discover new regions.

Clients are curious. They want to explore, see and experience remote and unique regions of the world such as the Polar Areas, French Polynesia, Fiji, Galapagos, etc.

10. German superyacht yard Lürssen is set out to build the first yacht without a combustion engine

In April 2021, Lürssen announced that it had sold its first yacht with hydrogen fuel cells fuelled by methanol. Delivery of the yacht is scheduled for 2025 and the technology will allow the owner to spend more than 15 nights at anchor or cruise of more than 1,000 nautical miles, both completely emissions-free.

“I think it’s a clear signal that owners who already invest substantial amounts in building yachts are willing to invest that extra bit of money to go and dare say make that quantum leap of furthering propulsion technology and power technology on a yacht and this will be a game-changer especially since it has a lot of practical use," said Lürssen managing partner, Peter Lürssen.

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Boating Stats & Numbers: 137 Interesting Facts (Explained)

Everyone has their own opinions about boats and boating, but what do the numbers say?

Here are 137 facts you should know about boating:

Table of Contents

Each year, the US Coast Guard reports boating accident data.

The numbers below are from the year 2018.

Accidents and Collisions:

1. There were 1,028 reported collisions with recreational vessels. Within these collisions, 40 deaths were reported, and 661 injuries were reported.

2. There were 470 boat collisions with fixed objects. Within these collisions, 62 deaths were reported, and 296 injuries were reported.

3. A total of 443 vessels were reported to have been swamped. This resulted in 68 fatalities and 97 injuries.

4. A total of 367 boats were reported to have been grounded. This caused 16 deaths and 236 injuries.

5. A total of 274 people were reported to have fallen overboard. This resulted in 159 deaths and 120 injuries.

6. 311 fatalities and 1,277 injuries were reported on motorboats.

7. 42 fatalities and 634 injuries were reported on personal watercraft.

8. 128 fatalities and 120 injuries were reported on canoes and kayaks.

9. 33 deaths and 193 injuries were reported on motorboats with cabins.

10. 35 deaths and 129 injuries were reported on pontoon boats. See more Pontoon boat statistics here .

11. 449 boating deaths involved drowning.

12. 97 boating deaths involved trauma.

13. 16 boating deaths involved a cardiac arrest.

14. 14 boating deaths involved hypothermia.

15. 8 boating deaths involved carbon monoxide poisoning.

16. Operator inattention is said to have caused 654 boating accidents. Within these accidents, 50 resulted in death, and 437 resulted in injuries.

17. Improper lookout is said to have caused 440 boating accidents. Within these accidents, 27 resulted in death, and 316 resulted in injuries.

18. Operator inexperience is said to have caused 387 accidents. Within these accidents, 40 resulted in death, and 213 resulted in injuries.

19. Machinery failure resulted in 321 boating accidents. Within these accidents, 9 resulted in death, and 86 resulted in injuries.

20. Excessive speed was said to have caused 276 boating accidents. Within these accidents, 25 resulted in death, and 231 resulted in injuries.

21. Alcohol use is said to have been the cause of 254 boating accidents. Within these accidents, 101 resulted in death, and 204 resulted in injuries.

22. The force of a wake is said to have caused 209 boating accidents. Of these accidents, 10 resulted in death, and 153 resulted in injuries.

23. Foul weather caused 205 boating accidents. Of these accidents, 40 resulted in death, and 96 resulted in injuries.

24. Violations of the rules of navigation caused 184 boating accidents. Of these accidents, 19 resulted in death, and 144 resulted in injuries.

25. Hazardous waters caused 169 boating accidents. Of these accidents, 61 resulted in death, and 70 resulted in injuries.

26. The total boating fatality rate is 5.3 deaths per 100,000 registered recreational vehicles.

27. Boating accidents caused $46 million dollars of property damage.

28. 77% of boating fatalities are the result of drowning.

29. Of the people who died from drowning, 84% of them were not wearing life jackets.

30. Alcohol use is the leading known contributing factor in fatal boating accidents. It has lead to 19% of the fatalities involved in boating accidents.

31. Half of all boating accident fatalities involve an open motorboat.

32. A person with a nationally approved boating safety education certificate is 82% less likely to be involved in a fatal boating accident.

33. 13.5% of boating fatalities occur on a kayak.

34. 7% of boating fatalities occur on a canoe.

35. Over 25% of fatal boating accidents occur between 2:31 AM and 4:30 AM.

36. 175 machinery and equipment failure accidents were the result of engine failure. Of those accidents, 8 resulted in death, and 46 resulted in injury.

37. 2,313 accidents occurred while the vessel was cruising. Of these accidents, 182 resulted in death, and 1,261 resulted in injury.

38. 605 accidents occurred while the vessel was tied to a dock. Of these accidents, 9 resulted in death, and 37 resulted in injury.

39. 163 accidents occurred while the vessel was attempting to dock or undock. Of these accidents, 7 resulted in death, and 34 resulted in injury.

40. 211 accidents occurred while the vessel was at anchor. Of these accidents, 27 resulted in death, and 71 resulted in injury.

41. 1,903 accidents occurred in lakes, ponds, reservoirs, dams, or gravel pits. Of these accidents, 299 resulted in death, and 1,277 resulted in injury.

42. 966 accidents occurred in rivers, streams, creeks, swamps, or bayous. Of these accidents, 204 resulted in death, and 592 resulted in injury.

43. 829 accidents occurred in bays, inlets, marinas, sounds, harbors, channels, canals, sloughs, or coves. Of these accidents, 78 resulted in death, and 428 resulted in injury.

44. 347 accidents occurred in the ocean or the gulf. Of these accidents, 22 resulted in death, and 42 resulted in injury.

45. The month of July is the month of the year when the highest number of accidents were reported. It had almost twice as many accidents and fatalities as the second-highest month, which was June.

46. The month of January had the fewest boating accidents. Only 81 accidents were reported in January compared to 1,016 in July.

47. Most boating accidents occur on Saturday and Sunday.

48. The fewest number of boat accidents occur on Thursday.

49. Boats built prior to 2005 were more likely to be involved in an accident when compared to newer boats.

50. Boats between 15′ and 26′ were more likely to be involved in an accident.

These are sobering statistics, but they’re also useful.

With this information, we can conclude that boaters can dramatically reduce their chances of getting in a fatal boating accident simply by abstaining from alcohol and wearing a life jacket.

More Details on Safe Boating

As you can see by the numbers, boating is a safe activity, and you’re unlikely to become injured or die while doing so.

However, this doesn’t mean there aren’t risks involved in boating.

The people who have lost their loved ones in boating accidents take little solace in the fact that it doesn’t happen very often. Fortunately, the statistics above can help you to reduce your chances of becoming involved in a deadly boating accident.

As we mentioned earlier, wearing your life jacket and abstaining from alcohol will go a long way towards keeping you safe while boating. However, there are other steps you can take to increase your safety as well.

For starters, think about getting a nationally approved boating safety certificate. The education you’ll get while studying for the certificate will help you learn what you need to stay safe while operating a boat.

Also, carefully consider who you choose to be a lookout for you while boating. Many boating fatalities are caused due to the lookout being inexperienced or inattentive.

Consider the timing of your boat trip as well. Boating on a Thursday is much riskier than boating on a Saturday or Sunday. It’s also less crowded, so you’ll get to spend less time at the dock and more time on the water.

US Boat Sales and Registration Statistics

1. There were 11,852,969 recreational vessels registered in the year 2018.

2. Retail expenditures in the boating industry account for 42 billion dollars a year.

3. In 2019, 280,000 new boats were sold in the United States.

4. Wake sport boats experienced a 6% increase in sales in 2019 versus 2018.

5. Freshwater fishing boats are the most popular boats in the United States.

6. The sale of new freshwater fishing boats was down 7% in 2019 versus 2018.

7. Florida sells more boats than any other state in the US.

8. 975,000 pre-owned boats were sold in 2019.

9. 62% of boat owners have an income that is lower than $100,000.00 a year.

10. Recreational boaters spend more money annually than any other recreational outdoor industry.

11. Hawaii is ranked last in registered boat ownership. This is both in terms of absolute numbers and per capita numbers.

12. 12.16% of 18-29-year-olds went boating in 2018.

13. 12.51% of 30-49-year-olds went boating in 2018.

14. 9.14% of 50-64-year-olds went boating in 2018.

15. Florida has more boating accidents than any other state.

16. It costs between $50 to $200 a foot to store a boat inside. (per season)

17. It costs between $20 to $50 a foot to store a boat outside . (per season)

18. 35,519 people are employed by US marinas.

19. There are about 11,500 marinas in the US.

20. The boat marina market is said to be worth about $5 billion dollars.

21. Florida’s boating industry brings in about $23.3 billion a year.

22. California’s boating industry brings in about $13 billion a year.

23. New York’s boating industry brings in about 8.4 billion a year.

24. The boating industry in the state of Texas brings in $7.7 billion a year.

25. Michigan’s boating industry brings in about $7.4 billion a year.

26. Washington’s boating industry brings in about $6.9 billion a year.

27. New Jersey’s boating industry brings in about $6.6 billion a year.

28. Tennessee’s boating industry brings in about $6 billion a year.

29. North Carolina’s boating industry brings in about $5.5 billion a year.

30. Missouri’s boating industry brings in about $4.5 billion a year.

31. 95% of the boats sold in the United States are made in the United States.

32. US boat exports go mostly to Canada, Mexico, and South America.

33. Boat shows often account for over half of boat dealer sales.

34. Recessions hurt the boating industry much harder than most other industries.

35. Economic booms help the boating industry more than they help most other industries.

36. Most boats in the US are towable and have lengths that are shorter than 26 feet.

A Deeper Look at These Numbers

With so many rivers, lakes, and miles of coastline, it should come as no surprise that the US has a large and flourishing boat industry.

It also shouldn’t come as a surprise that Florida is the top boat seller in the United States. Florida has many miles of coastline and easy access to both US and foreign markets.

In contrast, only 1 in 93 people in Hawaii own a registered watercraft compared to 1 in 25 on average in the United States.

After doing some research, I found that it is hard for boat owners to find places to store their boats. For this reason, owning a boat is cost-prohibitive, and most Hawaiians simply opt not to own one.

US Boat Sales and Taxes

1. Delaware and Rhode Island do not charge a sales tax on boats.

2. New York only charges sales tax on boats for the first $230,000.00.

3. North Carolina caps its sales tax at $1,500.00.

4. If you buy a boat in Delaware or Rhode Island, your state may charge you a use tax when you bring it home.

5. Some states charge a personal property tax on your boat each, and every year you own it.

6. Some states allow you to deduct the mortgage interest on your boat from your taxes.

7. Some boats are considered a business expense.

Dissecting the Numbers

Doing research first could save you a lot of money on boat ownership.

This is especially true in the United States, where tax laws can be vastly different within the same country. However, this doesn’t mean it is any easier to buy a boat in another country.

Many countries have their own VAT taxes, and there are often import and export taxes to deal with.

