Dinghy sailing

Dinghy sailing is the activity of sailing small boats by using (1) the sails and (2) underwater foils (daggerboard or centreboard and rudder). It also involves adjusting (3) the sail trim and (4) balance by movement of the crew, particularly in windy weather ("move fast or swim"). In rivers and tidal waters the effective choice of route in terms of existing and anticipated wind shifts (5) and currents (6) can be important.

When racing, the above skills need to be refined and additional skills and techniques learned, such as (7) the application of the "racing rules of sailing", (8) boat handling skills when starting and when rounding marks, and (9) knowledge of tactics and strategy relative to individual boats or the fleet in order to avoid the harmful effects of their sails on your wind, or to influence their movements to your advantage.

Those shared challenges, and the variability of the weather and sea can make dinghy sailing and racing a fascinating and rewarding recreational sport: physically, mentally, and in terms of personal relationships with other crew member(s), competitors, and organisers.