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Finding your Ideal Sailboat - Blog

TIWAL Learn to Sail Tips Part 2

11/25/2019

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Learn to Sail Part 2. 
Have you have decided to give sailing a go?
Firstly, you need a little understanding of the wind, the sail and the parts of the boat which are underwater. 
You need to know where the wind is coming from. The first reason you need to know, is so you can turn the boat into the wind when you are setting up the boat.. or when you are launching the boat into the water. 
If you turn the boat away from the wind the sail will fill with wind and the boat will try and jump around and make it very hard to push into the water without it falling over! 

Now lets get onto the water. 

Your sail is your engine - so looking at your sail is important (as well as looking where you are going!). 
When you are on the water you need to know where the wind is coming from because when you point the boat into the wind you won’t move anywhere - the sail will just flap. 
Wind direction awareness is also needed so you can stop the boat on the water whenever you like - just turn the boat into the wind and let the sail flap. 

​If you want to move forward you need a curve in the sail. This creates power.  
You need to point the front of the boat away from the wind and pull the sail in just enough so there is a nice curve (and no flapping).

Perhaps you have turned away so far from the wind that the wind is now directly behind you? Now you need to let the sail out enough to catch the wind. A good rhyme to remember is ‘if in doubt, let it out’ (the sail, I mean). 
But if it flaps, pull it in! 

So where do you sit? You and the wind will work together to balance the boat. If the boat is tipping to one side you need to move to balance the boat and make it flat again.
This means you will usually sit opposite the sail - to balance the wind pushing against the sail on the other side. When the sail changes sides so will you (this is called a tack or gybe).

​You also need to know what is happening under the boat (underwater) that is helping you move and turn. 
Your rudder turns the boat - but this will only work if you have water flowing over it - you need to be moving to turn the boat. 
Your centreboard (the board in the centre of the boat) helps you sail towards the wind. So it is important to have this all the way down into the water - otherwise you will slip sideways. 

​So, now you know where the wind is coming from, that you need to look at and adjust your sail, and you know what is helping the boat move and turn underwater. 
Stay tuned for more tips!  
#tiwal #dream_big_pack_small
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So which Inflatable Tenders are the best?

11/18/2019

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Check here to see a comparison of inflatable tenders by Yachting Monthly magazine.
https://cdn.tiwal.com/…/yachting-monthly-sailing-tenders-co…

We were inspired to try our own version of a fitting for an outboard for the back of the TIWAL.  We had a bit of fun this weekend trying an electric motor. It was so easy to use, quiet and fast - we couldnt believe it!  And it was so nice to see the TIWAL 3 as a practical tender; after all, I wouldn't give up the chance to have a small sailboat on board, would you?
 
We will put more videos up on Youtube. In the meantime you can see more articles on www.tiwal.nz 

Have a great week, 
​Melinda 

​
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Queensland Demo Day is under way

11/15/2019

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There is a demo on the Gold Coast on Saturday 16th November for the TIWAL 3. 
Please contact Peter from Spirit Marine Queensland on  0416 228 754 if you are interested in having a go in the TIWAL! 

The Sydney demo will be held very soon.. please get in touch with me at info@tiwal.nz for more details. 
​
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TIWAL saves the day!

11/12/2019

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I coach at Buckland Beach Yacht Club and my latest learn to sail group consisted of five different nationalities! My 'learn to sail' class now had to focus on water confidence, group cohesion along with learning to sail.  So how could I push forward some very capable kiwi kids (the son and daughter of one Olympic Gold Medallist) while also catering to kids who had never been in any sort of boat before? 

I brought the TIWAL out and I found that more than half of my problems were solved. The kids loved the boat because they felt safe in it, but they could go fast.  We could have an instructor on the boat with them or they could sail it themselves in twos or threes. They couldn't hurt themselves in it but most of all, it provided loads of fun for them.  The problem now is they expect it out every lesson! 

I'm very excited to announce the arrival of the TIWAL 2 on December 5th.  This means we will be running demo days on Saturday 7th December for both the TIWAL 2 and 3! 

If you are interested in having a go in the TIWAL 3 or TIWAL 2, please get in touch with me here.  (Read on to find out the difference between a TIWAL 2 and TIWAL 3)

Also below is a story about taking both TIWALS into the Outback of Australia and watch out for a version of the story in Boating New Zealand Magazine. 

If you know of anyone who may be interested in reading my emails please forward the following link Clicking here to them. 
I will be including learn to sail tips and videos. 

If you didnt catch the latest TIWAL reviews from this side of the world here they are: 
https://www.boatsales.com.au/editorial/details/2019-tiwal-inflatable-dinghy-review-119852/
https://afloat.partica.online/afloat-magazine/afloat-may-2019/flipbook/26/

Keep safe, and have fun on the water! 
Melinda.
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Sailing - the oldest means of sea transport

11/7/2019

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Yesterday, I taught a woman to sail who had never been on a boat before - not in a dinghy or on a ferry. That was a first for me in my teaching sailing experience. I take for granted being able to get on the water in some shape or form. It makes me feel alive! 
So why are there so many boaties out there but not many sailors? Yet Captain Cook brought Europeans here on a sailing ship, and the discovery and settlement of almost every nation on earth resulted from sailing the high seas! Once, to cover any distance on water, you either rowed or sailed. Everyone knew about sailing. 
Today, you can easily learn to sail; to use the wind as your power-source.
Perhaps you haven't found the right boat to learn on? Or the best way to transport a boat? Or access to someone who can teach you? Or the right book to inspire you?

You can learn about sailing and the wind in a book but sooner or later the best way is to get on the water and learn by trial and error. Stay tuned for some tips! 
Have fun and be safe on the water, 
Melinda

www.tiwal.nz 
Like Nautical Nomads of Australia, NZ and the South Pacific to follow adventures of all sorts!

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    Melinda Henshaw

    I am a New Zealand sailor who learned to sail in the beautiful Malborough Sounds and then went onto represent NZ at the 2000 Olympics. 

    View my profile on LinkedIn

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TIWAL NZ and AUSTRALIA 

Inflatable sailboat is member of NZ Marine
Melinda Henshaw ​
​Henshaw Yachting Ltd 
Ph: +64 21 611 623 
Email: info@tiwal.nz

Member: NZ Marine Industry Association 
Member: Boating Industry Association of Australia 

Inflatable sailboat is member of BIA Australia
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