World Wide Boating Stats

1. Belgium had 28,022 registered boats in 2014. This number was almost 25% higher than it was in 2007.

2. Brazil has over 560 marinas and 4,660 miles of coastline.

3. Canadian boat sales amounted to about 2.3 billion CAD in 2016.

4. Canadian preowned boat sales were at 63,505 boats in 2016.

5. 50,731 boats were exported to the Caribbean in 2016.

6. The Chinese government is promoting boating as a leisure activity for its people.

7. China is said to have about 19,000 yachts and 149 yacht clubs.

8. Columbia has a registry of 7,336 boats and 26 marine docks and marinas in the Caribbean Sea.

9. The Croatian boat market is said to be about $150 million annually.

10. Croatia has 139 nautical ports.

11. The Czech Republic has 16,800 registered boats

12. People in the Czech Republic spend about $83 million dollars on boating each year.

13. There are said to be over 57,000 leisure boats in Denmark’s harbors.

14. In 2016 Finland was the home of 1.16 million leisure boats. 554,000 of these were motorboats, 419,000 were rowing boats, and 16,200 were sailing vessels.

15. About 1.8 million Germans own German boat licenses.

16. Italy is the second-largest boat producer in the world – second only to the United States.

17. Italy is said to have over a half a million boats within its country of only 61 million people.

18. The Republic of Korea issues 15,059 boat licenses in 2015.

19. The number of newly registered boats in Korea was 4,029. This was 3 times higher than the number of registered boats in 2011.

20. Mexico has 172,265 registered boats.

21. The Netherlands currently has 507,800 boats.

22. At least 25% of Norway’s population has regular access to a boat.

23. Over half of the population of Norway uses a boat each year.

24. In the last 40 years, over a million sailing patents were issued in Poland.

25. Poland has about 27,000 registered boats.

26. More than 60% of recreational vessels exported from the European Union were made in the country of Poland.

27. Spain has over 8,000 registered boats.

28. 14% of Swedish citizens own at least one boat.

29. There were 16,550 boats sold in Sweden in 2015.

30. There are about 822,000 boats in Sweden.

31. Taiwan produces more yachts than any other country in Asia.

32. Around 2.5 million Australians live in a household that owns a boat.

33. The global market for leisure boats is likely to reach $51.37 billion US dollars by 2025.

34. The global rental market for boats is projected to be about $26 billion US dollars.

A Deeper Look at These Stats

It seems that whether a country boats or not is often more closely linked to the strength of their economy and the history of their boating culture.

Many states with vast coastlines do not seem to have many boats while other countries with smaller boating opportunities, but bigger pockets seem to have large numbers of boaters.

Of course, some of these statistics could also be skewed based on the accuracy and reporting of their boating data. For example, some countries may have low compliance when it comes to registering boats.

Interesting Boat Facts and Statistics

3. The most expensive yacht ever built cost $1.5 billion to build.

4. The longest superyacht in the world is 590 feet long.

5. There are currently more than 10,000 mega yachts in the world.

6. The most popular boat name in the United States in 2019 was “Aquaholic.”

7. The most popular boat name in 2018 in the United States was the name “Grace.”

8. Depictions of sailboats go back as far as 5500 BC.

9. Archeological evidence suggests that ships were used over 120,000 years ago.

10. The USS Enterprise was the first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier.

Final Thoughts

I hope you found these boat statistics and facts useful.

Whether you’re looking to join the boating industry or just looking to go boating, these numbers should prove useful to you.

Have fun, stay safe, and we’ll see you on the water.

USCGBoating.org

hawaiibusiness.com

statista.com

HistoryofShips.net

PRNewsWire.com

IBISWorld.com

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8 most interesting facts about sailing and boats

October 19, 2020

Ahoy there! As boaters, skippers and sailing enthusiast, some of the members of our team started looking up interesting and fun facts about sailing, during one of our trips.

Having some time to kill during one of our trips on the glistening Turkish Blue Coast , we starting telling stories heard from fellow boaters.

In truth, the discussion started over reviewing the key statistics about the recreational boating industry , which we were curious about since we were about to launch our free smart boating app , designed for making us safer together, to provide easier planning and smartly track our performance.

Tired of numbers, we started sharing knowledge and stories we have heard, right before making port.

So, after that, we thought “Hey, why not share our fun moments as a community with our future community members and with the users of our great new app .”

Having decided that, and after a little research, we came up with this:

1. Difference between a boat and a ship

Did you know the most important difference between a Boat and a Ship is actually the weight? It turns out that if a vessel weighs 500 tones or more it’s classified as a ship since this is the weight you need in order to carry a boat. To always know the difference, remember “A ship can carry a boat, but a boat cannot carry a ship.”

From all the specifications that separate the two, we can count areas of operations (ships operated in oceanic areas and high seas; boats operate in smaller or/and restricted water areas), method of propulsion (boats use sails, motor, or human power and ships have dedicated engines for propulsion), technology, crew, cargo capacity, construction and design.

2. To whistle or not to whistle… on a boat

Did you know that cooks on board ships in the old days were the only ones allowed to whistle? Strange, right? But apparently this proved they were not using their mouths to eat the food as long as they whistled. Other crew members would not whistle since superstitiously they would think whistling would summon strong winds.

In contrast with this, having a woman giving birth to a male child on board was a sign of good luck. The children born on the ship used to be called “son of a gun”.

3. Sometimes size does not really matter

Image source

Did you know that the ship Christopher Columbus used to reach America was actually small? Well, it was small compared to today’s standards. The Santa Maria was no longer than 70 feet, about the size of a modern bus and weighing around 200-600 tons. It carried a crew of 52 members.

The original name of Santa Maria was La Gallega in reference to the place where the ship was built. Christopher Columbus changed the name of the ship to Santa Maria de la Immaculate Concepción.

4. Distance make the heart grow fonder

Did you know that statistics say that boaters and anglers are more satisfied with their marriages and friendships compared with people who don’t participate in these activities?

Also they are more likely to recycle, compost trash, use compact fluorescent lightbulbs, carpool, donate money to environmental organizations, actively trying to reduce their carbon footprint and are more likely to have close relationships with their children. This comes out of a study published some years ago by the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation.

5. Treasure on sea

Did you know that Tommy Thompson was a treasure hunter that located a ship that sank in 1857 called the SS Central America and recovered over $1 billion worth of gold from the several tons the ship carried? However, the strange thing is that he never paid back his crew or investors, and hasn’t been seen in years.

They are literally hundreds if not thousands of treasures all around the ocean floor. It is estimated to be over 20 million tons of gold. Do you feel lucky?

“The ocean is the world’s greatest museum,” says marine archaeologist Peter Campbell.

6. Look the other way

Did you know that in 2004 a party yacht tripped over on Lake Travis when the passengers all moved to one side of the boat as it passed a nude sunbathers beach in Texas?

7. 3 days under water. How is that even possible?

Did you know that there was a man that survived under the sea for three days? You wonder how that was possible?

Well, it seems that in 2013, the chef of a sunken ship survived for 3 days under the ocean after taking refuge in an air pocket of the ship, that by this time had come to rest upside down on the seafloor at a depth of about 100 feet (30 meters).

8. “Quarantine” and its origins

Some facts and numbers

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11 facts about ships and boats that might surprise you

11 facts about ships and boats that might surprise you
< Fun facts

By Jana Brnáková February 7, 2020

By Jana Brnáková | February 7, 2020

Last update: March 26, 2021

Some are perhaps just old folks’ tales but the stories of most will definitely surprise you. There’s no denying that the vast waters of the world guard more than just one secret…

#1 my revenge.

A 14th-century French noblewoman became a privateer (a private person or a ship engaging in naval warfare) to avenge her late husband’s death.

When her husband was executed for treason by the French king, Jeanne de Clisson , also known as de Belleville or the Lioness of Brittany , patrolled the English Channel to target French ships, often killing their crew. She continued her pirate endeavors for 13 years, leaving only a few people to bear witness to her killings.

She became part of the Black Fleet and outfitted three ships which were painted black with red sails. The flagship was named My Revenge.

#2 Good luck vs bad luck superstitions

Spending weeks or months on a ship, stories and superstitions are an inherent part of the life of a sailor.

To name just a few, whistling is considered bad luck as it can bring about strong winds. In fact, the only person allowed to whistle on a ship is the cook as it means he is not eating the food.

Bananas might turn a boat’s luck ill, too. Especially when it comes to fishing boats as it is believed that if bananas are aboard, the fish won’t bite and there might be even mechanical mishaps. As soon as the hidden bananas are discovered and removed, the boat’s luck turns around.

On the other hand, cats bring good luck. British and Irish sailors would often adopt a black cat, which might sound counterintuitive as in some cultures a black cat is considered an evil omen. However, there is some logic to it as cats hunt down and get rid of rodents, who usually live on ships and might chew on ropes or eat food. This practice was even adopted by Vikings in Northern Germany between the 8th and 11th centuries.

#3 Not enough semaphore flags

#TrafalgarDay HMS Victory signals: England expects that every man will do his duty. https://t.co/QDfNHUUuqx pic.twitter.com/gwLXXtGUeG — Royal Navy (@RoyalNavy) October 21, 2018

At the beginning of the Battle of Trafalgar during the Napoleonic Wars, Admiral Lord Nelson made a now-famous call to arms to all his men, through semaphore flags.

The whole message read “ England expects that every man will do his duty” although the last word “duty” was not the original which Nelson himself wanted. Initially, he had written down “do his best”, but because of a lack of flags, they had to use “duty” instead.

Need to use the toilet on a ship? Ask for the heads instead. The name comes from the times when regular sailors went to the ship’s front — also called head or a bow — to relieve themselves. The toilets would be regularly washed out by the normal wave action.

Only the captain enjoyed his own private facility near his quarters.

The device used to measure boat speed to this day is still called the “log” even though it has nothing to do with an actual log these days — flickr

The measurement that ships (and planes ) use for navigation is the nautical mile. One nautical mile per hour is called a “knot”.

The origin of the word “knot” comes from the olden days when the speed on the ships would be measured by throwing into the sea a log attached to a rope with evenly spaced knots. As the ship moved relative to the log, the number of knots during a certain period of time would be counted to measure the speed of the vessel.

The device used to measure boat speed to this day is still called the “log” even though it has nothing to do with an actual log these days.

#6 Lyubov Orlova on the loose

Sea world stories have always been full of abandoned spooky ships — perhaps not dissimilar to Lyubov Orlova who has been on the loose since 2013.

The Russian ship was commissioned during the times of Yugoslavia and used mainly for expeditions to Antarctica. A few years ago, it broke loose from a tugboat during a storm and has been drifting across the North Atlantic ever since. Some people believe the ship is taken over by cannibalistic rats… but be it either way, the dark and quiet vessel roaming around in the international waters has been labeled as dangerous by some.

#7 “Cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey”

Cannonballs were kept on a square brass tray called a “monkey” — Shutterstock

The phrase, “cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey” comes from the times of old warships.

