Race Your Cruising Boat, By Wally Cross

It doesn’t have to be expensive or difficult to get out on the race course!

Almost every local weeknight racing series has a cruising division filled with sailors looking for an excuse to get out on the water and away from life’s demands. The idea of racing might seem daunting, but with a few tweaks to your boat, a bit of reading up on the rules and enlisting family and friends for crew, you’ll be rounding marks in no time.

Not everyone wants to be a racer, but there are some compelling reasons to consider it.

There is no better way to become a stronger sailor than by spending time on the water challenging yourself. Even simple windward-leeward courses can throw all kinds of scenarios at you as water, wind and weather conditions change and test your seamanship. Racing is also a great way to sharpen your skills for a longer voyage.

Enlisting your family and friends as crew is a great way to spend time together, not to mention a great way to pass your love of sailing onto your kids. And competition with friends and family can build team spirit while enjoying the sport of sailing together.

Racing is also a good way to become involved with the sailing community and make friends with people who share a common interest. If you’re comfortable with it, you can also help grow the sailing community by offering to teach people interested in learning to sail. There are plenty of volunteer opportunities related to racing. You can get involved on a planning committee or volunteer to help run races.

Lastly, racing can be a scheduled excuse for a bit of relaxation. Weeknight racing is a great way to set aside time each week to hit the water and leave everything else on land. The highest participation today is in the early evening races. Link to the full story - Race your cruising boat (sailingmagazine.net)