Ever since the first early humans got a glimpse of the ocean, man has yearned to take to the sea.  The ocean has provided man with many benefits throughout the eons – from bountiful food to a convenient means of transportation.  And ever since those first vessels hit the water, the men and women who piloted them have looked for ways to improve their speed, their comfort and their efficiency. This desire for faster and better equipped sailing vessels has helped to create the sport of yachting we know today.  The men and women who devote their lives to this exciting pastime take great pride in their creations, and they enjoy the spirit of competition and camaraderie with their fellow sailing enthusiasts. The exact history of the yacht race is difficult to pinpoint, but the sport we know today as yacht racing may owe its start to the Netherlands of the 17th century.  These early sailboat races were often informal affairs, and even today there are a number of informal races throughout the world where amateur sailors can show off their vessels and enjoy some friendly competition. The sport of yachting would eventually make its way to England, and the sport continues to enjoy great popularity among the citizens of Britain.  As the sport of yachting moved to England custom built racing vessels were built, and a new pastime was born. At the same time the Americans were busy working on their own custom built sailing vessels, and the spirit of international competition eventually led to an international yacht race between the New York based American Yacht Racing Club and its English rival.  Held in 1851, this competition helped to create what is now regarded as the high water mark of yacht racing – the America’s Cup. Since the earliest days of the sport yacht racing has undergone many changes and many revolutions.  The desire for faster boats has led to a number of different classifications of vessel, including skiffs, dinghies and of course those huge luxury racing yachts. While the sport of yacht racing is most often associated with those large ocean going vessels, there are in fact competitions that take place on many different bodies of water.

Fresh water and salt water lakes, and even large rivers have played host to some of the greatest moments in the sport. Of course the style of boat is a big factor in the type of races it can enter, and there are several different types of racing yachts recognized by the various governing bodies of the sport.  The large racing yachts with which the public is most familiar can be quite massive, and these large vessels typically come complete with all the facilities needed for an extended ocean voyage. The smaller styles of yachts, such as skiffs and dinghies, are typically used for shorter races, including harbor races, lake races and even river races.  Dingy races have been popular for many decades, and these smaller races are a great way for newcomers to learn about the sport and find out what yacht racing has to offer.

These smaller watercraft typically carry a small crew consisting of one and three sailing men and women.  Nearly all of these sailing vessels are equipped with a single mast, but there are some important differences newcomers should be aware of.  For instance, the sail design varies from craft to craft, with some vessels equipped with only a single triangular sail.  Others sailing ships are designed as sloops, complete with a piece of equipment known as a spinnaker.  The spinnaker is designed to allow the vessel to sail easily with the wind. In order to keep the competition fair most yacht races are held between vessels of similar design.  This type of competition, known as a one design race, pits identically outfitted yachts against one another, with the best sailors coming out on top.  All competitors face the same weather conditions and sail the same type of vessel, providing an excellent showcase for their inherent yachting skills. Racing dinghies are always a popular choice for sailors of all ages and abilities, but they are a particularly good choice for those still learning the sport.  That is because many dinghy designs provide for very stable and relatively slow speed crafts that are easy for the novice to control.  Of course not all dinghies are so easy to handle, and new sailors should choose their vessels with care. Skiff and dinghy racing can be very popular sports for spectators as well as competitors, especially when the weather conditions provide additional challenges for all involved.  In fact the sport of yachting is anything but boring for those not competing, particularly those races held on lakes, rivers and harbors. Even though dingy and skiff races are exciting to watch, it is the larger vessels most people think of when they think of yacht racing.  These larger crafts can also be raced in harbors and other small spaces, but they are most likely to be found out on the open sea in thrilling point to point races.

Many of these yacht races cover enormous distances, forcing the competitors to cope with all manner of weather and wind conditions.  It can be a struggle for even the most experienced and skilled yachtsmen to even finish one of these long distance races, and long distance yacht racing provides many unique challenges not found in other sports.  In fact there are a number of yacht races that take long distance to the extreme – with the various racing vessels speeding their way around the entire globe. Fortunately, even those sailors and yacht owners who choose not to sail halfway around the world can still enjoy their favorite sport with inshore racing.  Inshore races typically take place outside the protected waters of a harbor but still within sight of land.  Waters with many islands are popular sports for inshore races, and the races can be of various lengths as well.  Some inshore races take place only during the day, while others are overnight affairs.

These exciting races can even take place over several days, providing an excellent challenge yacht owners of all levels of experience. The safety equipment requirements and challenges of inshore races varies quite a bit, and those who are interested in breaking into the sport should contact the sponsoring yacht club for specific detailed information.  Many new yacht owners enjoy watching their local inshore races and learning about the sport before entering their own craft in the competition.  The requirements and challenges of inshore races are generally lower than those for open ocean races but greater than those faced by harbor races and dingy races, but it is important for any would be competitor to get complete information before trying to join in on the fun.

The sport of yacht racing is certainly an exciting one, and it is a sport that is fun for participants and spectators alike.  From the worldwide excitement of the America’s Cup to the lower key enthusiasm garnered by smaller local competitions, yacht racing has come a long way since the first men and women gazed out at the splendor of the sea.