The “balls” refer to cannonballs that were made of iron. They were kept on a square brass tray called a “monkey”. In very cold weather, the brass would contract in size, so a square pyramid of cannonballs that was made on it would literally fall off. The reason they were kept on brass was the fact that iron rusts very fast, and it wouldn’t be a good idea to have your cannonballs rusting into the thing they were lying on.

#8 Quarantine

The noun quarantine comes from Italian quaranta giorni or forty days. It comes from the Venetian policy of quarantining ships from plague-stricken places for 40 days, ensuring no one infected is on board.

From the 17th century onwards, the term was extended to “any period of forced isolation”.

#9 Swedish Vasa

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Vasamuseet / The Vasa Museum (@vasamuseet) on Oct 18, 2020 at 4:16am PDT

She was salvaged of most of her valuables and left in what is now a busy lane just outside of Stockholm harbor until the late 1950s. Since 1988 it has been placed in the Vasa museum in Stockholm .

#10 The tale of Hugh Williams

We might never find out whether the tale of unsinkable Hugh Williams is true or not at all.

In 1664, a ship sank in the Menai Strait just off the coast of Wales . But one of the 81 passengers survived: Hugh Williams. More than a hundred years later, in 1785, another ship sank in the Menai Strait and, again, from the 60 passengers aboard, only one survived — Hugh Williams. To add more mystery to the tale, the year 1820 marked the third instance of sinking in the Strait, with the only survivor being Hugh Williams.

#11 Youngest person to sail around the world

The 14-year-old Laura Dekker set out in 2012 to sail solo around the world. 518 days later, she arrived in Simpson Bay, Sint Maarten in a 12.4-meter two-masted ketch called Guppy. At the age of 16, she became the youngest person in the world to solo circumnavigate the world.

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90 facts about sailing

Not always serious, but certainly true facts about yachting from Alexander Babitsky — the founder of the yacht company «Seanation», a sailing instructor and ideologist of the largest Russian-language regatta for beginners — «AFR».

Anastasiia Mosina

Alexander Babitsky

Anastasiia mosina , alexander babitsky.

1.It is not the wind that is dangerous for yachts, but the waves. A storm of any reasonable strength alone cannot cause any damage to the yacht’s hull. The wind cannot turn the yacht over either. But a wave driven by the wind can wash away all equipment and people from the deck, and in case of an overturn, the yacht can sink. I am talking about cruising yachts and 6-8 meters waves.

2.It is not easy to come across a real storm and, moreover, a hurricane, if you are not looking for it. Many people around the world have been sailing for 20 years and have never come across extreme weather. But if you really want to, then there are places on Earth where a meeting with Poseidon in all his glory is guaranteed.

3.In recent decades, yacht manufacturing has undergone dramatic changes. One after another, shipyards, which for a long time have been producing serious and rather expensive sailboats for round the world trips, multi-day voyages, and so on, go bankrupt. In turn, unprecedented growth is shown by shipyards that manufacture mass-market boats for pleasure yachting. The retail price of yachts is going down, quality is getting worse, quantity is growing. Beneteau, Jeanneau, Bavaria, Hanse, Dufour, Elan, etc are the shipyards producing yachts that no one would have taken seriously 30-40 years ago. Hallberg-Rassy, Najad, Oyster, Westerly, Rival, Sadler, etc are either already bankrupt, or on the verge of bankruptcy. Yachting has changed from a way to travel to a way to race and go out to sea for a casual sailing. This is evolution, and that’s okay.

Yachting is about finding ways to repair your boat in exotic locations.

4.Many people think that there are no really luxurious sailboats — only motorboats. It is not true. Google Perini Navi for example. In general, a very cool sailboat will cost as much as a very cool motorboat. It’s a matter of taste. So, a large sailing yacht doesn’t mean that the owner has not yet saved up for a motorboat.

5. Sailboats will exist until the moment when someone will not invent some other relatively economical way of moving on water without limitation in range. To cross any of the oceans on a motor yacht, you need to have a huge supply of fuel that must be stored somewhere, so this yacht must be of the appropriate size. In yachts it works like this: the length is directly proportional to the cost. Therefore, few can afford a motorboat trip around the world. A sailboat from 6 meters long is already a real ship, on which you can sail in open spaces. But as soon as a conventional nuclear reactor the size of a matchbox appears, yachtsmen will switch to this method of movement, and sailboats will remain for old-schoolers and athletes. This is what happened with photographic film. However, all this is not 100%.

6. Owning a yacht is not expensive. In northern Europe, you can buy a sailboat ready to sail around the world for 10-20 thousand euros. No, it won’t be a piece of shit. But you will need to work on fixing it. And all thoughts and plans will be about it.

7.The British say that yachting is about finding ways to repair a boat in exotic locations. It’s true. Yachts break down all the time. Absolutely horrible operating conditions (shaking, salt, loads, ultraviolet light), an insane amount of spare parts, the crew that doesn’t know what it is doing — all these are the reasons that the owner of a boat is constantly repairing something. Yes, you can buy a yacht for little money, but you have to invest daily. Although, if you have a clever pair of hands, don’t mind being homeless and don’t need any conveniences, then you can do with a minimum of financial investments.

The Mediterranean is a pretty lousy region for sailing yachting. There is almost always too much wind or no wind at all.

8.Sailing is considered an extreme sport. In fact, as long as it is just sport, and not a world-class sport, the chances to become disabled, dye or go missing are quite small. Modern yachts, if a skipper is competent and the yacht is fixed, are quite safe. Everything is the same as with cars.

9.Contrary to popular belief, the Mediterranean is a pretty lousy region for sailing yachting. There is almost always too much wind or no wind at all. For a sailor, the ideal weather is moderately strong and steady wind, like, for example, in the Caribbean.

10.All shipyards film inspiring commercials about how their boat is steadily sailing under a slight comfortable roll, managed by a brutal male, and a female in a dress at the same time drinks cold rose wine and smiles at the sun. In real life, everything is not so. However, if you find a closed bay, in which there is no wave, choose the right weather, do not pour too much wine into a glass, then for about 15 minutes you will be able to bring the commercial to life. But no longer.

11.Sailing athletes differ from cruising yachtsmen as much as Formula 1 riders differ from ordinary drivers. That is, a person who has been racing on the Optimist since the age of 6 needs to learn sailing in long voyages no less, and often more, than those who started cruising straight away, even if not from childhood.

12. Size is not important. And with sailboats too. To sail across the seas and oceans, you do not need a large yacht, but you need a well-prepared one. Any talks about the fact that it is impossible to travel around the world on a 10-meters long yacht are justified by nothing, except cowardice.

13. When you hear from beginner yachtsmen stories about the horrible storm they have been through, perhaps you should doubt their stories. And that’s why:

a) The wind is often gusty. At a linear speed, for example, 10 m / s, gusts can blow even up to 20 m / s. Fear has many eyes, and they will notice that figure on the anemometer, which blinks 1 time for 1 second, and then this figure will appear in their stories.

b) Sailing yachts sail under the so-called apparent wind. This is the wind that you get from adding the natural wind speed and the wind speed generated by the movement of the yacht. That is, if a yacht is sailing using the wind that blows relative to the front, then the apparent wind is stronger than the natural. The devices most often display the speed of the apparent wind. Beginner yachtsmen forget about it and think that the weather is close to stormy, which is not necessary so.

14. The Russian maritime language began and finished its development in tsarist times. Therefore, most of the modern yacht parts have only English names. And the Old Dutch words, such as grottoes and staysails, are slowly but surely leaving the everyday life of modern yachtsmen.

15.The dream of many beginner yachtsmen is to train as a skipper, get a license and start sailing people for money, thereby making a living and traveling at the same time. I also started like that. Now this plan is close to utopia. The number of such skippers is huge, plus there is always the opportunity to go to sea either for free or for little money, helping those who have their own yacht when this yacht needs to be taken somewhere.

16. No, nobody uses astronavigation now. Orientation to celestial bodies has outlived its usefulness. Which, of course, does not prevent you from knowing this method.

17.Although paper charts are still being produced and all sailors are being trained to use them, they will soon become a rudimentary method of navigation. Modern yachtsmen sailing in coastal waters use only electronic navigation. Those who sail far, sometimes check and make charts on paper, but this is more a desire to play it safe than a real need. Another thing is that all electronics must be duplicated, as well as energy sources for it.

Ocean crossings are very, very boring. Fixing the tack every 5 days is often the only thing you need to do. And the remaining 23 hours 59 minutes and 30 seconds you have absolutely nothing to do.

18.Regatta is a sporting competition of sailing yachts held in accordance with the Racing Rules of Sailing (RRS). And not just a bunch of yachts going roughly one way and passing beer from yacht to yacht. But they started to call a regatta any flotilla with more than two yachts, where someone shouted into the radio «let’s race.»

19.The word «yachting» appeared in the Russian language recently in response to the fact that there was nothing but «sailing». And spending time sailing is not always a sport. Most often, if you take the Mediterranean, it is lying on the deck to the cozy rumble of a diesel engine and the cries of seagulls. What kind of sport is it really ...?

20. Any modern cruising sailing yacht has a motor. Before, yachts with sails and a motor were called motor-sailing. Now it became meaningless and they all just became sailing. The motor is used for maneuvering in marinas, sailing in calm weather and charging batteries.

21.Ocean crossings are very, very boring. All the tales about sunrises and sunsets, dolphins and tuna, wind and sails are good for self-sufficient phlegmatic people. Dear dreamers, imagine that nothing other than the above is available for, let’s say, three weeks. Nothing at all. Do you think it’s fun? Not at all. Fixing the tack every 5 days is often the only thing you need to do. And the remaining 23 hours 59 minutes and 30 seconds you have absolutely nothing to do. Sometimes you even want a storm not to be bored. However, if you are in an ocean regatta, and not in a simple crossing, then the situation is completely different.

22.If you decided to become a skipper, it does not matter at all which system the chosen school will have: IYT, RYA or something else. You are taught by the instructor and each of them does it differently. A good instructor plus your ability plus your motivation minus your laziness = success.

23.SHOCK. SENSATION. INTRIGUE. If you decide to buy a yacht for yourself or are planning to sail on a yacht of friends, you don’t need a skipper license AT ALL. At least in most countries. Your certificate of training is only of interest to charter companies and their insurers. Yes, again — on a private yacht in most waters you DO NOT NEED A LICENSE!

24. Sailing is expensive if it’s a sport and not a cruise! The higher the class, the more money you need. Relative exceptions are small sports yachts up to 8-9 meters long. Cruises, on the other hand, are cheap. A 6-8-seater yacht in the off-season, for example, in spring, is quite affordable — about 1000 euros per week. For all 6-8 people.

25. If you do not know anything, and you are invited to participate in the regatta for your money, then this is a fraud. There are no training regattas and training in regatta conditions. Well, they exist, but they will not teach you anything there. You will stay next to one rope and periodically do something with it when the captain asks you about it (usually in a foul language). So you will spend the whole regatta and go home even more confused than you were before. However, here we are talking about regattas, and not about the «regattas» from paragraph 18. You can learn something at them, or you can just have fun.

