The
term “sailing” is a bit of a misnomer, given that it encompasses everything to
do with boats, regardless of whether they have sails or not.
It's a little difficult to think about sailing
as a whole, without thinking of millionaires in luxury yachts or retired folks
in their narrow-boats. But then again,
there's the freedom of the high seas and the ability to speak like a pirate
without getting taken away by men in white coats. I have had a keen interest in sailing since a
friend of mine invited me onto her friend’s boat. We pointed the boat in the right direction
and just kept going. As soon as she let
me have a go at being skipper, I was hooked.
I bought my boat the next day and never looked back. So which boat should you buy? Where do you moor the thing once you've
bought it? How much does it cost a month?
I decided to find out.
Where
Do I Start?
If
your sailing knowledge equates to knowing who Popeye is, then you're not alone. Nobody is born an expert at anything; we all
need pointing in the right direction and, thankfully, there are yacht and boat
clubs all over Second Life. If you just
want a boat you can jump into and get going with, there are freebie boats in
the Marketplace and at Yacht clubs. One
such club is the Trade Winds Yacht Club (http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Dex/139/48/25).
They
have a few freebie boats for beginners as well as free clothes (including the
absolutely necessary Captain's Hat).
However, if you want something a bit more flash than a 2 seater wooden
dinghy, then you're going to need some lindens sailor! However, depending on what you want, and
where you look, you may not have to part with that much to a decent little
craft.
What
Boat Would Suit Me Best?