26. Surprisingly, I have never seen Orthodox icons and crosses near the steering wheel or other equipment. It is scary to imagine how, in bad weather, the skipper, instead of changing sails to stormy ones, falls on his knees and prays.

I personally know several very talented skippers who often say «pull that red rope over there» instead of «pull up the tack»

27. Many yachts have 2 steering wheels not to steer together but because when the yacht heels over, one of the steering wheels turns out to be more convenient for steering. Plus, on wide yachts, 2 steering wheels help you go from board to board without losing control of the yacht.

28. There are no age restrictions for children on yachts. Many families go sailing with babies on board. You just need to comply with simple rules and that’s it.

29.The wish for a fair wind is actually not entirely true in modern conditions. When the wind blows straight from behind, comfort and speed are not great.

30. In the conditions of a modern cruising yacht, about 100 nautical terms are used. Experienced skippers like to reproach the «youth» for ignorance or misuse of certain words. I have never noticed a correlation between knowing the terms and feeling the yacht / wind. I personally know several very talented skippers who often say «pull that red rope over there» instead of «pull up the tack.» This does not stop then from sailing tens of thousands of miles.

31.A modern cruising yacht, especially a charter yacht, is a set of compromises. For each wind direction there should be a sail. And for every wind force too. Charter yachts usually have only two sails, or three at most. So you sail, but by sporting standards, it’s pretty funny. At the same time, racing boats often have 10-12 sails, which are constantly changed due to changing conditions. Naturally, this difference is due to economy.

32. Usually two people, if they are competent, are enough to operate a cruising sailing yacht. The rest of the crew is needed for a drink after mooring.

33.A very large percentage of those who have completed sailing schools and received skipper’s certificates do not go to sea on their own. Because it’s scary — more often than not, this is the main reason.

34. Surely, there are skippers who do not use foul language on board and say «please, fix the staysail sheet.» But I have not met such people.

35. Never in my life have I heard a «Mayday» on the radio — this is a marine SOS. That is, no one drowned / burned / died while I was at sea. I guess, I was lucky.

36. While the yacht is at sea, both boys and girls should do their business in the latrine SITTING. Otherwise, rolling will lead to a toilet being pissed from floor to ceiling.

37. Sea knots and their knowledge do not make you a sailor. I remember and knit just 8-10 knots right away. It was always enough for me. However, the majority of pretentious sofa yachtsmen will tell you that without knowing 145 knots and astronavigation it is better not to go out to sea. They really had better not go.

38. The main modern device for coastal recreational navigation is the iPad. Plus one more spare iPad. By the way, Airbus and Boeing pilots also fly with the iPad.

39.The well-known life jackets are a rather poor means of safety during cruise yachting. The only thing that can almost guarantee your survival if you fall overboard is the fastening, the special systems that tie you to the side of the yacht. In the event of a fall, the sailor remains tied to the yacht and only needs to be pulled up. If you fall overboard in a life jacket, there is absolutely no guarantee that the crew on board will return for you in time or even find you. The mere fact of staying afloat does not guarantee survival at all.

40. In really bad weather, you have to stay at home or in a bar. But if you find yourself at sea, then the further you are from the shore, the better for you. It is much easier to crash against rocks than to die in open water. The water is always safer than the shore.

41. A lot of yachtsmen who sail around the world and who have tons of experience don’t care about:

b) gloves and gortex;

c) the order on the ship;

d) bad and good omens;

e) maritime traditions;

e-z) the rest of the crap, which beginners believe in.

42. A lot of yachtsmen who sail around the world and who have tons of experience really care about:

a) the state of the engine;

b) the amount of fresh water;

c) the number of iPads and spare power banks;

d) satellite communications and weather forecasts;

e) the presence of whiskey and rum on board;

e-i) the condition of the rigging and sails, and other vital things.

43. If you bought a yacht and plan to live on it in the Schengen area, there are many relatively legal ways to get around the 90 days per half year rule. The main thing is that you have a valid visa. The rest can be fixed.

44. Most voyages around the world look like this: you leave point A and go to point B. There you stay for several months and wait for the weather. Then to point C. And again stay and wait for the right season, etc. Therefore, it takes 2.5-3 years to travel around the world in a big circle. Although you can try to go around in a small circle — for example, around the Arctic.

45.It is not easy for dogs on board the yacht. Especially large and those who went to sea with the owner being a big dog, not a puppy. It is almost impossible to toilet train an adult dog on board. Therefore, the dogs wait. Yes, they can wait for 3-5 days. And such a dog can only be transported across the ocean by plane. With cats it is, of course, easier, and they make excellent sailors.

46. There are two types of satellite internet that travelers use: slow and expensive. Slow is not the «slow» one that you imagined when you remembered how your Facebook was updated for a couple of minutes. Slow satellite internet will download a small picture for about half an hour. And this picture will cost 25-30 bucks. And it can also be expensive: 1 gigabyte of fast satellite Internet in the ocean costs several thousand dollars.

48. I am often asked: are the oceans crossed over without any stops? The answer is: absolutely. Well, that is, you can stop right in the ocean and take a break, but why would you do that. And there are very few islands when crossing the oceans, and it takes weeks to go from land to land.

48. Most of the marine inhabitants that I have seen in different waters are pensioners. No, of course there are young people and families with children, but still the majority are 60+ people. I understand why. First, as already mentioned, sailing through the seas and oceans is boring. Secondly, you need a lot of free time. Thirdly, you need some passive income. Fourthly, sitting at anchorage for months with a glass of wine is a dream, of course, but only for those who have already seen life. I haven’t seen it yet, apparently.

49. One of the things yachtsmen are afraid of is containers that have fallen from container ships. According to statistics, hundreds of containers fall from ships into the oceans every year. And some of them sink rather slowly. Therefore, a yacht always has the risk of running into a half-flooded iron box and breaking the hull.

50. Yachtsmen are also afraid of whales. In general, whales don’t care about yachts and people on them. But during the migration of whales with their babies, happy parents are somewhat nervous about anything that can potentially threaten babies. Therefore, they can become aggressive towards you and your boat. There is also a chance to crash into a sleeping whale, but he is unlikely to be aggressive in this case. And the last occasion for a close acquaintance with this sea chubby is if your bottom is painted with white or light paint. Some sexually active male whales may mistake your boat for a white-bellied vicious female and try to come close for very specific purposes. Not a fun perspective

51. Your yacht is your own territory that obeys the laws of the country of registration of that yacht. Therefore, if, for example, in the country of registration you can legally buy a machine gun or a grenade launcher, then you have every right to carry these weapons on board. But, of course, it must be declared when crossing sea borders.

52. For some reason, many people think that all sailors are great swimmers. This is often not the case. I, for one, don’t swim very well. At the same time, I know several skippers who generally barely stay on the water and do not really like this. And this does not interfere with their sailing hobbies at all.

Anything that seems to be intended for yachting is immediately expensive.

53.Board games can be found in some liferafts. They are there so that the unfortunate sailors would not go crazy with boredom waiting to be rescued.

54. The best yachtsmen and yachting instructors I have ever seen or known are British. Generally speaking, for the British to go out on a boat to the sea is the same as for us to go buy bread.

55. Cruise sailing is when the yachtsman lies, walks and sails at the same time. Indeed, 90% of the time in long crossings, their participants spend in a horizontal position, and not jumping on the deck. It is funny when we are asked whether we have lost weight during the crossing. No, we haven’t.

56. Anything that seems to be intended for yachting is immediately expensive. For example, there are two first-aid kits in an Italian store — one with a car drawn on it, and the other with a boat. I asked to see them and made sure that the items inside are identical. The one with the boat was 50% more expensive. I asked why. Cause it`s for the boats — was the answer.

57. When you buy your first yacht, you immediately want to pour money into it, regardless of whether you have it. You start buying all sorts of shit, happily install it and test it in action. You make sure that shit is shit, you dismantle it and sell it on to the next experimenter. For example, I bought my Westerly for 60 thousand euros and invested another 25 thousand into it in the first couple of months. Of course, 90% of those 25 were wasted.

In the life of every yachtsman there are at least 2 happy days: the first is when he bought a yacht and the second — when he sold it.

58. There are no universal yachts, that is, you cannot buy a yacht that will be good for racing, for sailing on weekends and for long journeys with accommodation on board. Some shipyards are experimenting with what they call «performance cruisers» — to both race and cruise, but they are still too light for the oceans and too heavy for sports.

P. S. All this is true for boats of relatively small size and cost. This does not apply to yachts from 25 meters long — doing everything on them is fun. But it’s expensive.

59. Many yachtsmen, at some point in their development, start planning to cross the ocean. If we talk about Europeans, then this is, of course, the transatlantic crossing from the Canary Islands to the Caribbean. This crossing has its own seasonality (December-January) and, in general, is quite simple and safe, as it passes through the zone of constant strong trade winds. In fact, this is a high-speed highway for sailing yachts — you get on the trade wind and fly. But after arriving in the Caribbean, one day you will have to decide what to do next with the yacht. The return journey is much more difficult and longer, so the yachtsman faces a choice:

a) continue to travel around the world and go to the Pacific Ocean;

b) leave the yacht in the Caribbean as a summer residence and fly home;

c) sail back, despite all the difficulties;

d) sell a yacht in the Caribbean for a penny and fly home.

Due to the fact that quite a few people use the «d» option, in the Caribbean you can sometimes buy a rather cheap boat.

60. A well-known saying goes like this: «In the life of every yachtsman there are at least 2 happy days: the first is when he bought a yacht and the second — when he sold it.» You can’t even imagine how true this is.

61. On all modern yachts, everything is made of modern materials. The hull is made of fiberglass or carbon fiber, the ropes are polyester, the sails are dacron, carbon or kevlar and so on. No one has been using any canvas for a long time. It is all the more surprising to hear from old-school yachtsmen about the ways of navigation that were used at the time of Columbus.

62.Almost everyone gets sea sick on yachts. Another thing is that it does not always come to vomiting. Seasickness is different for different people, and you can often fight it with items on hand: 50 grams of spirits, a look at the horizon, dramina and so on. After a while (from 12 to 36 hours), the body will accept its fate and will stop tormenting you, but only until the next stop at the shore, and then everything will start all over again. There is a popular myth that the vestibular apparatus can be trained once and for life. This is not so — there are no methods of training known to science. Before deciding on a sea voyage, you need to think: «Do I get car sick, bus sick or plane sick?» If the answer is yes, then yachting may not be for you.

63. It is forbidden to go to Antarctica on non-metallic yachts — the hull must be steel or aluminum.

64. To rent a charter yacht, you do not need to have a skipper’s license. You can just live on it at the pier without going out to sea. A fun alternative to a hostel.

65.In Norway, you can often find retired people living on rather expensive (1-3 million euros) motor yachts. These yachts are moored to the pier and never go to sea. But there are flowers, animals and grandchildren. During our cruises, we often came across such old people, they are very hospitable and sociable — they always invited us to drink something in the evening.

66. My yacht was taken across the ocean by two people, Edgars Vanags and Kirill Brui, widely known in narrow circles. I wrote to Edgars on Facebook: «Hi, will you take my boat across the Atlantic, I do not have time — I have a big regatta soon?» A minute later, he answered me: «Great, I will do it.» So everything was decided. And Kirill even became the yachtsman of the year in Belarus thanks to this crossing.

67. The flag, which hangs somewhere in the stern of the yacht, symbolizes the country of registration of this yacht. The country of registration does not necessarily have something to do with the owner or the skipper — you can choose it according to your personal criteria. That is, if you see a yacht with, for example, a British flag, the probability that the British own it is fifty-fifty.

68. Fishing in the ocean can be simple. If you leave a flashlight on the deck at night, then flying fish are guaranteed to fly into its light. They will fly in to die right on board. If you notice them in time, you can hang them on a rope and air-dry like roach. And if you notice it too late, you will then go and look where the stench comes from.

69. There is statistical evidence that people in liferafts and lifeboats are more likely to die from despair than from exhaustion. There is no proof, if you don’t want to — don’t believe it.

70. The Solent Strait, where the Seanation Cup takes place during the May holidays, is known as the best place for regattas on Earth. Local athletes have a high level of training, and most importantly, a good knowledge of the characteristics of the water area (which is extremely important there), therefore they compete not only and not so much in yachting skills, but in bullying. Moral pressure and humiliation of the enemy, as well as attempts to provoke and deceive, is a normal practice when passing marks, start and finish lines.

71. In ocean conditions, you can wash yourself, including rather long female hair, using only 1 liter of fresh water.

72. Electricity on a yacht can be produced in a variety of ways:

a) diesel, if there is a supply of diesel fuel;

b) solar panels, if there is sun;

c) a wind generator, if there is wind;

d) water turbine, if there is wind and you are sailing.

As a rule, there is always something mentioned above. If there is nothing, you are out of luck. I know people who put all 4 devices on their boats. It usually doesn’t make much sense, but these people explain this decision by the love of electricity. Vasily Surikov, for example, loves it.

73. If you don’t like someone, then here’s a way to have perfect murder. Take this person with you on a crossing in the open sea, or better yet, the ocean. At some point in time, this person for some reason ends up on board — to pee or just to watch the sunset. You push the person, and the yacht follows its course but without the unpleasant passenger already. It is better to do this at night, since you will have several hours of head start before you start shouting into the radio about the tragedy that has happened — you were asleep and do not know where, when and why the person went. There are no signs of a struggle on the deck, so it didn’t happen. Yachting is dangerous, anything can happen. There were such precedents, maybe people fell off, or maybe ...

74. The very fact of bouts of seasickness is not a reason not to go to sea. Once Constantine crossed the Atlantic with us. He vomited every day for 21 days. Sometimes several times a day. According to him, he liked the crossing. He did not take advantage of the opportunity to go ashore during a stop in Cape Verde, saying: «Well, there is nothing to worry about, everything is ok.»

The fact is that it is enough to drag a couple of ropes back and forth for the yacht to move somehow, and for many this is enough.

75. The most useful device for a cruising yachtsman after the iPad is the Garmin InReach satellite tracker. This gadget has a built-in Iridium transceiver, which means that you are connected from anywhere in the earth’s geoid. Email, Facebook, sms, etc. And for very little money. No, this is not an advertisement, although it looks like that.

76. A little more about corpses and yachting. A group of middle-aged men were sailing on a yacht across the ocean, and about the middle of this crossing, one of the sailors died. He had an ulcer, or something of this sort. The guys rushed to call lawyers in Russia and Barbados, suggesting to throw him overboard, since it was warm outside, and the guy started to rot. Lawyers were against it — take him with you, they said, since you had already informed everyone about the accident. Well, so they had to do it. They wrapped a friend in a film, put him in a dingy (an inflatable small boat) and tied it behind the yacht. So they were sailing with it for several days until they arrived in Barbados. Everything would be ok, but the wind on this crossing was blowing from behind — I don’t know how the guys were breathing.

77. One of the few nations that is still difficult to meet on yachts is the Chinese. I am sure that they will be there soon. But recently, in a large marina of Athens, a Chinese man approached me and asked me whether I have seen a catamaran with Chinese. In fact, I did, and I told him where to look for it. Because there was only one such boat out of 2 thousand ones in the marina.

78. The most expensive marinas, as far as I know, are in Ibiza and southern Italy. During the high season, a mid-size charter yacht pays up to € 300 per night. At the same time, mooring in Portugal, for example, will cost 11-15 euros per night.

79. If you are an exhibitionist, nudist, voyeur or just an masturbator, then the best place for you is the waters of the Balearic Islands — Mallorca, Ibiza and Menorca. In no other place have I seen so many naked yachtsmen and yachtswomen. Of course, most of them are older people.

Snobbery is what a beginning Russian yachtsman will have immediately after receiving a skipper’s certificate.

80. SENSATION! SHOCK! Sail tuning and cruising yachting are often incompatible things. Not only do cruise boats do not have a variety of sails, but skippers, for the most part, do not have an understanding of what to do with these sails. The fact is that it is enough to drag a couple of ropes back and forth for the yacht to move somehow, and for many this is enough. So, when you see tons of ropes, remember that many yachtsmen don’t understand what to do with them either.

81. Every ocean marina has a message board. And on it, there are a lot of notes with texts like this: «I am John from Australia and I am going on my 40-feet yacht from Tenerife to Brazil. I am looking for an assistant or two. I will pay all the expenses.» Or something like that. So, there is a whole niche for adventure seekers. On the one hand, you can travel the world for free, on the other hand, you will have yachting practice.

82. More often I met gay men on Italian yachts. They travel in couples and sometimes with dogs.

83. I have never heard that those who played football since childhood and played in semi- or professional football teams, tried to preach or criticize those who casually play football in the yard. In yachting, it happens all the time. Snobbery is what a beginning Russian yachtsman will have immediately after receiving a skipper’s certificate. It is about Russian yachtsmen. I did not notice such an attitude towards beginners or inexperienced sailors among the British, Norwegians or French.

84. Children from 6 to 12 years old, if they are not on a yacht from birth, are rather bored at sea. While adults pretend to be amazed by the sunrises, sunsets and the rustle of the waves, the kids have to play iPads and eat cookies. Catamarans and a cheerful children’s parties are an exception. I have never met kids that would look forward to spending a week or two with their parents on a yacht.

85. Despite the fact that the range of sea VHF communications is very limited and is only tens of miles in the open ocean, on the radio I regularly heard monologues in languages unknown to me, individual phrases, and sometimes even songs. At the same time, the radar did not show any ships around, and the nearest land was more than a thousand miles away.

86.There are birds in the ocean. Those who, in fact, live in the ocean. When they see a yacht, they want to sit on the mast or deck to rest (some of them are in continuous flight for many months). If you allow this, the birds are guaranteed to shit on everything they can, including the anchor fire, which is located at the very top of the mast, after which you will have to climb there and wash it from shit.

87. After Russia took Crimea, no European insurance company insures yachts owned by Russians. There are three ways out: do not insure, get a residence permit / permanent residence anywhere other than Russia, or register a yacht in a legal entity of any country other than Russia.

88.A border patrol arrives at one of the anchorages of the island of Guadeloupe every day from 1 pm to 2 pm, goes on its boat around the yachts and checks passports for visas. The fact is that, despite belonging to France, to enter Guadeloupe, you need a French island visa. Moreover, not only Russians, but citizens of many states need it. The penalty for not having this visa is insane. Therefore, all the intruders (including us) every day at 12:30 got into their boats and sailed ashore, from where we were looking at the confused actions of the Guadalupean patrol.

89. If you are dreaming of your own yacht or just want to ask the price, then some of the most interesting places in terms of prices and range are Sweden and Norway. There are a lot of boats on sale, and the prices are very attractive. In the case of Sweden, until recently there were a lot of excellent local shipyards there, and the boats they built will be valued for a very long time due to their high quality and reliability. Norway is a different story. Norway, as you know, is NOT a member of the European Union. And therefore, the yachts registered there are not cleared for EU customs. What does this mean? It means that the Europeans-neighbors (Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Poland and Germany) will never go to buy a second-hand yacht in Norway, as they will have to clear it at home.

90. In most countries, a skipper’s blood alcohol level should not exceed that of a car driver. For example, in the UK — 0.8 ppm — about 150 grams of vodka for an average man weighing 80kg.

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19 Sailboat Facts

Written by Hally Poole

Modified & Updated: 10 Sep 2024

Reviewed by Sherman Smith

Are you fascinated by the beauty and grace of sailboats? Do you dream of gliding across the open seas, powered solely by the wind? If so, then you’re in for a treat! In this article, we will delve into the world of sailboats and explore 19 fascinating facts about these incredible vessels. From their rich history to the different types of sailboats and the intricacies of sailing, there’s so much to learn. Whether you’re a sailing enthusiast or simply curious about the allure of sailboats, this article will take you on an informative and exciting journey. So, sit back, relax, and let’s set sail into the enchanting world of sailboats!

Key Takeaways:

Sailboats are powered by the wind and come in different sizes and types, offering a thrilling and eco-friendly mode of transportation for sailors of all levels.
Sailing a sailboat requires knowledge of techniques, maintenance, safety precautions, and teamwork, providing a unique and sustainable way to connect with nature and experience the open sea.

Sailboats come in various sizes and types.

Sailboats range from small dinghies to massive yachts, providing options for beginners and experienced sailors alike.

They rely on the power of the wind.

Sailboats use the force of the wind to propel themselves through the water , making them an environmentally-friendly mode of transportation.

Sailboats have been around for thousands of years.

The use of sails to navigate dates back to ancient times, with evidence of sailboat-like vessels found in Egypt as early as 3500 BC.

They can reach impressive speeds.

Some high-performance sailboats, such as the hydrofoil designs, can achieve speeds of over 50 knots, providing an exhilarating sailing experience.

Sailboats can be single-handed or require a crew.

Smaller sailboats can be operated by a single person, while larger sailboats often require a crew to handle the sails and navigate.

They come in different rig types.

Common rig types include sloop, cutter, ketch, and schooner, each with its own configuration of masts and sails.

Sailboats can be made of various materials.

From traditional wooden boats to modern fiberglass, sailboats can be constructed using a variety of materials, each offering its own benefits and characteristics.

They require knowledge of sailing techniques.

To navigate a sailboat successfully, understanding concepts like tacking, jibing, and trim is crucial for efficient and safe sailing.

Sailboats offer a sense of freedom and adventure.

With the wind in your sails and the open water at your disposal, sailboats allow you to explore new horizons and experience the thrill of the seafaring life.

Sailboats can participate in races.

Sailing regattas and races are popular worldwide, providing an opportunity for sailors to showcase their skills and compete against other sailboat enthusiasts.

They can be used for leisure or as a means of transportation.

Whether you’re cruising along the coast or embarking on an extended sailing journey, sailboats offer versatility in their use.

Sailboats require regular maintenance.

From cleaning and inspecting the sails to checking the rigging and hull for any damage, sailboats need ongoing care to ensure their optimal performance and longevity.

They offer a unique way to connect with nature.

Sailing allows you to bond with the elements, appreciating the beauty of the open sea , the sound of the wind in the sails, and the mesmerizing dance of the waves.

Sailboats have their own vocabulary.

Terms like starboard, port, bow, and stern are commonly used in sailing to refer to various parts of the boat and directions.

They require proper safety precautions.

Wearing life jackets , knowing how to swim, and having knowledge of emergency procedures are crucial when venturing out on a sailboat.

Sailboats can be customized and personalized.

From choosing the interior layout to adding custom features, sailboat owners have the flexibility to tailor their vessels to suit their individual preferences.

They provide a tranquil and serene experience.

Sailing enables you to disconnect from the busyness of everyday life and find peace amidst the vastness of the ocean .

Sailboats offer a sustainable form of travel.

Relying solely on the power of the wind, sailboats minimize the carbon footprint associated with other modes of transportation.

They foster teamwork and communication.

When sailing with a crew, effective communication and coordination are essential to maneuver the sailboat efficiently and safely.

In conclusion, these sailboat facts provide a fascinating glimpse into the world of sailing. Whether you are a seasoned sailor or someone who simply admires the beauty of these graceful vessels, understanding the intricacies of sailboats can deepen your appreciation for them. From understanding the different types and parts of a sailboat, to learning about their history and important safety measures, there is so much to discover about these majestic boats.

So why wait? Embrace the adventure, and set sail on your own journey of exploration and discovery. Whether it’s navigating the open sea or cruising along tranquil coastlines, there’s nothing quite like the freedom and exhilaration of sailing on a sailboat.

1. What are the different types of sailboats?

There are several types of sailboats, including sloops, cutters, ketches, yawls, and catamarans . Each type has its own unique characteristics and advantages, catering to different sailing preferences.

2. How does a sailboat work?

A sailboat works by harnessing the power of the wind with its sails. As the wind fills the sails, it creates lift, propelling the boat forward. By adjusting the angle of the sails and manipulating the rudder, sailors can control the direction and speed of the boat.

3. What are the essential parts of a sailboat?

Some essential parts of a sailboat include the hull, mast, boom, sails, rigging, keel, and rudder. Each part plays a vital role in the functionality and maneuverability of the boat.

4. Are sailboats difficult to operate?

Operating a sailboat requires some knowledge and skill, especially when it comes to navigating and understanding wind patterns. However, with proper training and practice, anyone can learn to sail a boat and enjoy the adventure of being out on the water.

5. Are sailboats safe?

Sailboats can be safe when proper safety precautions and procedures are followed. It is important to wear appropriate safety gear, understand weather conditions, and practice good seamanship to ensure a safe and enjoyable sailing experience.

Sailing enthusiasts, ready for more exciting facts? Dive deeper into the world of competitive sailing with our articles on sailboat racing , where you'll learn about the thrilling tactics and strategies employed by top sailors. Curious about specific boat classes? Check out our piece on Snipe sailing , a popular class known for its lively community and close races. Lastly, explore the dynamics of team sailing , where collaboration and communication are key to success on the water. Whether you're a seasoned sailor or simply fascinated by the sport, these articles promise to deliver engaging insights and fresh perspectives.

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10 Fascinating Facts About Boats You Need to Know

Welcome to Facts Vibes! Get ready to set sail and dive into fascinating facts about boats . From their historical significance to their modern-day uses, we’ll explore the incredible world of boats in this article. Let’s embark on an exciting journey through the waters of knowledge together.

Content structure

Exploring the Intriguing World of Boats: Interesting Facts You Need to Know

Boats are a fascinating mode of transportation that have been used for centuries. From small rowboats to large ocean liners, there is so much to learn about these incredible vessels. Here are some interesting facts you need to know about boats.

1. The oldest boat discovered dates back to around 8,000 years ago and was found in the Netherlands. This ancient vessel was carved from a single tree trunk and provides valuable insights into early seafaring.

2. The Largest cruise ship in the world is Royal Caribbean’s Symphony of the Seas, measuring a staggering 1,188 feet in length. It features numerous amenities, including pools, theaters, and even a zip line.

3. The fastest boat on record is the Spirit of Australia, which reached an incredible speed of 318.75 miles per hour in 1978. This hydroplane still holds the world water speed record to this day.

4. Some of the most expensive boats ever sold include luxury yachts equipped with swimming pools, helipads, and lavish interior designs. These multi-million dollar vessels are a symbol of opulence and wealth.

5. The science of boat design involves complex calculations and engineering principles to ensure stability, speed, and safety on the water. Modern naval architects continue to push the boundaries of innovation in boat construction.

Exploring the intriguing world of boats unveils a rich tapestry of history, technology, and adventure. Whether you are fascinated by maritime archaeology, extreme speed, or luxurious yachts, the realm of boats offers a diverse range of captivating facts to discover.

Most popular facts

The oldest boat ever discovered is a dugout canoe found in the netherlands, estimated to be around 10,000 years old..

Yes, the oldest boat ever discovered is a dugout canoe found in the Netherlands, estimated to be around 10,000 years old.

The largest cruise ship in the world, Symphony of the Seas, spans over 1,188 feet in length.

The Titanic, a renowned luxury liner, sank on its maiden voyage in 1912, resulting in the tragic loss of over 1,500 lives.

The Titanic sank on its maiden voyage in 1912, resulting in the tragic loss of over 1,500 lives.

The fastest boat speed record was set by the Spirit of Australia at

The fastest boat speed record was set by the Spirit of Australia .

75 mph in Information and facts refers to the speed of an object or vehicle traveling at 75 miles per hour.

Information and facts are essential for making informed decisions and understanding the world around us.

The concept of using a rudder for steering boats dates back to ancient China around 1st century AD.

Yes , the concept of using a rudder for steering boats dates back to ancient China around 1st century AD.

Modern boats are often made from materials like fiberglass, aluminum, and steel, in addition to traditional wood.

Modern boats are often made from materials like fiberglass , aluminum , and steel , in addition to traditional wood.

The USS Constitution, a wooden-hulled frigate, is the oldest commissioned naval vessel still afloat in the world.

Yes, the USS Constitution is the oldest commissioned naval vessel still afloat in the world.

The smallest boat in the world measures just

The smallest boat in the world measures just 2.36 meters .

79 micrometers in length, created using nanotechnology.

A structure of 79 micrometers in length , created using nanotechnology .

The Vikings were skilled boat builders and sailors, using their longships for trade, exploration, and warfare.

The Vikings were skilled boat builders and sailors , using their longships for trade , exploration , and warfare .

The British Royal Navy’s HMS Victory, launched in 1765, is one of the most famous warships in history, best known for its role in the Battle of Trafalgar in

HMS Victory, launched in 1765, is best known for its role in the Battle of Trafalgar .

Information and facts are essential for decision-making and knowledge acquisition.

The invention of the sailboat revolutionized maritime travel, enabling ancient seafarers to navigate with the power of the wind.

The invention of the sailboat revolutionized maritime travel, enabling ancient seafarers to navigate with the power of the wind .

The concept of a “lifeboat” as a separate rescue vessel became widespread in the 19th century, following numerous maritime disasters.

The development of steam-powered boats in the 18th and 19th centuries marked a significant shift in marine transportation.

The development of steam-powered boats in the 18th and 19th centuries marked a significant shift in marine transportation .

The modern yacht industry extends to luxurious mega yachts, some of which boast amenities such as helipads and swimming pools.

The modern yacht industry extends to luxurious mega yachts , some of which boast amenities such as helipads and swimming pools .

Catamarans, with their twin hulls, offer stability and speed, making them popular choices for leisure boating and racing.

Catamarans are popular choices for leisure boating and racing due to their stability and speed offered by their twin hulls.

In conclusion, the facts about boats have shed light on their historical significance, technical advancements, and diverse uses in today’s world. Understanding the intricacies of boat design and functionality can enhance our appreciation for these nautical marvels and the role they play in various industries. Whether used for transportation, leisure, or research, boats continue to be an essential part of marine exploration and commerce .

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Top 101 Boating Facts and Factoids

By Boating Staff
Updated: October 16, 2006

There’s a lot to know in this sport we call boating. Too much, in fact. Which is good, as it keeps us interested and constantly learning. And it’s also bad, as there’s always something you should have known and only figured out later-usually, when it was too late. So class, here’s this semester’s lessons. Read on. Then take notes, and highlight the good parts. You never know when life will throw you a pop quiz.

Here’s the Pitch

An engine should run within its recommended rpm operating range at wide open throttle. If it revs below the range, less prop pitch is called for. If it’s above the range, more pitch is required. Props are described by diameter first, then pitch. Thus a 14½” x 19″ prop has a diameter of 14½” and a pitch of 19″.

Pecking Order

Whichever type of vessel is higher on this list has the right of way over those below it.

• Vessel not under command

• Vessels restricted in maneuverability

• Vessels engaged in fishing

• Sailboats

• Powerboats

Speed Freak

Hull speed for a displacement boat can be computed using the following formula:

V = the square root of LWL x 1.34

V = velocity in knots

LWL = waterline length

Left, Right, Left, Right

A single-engine boat with a right-handed prop backs to port.

With a left-handed propeller, the boat backs to starboard.

Do Not Pass Go

When two boats under power are about to meet head-on, neither has the right-of-way. Both vessels must make a noticeable course alteration to starboard after giving the proper signal of one short blast. When two vessels under power are crossing, the boat that has the other to starboard is the give-way vessel and must avoid the other by passing astern. The privileged vessel should maintain course and speed.

When visibility is restricted, hold to a speed that allows you to stop in no more than half of the distance of your visibility.

Down a Lazy River

A power-driven vessel operating in a narrow channel on the Great Lakes or in western rivers and proceeding downstream with a following current, has the right-of-way over an upbound vessel.

Twice as Nice

If you have two similar lines and the second is twice as thick as the first, the second line will be four times stronger than the first.

Found Horizons

Distance to your radar’s horizon in nautical miles can be estimated with the following formula: 1.23 x the square root of H = Distance H = the height of the radome in feet

Near or Far

To determine the distance to any object, use the following formula:

D + 1.17 x the square root of H = Distance

D = distance to the horizon in nautical miles (see above)

H = eye height above sea level in feet

Use this formula twice. Once to calculate the distance to the geographic horizon, and once to calculate the object’s distance off. Add the two to get the total distance off for the object.

A tall person (6’2″ and up) generally requires 3’2″ of sitting headroom. A person of average height (5’8″) needs 2’11”.

Who Needs NOAA?

Often, you can see the approach of a front or squall on radar, usually with the unit set on the 6- or 12-mile range.

Tide is highest at the full new moon.

‘Tis Hurricane Season

June, too soon;

July, stand by;

August, look out!

September, you will remember.

October, all over.

Weather Sayings:

Red sky at night, sailors delight.

Red sky at morning, sailors take warning.

When a halo rings the moon or sun,

rain will come upon the run.

Mackerel skies and mares’ tails,

make tall ships carry low sails.

(Cirrus clouds, which resemble mackerels and the wisps of a horse’s tail, indicate approaching storms.)

The American Cancer Society recommends using a sunblock with on SPF of 15. Recent studies have shown that the advantages of increasing SPF above 15 may not increase the effectiveness correspondingly.

Send a Wire

When fishing, to calculate the depth to which solid wire line sinks while trolling, count 1′ of depth for every 10′ of line. So when trolling, say, 150′ of wire line, your lure will be working around 15′ (deeper if you use a trolling weight).

To replace an IGFA world record for a fish weighing less than 25 pounds, the replacement weight must be at least 2 ounces more than the existing record. To replace an IGFA record for a fish weighing 25 pounds or more, the replacement weight must be at least 1/2 of 1 percent more than the existing record.

Listen Hear?

You’re not required to have your radio on. But when it is, the law says you must listen to Channel 16 or, for recreational boats, Channel 9.

Winds coming out of the south or east-tides will be stronger and later than expected. Winds coming out of the north or west-tides will be diminished and earlier than expected.

At one knot, a boat will travel approximately 1.7′ each second.

To convert from Fahrenheit to Celsius, subtract 32 then multiply by .555. To convert from Celsius to Fahrenheit, multiply by 1.8 then add 32.

What? No 911?

Radio distress signals:

MAYDAY Vessel is threatened by grave and/or imminent danger and requires immediate assistance. PAN-PAN Indicates caller has an urgent message regarding safety of a person or vessel. SECURITÉ (“se-cur-itay”) Indicates caller is about to transmit information concerning safety to navigation or give an important meteorological warning.

A Current Affair Selecting Wire Gauge


Current	Length of wire (in feet)
(in amps)
	10 or less	15	20	30	40	50
5	14 gauge	12	10	10	8	6
10	10	10	8	6	6	4
15	10	8	6	6	4	2
20	8	6	4	4	2	2
25	6	6	4	2	2	1

Ski-Daddle Hand Signals for Waterskiers

** **Faster: Palm of one hand up Slower: Palm of one hand down Speed okay: Arm up; thumb and forefinger form a circle Right turn: Arm out pointing right Left turn: Arm out pointing left Return to drop-off area: Arm pointing down at a 45-degree angle and swinging Cut motor: Finger drawn across the throat Stop: Hand up, palm forward, like a police officer Skier okay after fall: Hands clenched overhead Pick me up or fallen skier: One ski pointing vertically out of the water ** **

Navy Signal Corps Two-Letter Flag Signals


A C	I am abandoning vessel
I T	I am on fire
A N	I need a doctor
J F	I am in distress and need immediate assistance
A Q	I have an injured person who needs to be taken off immediately
J G	I am aground and in danger
C B	I require immediate assistance
J L	You are at risk of running aground
C J	Do you require assistance?
J W	I have sprung a leak
C N	I am unable to give assistance
K F	I require a tug
C P	I am coming to your assistance
K N	I cannot take you in tow
D V	I am drifting
N C	International Distress
D X	I am sinking
N E	Proceed with great caution
G W	Man overboard
N F	You are running into danger
I M	I request to be escorted until further notice
N G	You are in a dangerous position

Hold On! Choosing a Working Anchor


LOA (feet)	Danforth	Danforth Hi-Tensile	Plow	Fortress
10	4-S	5-H	P-700	G5
15	8-S	5-H	P-700	FX7
20	8-S	5-H	P-700	FX7
25	13-S	5-H	P-1000	FX11
30	13-S	12-H	P-1000	FX11
35	22-S	12-H	P-1500	FX16
40	22-S	20-H	P-1800	FX23
50	40-S	35-H	–	FX37
60	65-S	35-H	–	FX85

Channel Markers VHF Channels


CHANNEL	USAGE
16	Hailing and distress
09	Ship-to-ship and ship-to-coast (when contacting marinas, for example)
68	Same as Channel 9 except it’s also used for commercial ship-to-ship
06	Ship-to-ship communication for safety only
22A	If you call the Coast Guard and your situation isn’t life threatening, you’ll be switched to this channel
21A, 83	Coast Guard-to-Coast Guard only
13	Navigational (bridges, locks, and so on)
70	Reserved for digital selective calling
12	Port operations
25, 26, 27, 28	Public telephone-link up with a land-based marine operator
69, 71, 72	Ship-to-ship communication
WX-1, WX-2, WX-3, WX-4	Weather broadcasts

Seven signs that fish are probably nearby

1. A distinct smell like cucumber or cantaloupe often means that fish have been foraging for bait in the vicinity. The smell comes from oils in the chewed-up fish as it floats to the surface.

2. Smooth, thin surface slicks may indicate fish feeding below. The slicks are also caused by fish oils.

3. If birds are working the surface, something is or was there.

4. A sudden eruption of white over a large area says fish are feeding.

5. What appears as a dark stick might in fact be a marlin bill. Dark shapes may be fins. Shadows could be the entire fish.

6. Surface rips where you can see the color of water change or where currents come together churning the surface often cause bait fish to panic. Bigger fish know this and come to eat.

7. Weedlines, driftwood, and buoys are offshore structures that offer small fish protection in open water. If small fish are present, big fish will not be far behind.

Torque About It

To determine the torque of an engine at WOT, use this formula: horsepower x 5.252 __________________ =Torque rpm

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Find information on sailboats, luxury yachts, the Americas Cup, nautical terms and much more. Read on for a wide range of interesting trivia and information related to boats.

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15 Facts About Boats & Ships That Will Surprise You!

A boat in a magnificent watercraft. Sometimes boating over the oceans can work as a treatment for your frustrated and stressed life.

Most of the time, people prefer boating to spend quality time with my family and friends.

Today we thought to provide you with some amazing and fun facts about Boats and Ships that may fascinate you, so here we go!!

15 Amazing Boat Facts

Boats were used in Sumeria, ancient Egypt, and in the Indian Ocean between 4000 and 3000 BC.
Laura Dekker is the youngest individual to sail around the world. She’s a 14-year-old who went off to sail around the world in 2012 when she was 16 and finished her trip 518 days later.
You may find this fact very funny you know why? If a boat has more than 500 tones, it is known as a ship. A boat can be carried out by ship.
The first ship to reach America had only 40 people on board, including Christopher Columbus . It was the size of a bus and did not exceed 70 feet.
Vasa is a Swedish warship known to have sunk in 1628 and recovered in 1961. After spending centuries in the water, this ship was still completely undamaged and in good shape. It’s actually the only vessel left in the 17th century. This ship is now located in the Vasa Museum in Stockholm, which was built as a tribute to this ship.
Renaming boats, historically, changing the name of a ship was considered bad luck. However, before the name is revealed or anything with a new name enters the boat, the purging and renaming ceremony is conducted if you need to change the name of the boat.
Bananas on a boat are seen as bad luck particularly in fishing boats. It is thought that the fish will not bite on a hook if the bananas are nearby boat. On the other hand, finding a cat on a boat is considered good luck, even if it’s a black cat. Cats eat rats, keep the boat clean and safe.
A study was published in 2004 showing that retiring to a cruise ship was often as cost-effective as retiring to a retirement home and was more efficient in ensuring the quality of life.
It is said during the Battle off Samar, a single American destroyer charged forward against a huge Japanese force. The ship did so much damage to the Japanese that when she sank, a passing Japanese ship saluted the sinking vessel.
After knowing this fact you may say what a coincidence it is said that, over a period of 200 years, three ships were killed at the same location on the coast of Wales on the same day (December 5th) and all three had only one survivor. All three of the survivors had the same name: Hugh Williams.
In 2013, after taking refuge in the air pocket of the ship, the head of a sunken ship survived for three days beneath the ocean.
A flight by Air Canada took a detour in 2012 to find a stranded Australian sailboat. Only 25 minutes after the distress signal was activated did the passengers of the Boeing 777 find the yacht.
A Chinese female prostitute named Ching Shih was one of the mightiest pirates who ever lived. There were 1,800 ships and 80,000 sailors under her control.
Steamboat Willie was the first Disney cartoon with sound, released on November 18, 1928, and is also celebrated as the birthday of Mickey Mouse.
To prevent capture, a Dutch warship was disguised as a tropical island during World War II. It was the only ship to survive in its own class.

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When it comes to exploring the seas, nothing is more fun than having a boat. Spending quality time with family, going fishing whenever you want, and having a hobby to work on after huge working hours are just bits among the many perks that come with boats.

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5 Boating Facts that may surprise you

Boating has been around for approximately 8,000 years, and as you can imagine there are some fascinating boating facts floating around! From the Stone Age dugouts to today’s tight knit boating community, life on the water is full of surprising moments. Check out a few of our favorite fun facts from all those years in between:

1. 14-year-old Laura Dekker was the youngest person to solo sail around the world

2. the english word “quarantine” comes from 17th century boating terminology, 3. ship speeds are measured in knots– literally.

One knot equals one nautical mile per hour. The term ”knots” comes from the 17th century when sailors measured the speed of their ship by using a “common log,” a rope tied with equally spaced knots. The common log would trail behind the boat for a specific amount of time before the sailors would count how many knots had passed. This estimated their speed.

4. Sailing has been in the Olympics since 1900

The Tokyo Olympics are in full swing this year and the summer games wouldn’t be complete without some boating! Sailing is one of the longest running Olympic sports with a debut at the world games in 1900. Since then,the competition was omitted only once in the 1904 Summer Olympics. More boating facts — Sailing is one of the only sports where men and women compete simultaneously. Great Britain has won the most gold medals in sailing, which reflects its status as the country where the competitive sport developed. Close behind is the USA, while other perennial medal-winners include Norway, Spain, and France.

5. The COVID-19 pandemic created a boom in boat sales

As people spent increasingly more time at home, they began to see the value of buying boats and watercrafts so they could safely enjoy the great outdoors. An estimated $47 billion was spent in the US on buying boats in 2020. With boat sales skyrocketing last year, the trend shows no signs of slowing in 2021. As we welcome more boaters onto the waterways, we offer our services to connect eager boaters with private dock owners to safely rent out their docks while making some extra money.

The world of boating has so much rich history and we are looking forward to the future. Visit us next month for more boating facts.

We hope to make private docksharing a part of every boater’s life, just like a common log in the 17th century. Let’s make history together! Happy boating!

Your source for the latest news on yachts, boats and more. Read through our articles to find out how to compare boats and find the right fit for you!

10 Unconventional Facts About Boats you cannot Learn from Books!

Oct 30, 2019

less than a min

10 Unconventional facts about boats!

Boats and yachts are quite the interesting past time for a lot of people. It is funny however the amount of information that people might be surprised to know about their favourite hobby or sport. What most boat owners are familiar with are ways to maintain their vessels , the composing parts of boats, how to manage their boat in a marina , where to find the most important data regarding their boats and other similar data. However, not many know some of the weirdest and most unconventional facts about boats. Here is a countdown of 10 juicy facts that will make your jaw drop in astonishment.

Top 10 boat facts

Number one , we are used to throwing around the word boat and ship sometimes in the same sense. The two however have quite a different meaning. Most will think its a matter of size when the reality is the main difference comes as a result of the gravity center of each. A boat will lean inwards when it turns while a ship will lean outwards.

Number two , let’s get into a bit of history. The oldest boats ever found are actually canoes and they are believed to be almost 10.000 years old. It is believed that the egyptians are the first ones to roam the Nile in a boat, or better called canoe, which was made from papyrus plants. They later developed wooden boats which is still unclear how were held together as no nails have been found in any Egyptian ruins.

Number three , is quite the creepy fact. A Russian cruise ship was abandoned in 2013 and it has since then been sailing around international waters.

Number four , right and left are not the same when it comes to nautical terms. The term for right is starboard while the term for left is port, if you are facing the front of the ship.

Number five , you will be happy and proud to know that one of the oldest international sporting trophies in the word is actually the America’s cup. This award has been given at the end of yacht races since 1851.

Number six , the longest yacht in the world is about 150 meters long.

Number seven , the most expensive yacht in the world costs $1.9 billion dollars and it belongs to the Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich. It is called the Eclipse and it comes with two helicopter pads, two swimming pools and 24 guest cabins.

Number eight , a new superyacht builder is opened and it is called Oceano. It has a 156 meters long dry dock that could build boats big enough to host 31 tennis courts.

Number nine , the president of The United States used to have his own personal yacht where he would travel and host events. This practice started back in 1893 and continued up until 1977. Since than, the idea has not been put to use anymore.

Number ten , the first manuscript dictating how to build boats dates back to 1436 and it has been written by Michael of Rhodes.

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Yacht facts for kids

A yacht is a type of boat which is mainly used for recreation. It usually has a cabin , so it does not need to return to the harbour overnight. Originally, yachts were sailing-boats , but now there are also motor yachts. The name comes from the Dutch word jachtschip , which originally meant hunting-boat or fast boat . Yachts have a fixed keel .

A yacht can vary in size from about 20 feet (6 metres) to 200 feet (60 metres) or more.

Most privately owned yachts fall in the range of about 7 metres (23 ft)-14 metres (46 ft); the cost of building and keeping a yacht rises quickly as length increases. In the United States, sailors tend to refer to smaller yachts as sailboats , while referring to the general sport of sailing as yachting. In sailboat racing, a yacht is any sailing vessel taking part in a race.

Images for kids

The superyacht Azzam , the largest private yacht by length, as of 2018.

An 18th-century Dutch jacht

1893 America's Cup match between Vigilant and Valkyrie II

Steam yacht, Gunilda , ca. 1910

Cruising yacht, Zapata II , in 2013

Sailing yacht interior with fold-down table in main salon, galley (kitchen) on left, and navigation station on right and forward cabin visible beyond.

Wheelhouse of motor yacht, Taransay , in 2015 with navigation and systems displays

Small sailing yacht with outboard motor in 2017

Cruising catamaran in 2012

This page was last modified on 16 October 2023, at 16:53. Suggest an edit .

12 Sensational Facts about Super Yachts

We’ve all seen the photos of these marine beauties – enormous boats owned or chartered by the mega rich floating on turquoise waters all across the globe! It takes something special to take a simple boat to super yacht status, and these opulent floating dreams are one of the ultimate displays of wealth and luxury. Here are some fun facts about super yachts that might just fascinate you.

1. What’s the biggest super yacht in the world?

The world’s ‘most super’ yacht is the Azzam . It’s the biggest of them all when it comes to sheer number of guests, and it’s around 590 feet long. It also cost an impressive $600 million to bring to life, over the course of four years. It was owned by the late, former UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al-Nahyan.

2. These are more than just boats alone!

Super yachts are often regarded as being so ‘super’ thanks to the sheer variety of extras they come packed with. For example, did you know that some super yachts arrive with helipads, cinemas, gyms and pools? What’s wrong with just taking a cruise, honestly?

3. Running a super yacht is a costly business!

Super yachts on their own cost a pretty penny, but underneath all of that glamour and pizzazz, there’s running fees! It’s though that $3 billion a year is shelled out, overall, just to keep these beauties running. In fact, you can expect to spend approximately 10% of the total value of a super yacht just to keep it running per year.

4. But, they won’t stay pricey forever.

It’s a misconception that super yachts gain value over time. In fact, they are very likely to dip in price – luxury tastes change over the years, and as such, super yacht values will depreciate. Better buy in fast, then!

5. Old boats don’t come cheap…

Much of the depreciation you’ll expect from your super yacht arises thanks to rising costs. For example, did you know that the older your boat, the more it’ll cost to keep it on the water and running?

6. America is big on super yachts!

The US owns more super yachts than any other country in the world, and up until 2022, when Russian assets were seized due to curtailment during the Ukraine War, Russia was close behind in second.

7. Building one of these beauties takes time and money.

Building super yachts isn’t cheap, either. In fact, you can estimate the average cost by multiplying each metre of boat by a million dollars!

8. You’ll need lots of help to run a super yacht!

Given the size and complexity of super yachts, it’s reasonable to expect these boats to possess some form of crew on board. In fact, it’s likely you will find at least five people – up to ten in some cases – helping to run various areas of the ship.

9. Could super yachts pose a threat?

There are even some super yachts that come with weapons attached. For example, the Radiant is a super yacht that possesses guns designed to deafen enemies! It’s even got the potential to sink opposing ships if need be!

10. An orchestra at sea?

Speaking of super yachts that have impressive toys and extra features, the Al Said outstrips many thanks to its incredible concert hall! It’s said that up to 50 members of an orchestra could comfortably play in here.

11. Floating artworks!

Many billionaires use super yachts purely to store expensive artworks – meaning that they are effectively galleries of the sea!

12. Scrapping super yachts makes very little.

Believe it or not, you won’t be able to make money from scrap when it comes to super yachts. They tend to lack steel in their build, meaning they don’t hold that much value when trading on after they’ve been used up.

FAQs about Super Yachts

How many super yachts exist.

There are said to be less than 9,000 super yachts in existence - they are a rare and expensive breed, indeed!

How much does it cost to rent a super yacht?

It’s thought that catamarans measuring more than 80 feet in length, and classed as super yachts, cost at least $40,000 per night to hire!

How much fuel do super yachts consume?

Super yachts consume a huge amount of fuel per hour - up to 130 gallons every 60 minutes if you’re constantly running the engine!

Do you know any interesting facts about super yachts? Share them in the comments below!

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This page was last modified on August 4, 2024. Suggest an edit

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5 Fun facts about Hong Kong’s Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance that you should know

Who isn’t interested in a giant, flaming dragon parade?

Here in Hong Kong, there’s no talking about the Mid-Autumn Festival without mentioning the Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance. Every year, right on the eve of Mid-Autumn, the quiet neighbourhood of Tai Hang lights up for a three-day celebration involving a huge, smokey dragon, lasting until the day after the festival. This year, the Fire Dragon Dance occurs from September 16 to 18, and we expect Tai Hang will be packed with merrymakers wanting to witness this century-old tradition. Before you hit the streets yourself, brush up on these fun facts about the Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance.

RECOMMENDED: Check out our handy one-stop guide to this year’s Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance , as well as all you need to know about Mid-Autumn Festival

Been there, done that? Think again, my friend.

Did you know...

1. the fire dragon dance originated from a plague.

In our interview with the current troupe commander of the Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance, we learned that this festival dates back over 140 years. As the legend goes, in 1880, a plague swept through the traditionally Hakka village of Tai Hang. Luckily, Buddha appeared in the village elders’ dreams with instructions to craft a dragon out of straw before the Mid-Autumn Festival, decorate it with incense sticks all over, and parade it through the village while setting off firecrackers. The plague abated after the villagers did as instructed, and the Fire Dragon Dance has remained a tradition ever since.

2. A new dragon is created every year

Each year, the Tai Hang Residents’ Welfare Association (RWA) is in charge of handcrafting a brand-new fire dragon and its accompanying dragon pearls for the celebrations, a process which takes between one to two months to complete. The frame of its head and tail sections is shaped using rattan, while the body is mainly made using thick ropes, then the entire dragon is wrapped in chamberbitter weeds. With a body measuring roughly 220 feet, the dragon is pierced through its entirety with lit incense sticks before the ceremony.

3. Traditionally, women were not involved in the Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance

This is a fairly common occurrence in traditional festivities worldwide (hello, deep-rooted sexism), but according to tradition, women are not permitted to touch the fire dragon after it has been built, as the dragon is considered a sacred object. The day before the Mid-Autumn Festival, villagers will gather in Tai Hang’s Lin Fa Kung Temple for the consecration ceremony, which is conducted fully in the Hakka dialect. After the fire dragon’s pupils have been drawn on, it is then considered to be alive and ready to make its way through the streets.

4. The dragon was cast into the ocean after the performance

The Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance can be categorised into three portions. The initial part is the traditional parade through the neighbourhood, which is then followed by a performance on Wun Sha Street that focuses on wielding fanciful moves. At the end of each section, the fire dragon performance troupe will hand out incense from the dragon to the audience as a blessing for good luck.

The third and final part of the performance comes on the night after the Mid-Autumn Festival, when the dragon goes through its last ‘grand parade’. Journeying in a counterclockwise direction, it dances its way to the Causeway Bay typhoon shelter, where the troupe will then cast the fire dragon into the waters. This is because in Chinese folklore, dragons are considered the offspring of the Dragon King, who presides over the rain and all bodies of water. This part of the ceremony is therefore called the ‘dragon returns to heaven’, and symbolically takes away the filth and negative energy in the neighbourhood. However, in light of pollution awareness, the dragon has been cremated in recent years, and the ending ceremony’s name changed to the ‘dragon soars in the sky’ instead.

5. Crowds used to dissect the fire dragon for themselves

Nowadays, we have health and safety regulations to keep things in check, which makes sense when there are huge flaming objects, crowds, and narrow streets involved in the mix. However, things didn’t used to be quite so civilised. There never used to be restrictions on where the Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance performance could be held, and the distance between the performers and excited festival goers was practically nonexistent. When it got close to the end of performance portions, the audience would already be grabbing sticks of incense straight from the dragon to take home for offering at their family altars, instead of waiting for the troupe to distribute them and risk running out.

Back when the ‘dragon returns to heaven’ ceremony was still part of the festivities, the fire dragon would be sent out to sea, only to be swiftly fished out by the boat people living in the typhoon shelter, and the dragon’s body and head divided amongst each other. The remains of the fire dragon would then be displayed on their house boats as a blessing for peace and safety while at sea. These days, of course, there are barely any boat people living in typhoon shelters, and the Tai Hang fire dragon is taken care of by the troupe themselves.

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