Sailing : The Sport of Elites?

The sport of sailing harnesses the power of the wind, using sails, wingsails, or kites to drive a vessel across water, ice, or land along a pre-determined route, which doubles as a navigational strategy.

 

Up until the latter part of the 19th century, sailing was primarily a tool for commerce and movement across the seas, playing a significant role in global exploration and the transport of goods over long distances.

 

In today's world, sailing has evolved into a leisure or sporting activity. The realm of recreational sailing, also known as yachting, branches into two main categories: racing and cruising. Cruising itself spans a variety of experiences, from long-distance voyages across the open sea to coastal excursions within view of land, and even casual day trips.

 

 Sailing is enjoyed by people both as a hobby and a leisure activity. One can adapt to sailing to learn it better and pursue it as a sport. There is a rich history behind how sailing has become a sport, to the time when the royal kings and queens were in the sport, too.   

 

Back in the 17th Century, sailing was started as a sport by the world's royals patronizing the sport. Before that, sailing was a hobby of the elites and the privileged classes in Rome, Greece, Asia and Egypt. The privileged classes would sail in the ocean until it became a sport way back in Holland. The Dutch would use boats to sail and compete with other sailors. Slowly, the sport gained recognition in England and in America too.

 

 

Sailing associated with elites?  

 

Historically, sailing has been considered an elite pursuit due to the high costs involved with acquiring the equipment, as well as the significant amount of time needed for training and participation. If you're curious as to why sailing is referred to as the sport of the elite, here are some contributing factors.

 

• Affordability: Sailing equipment like boats and sailboats are expensive. The maintenance of the equipment is costly too. High-quality sailboats, especially the larger ones, require huge financial investments that may be out of reach for many people.  
• Maintenance: Sailboats should be looked after properly, and for that, regular maintenance is required. The maintenance for the sailboats includes storage, repair, and the purchase of safety equipment. The cost of looking after these boats is prohibited for those with a limited source of financial income.    
• Cost and accessibility of Training and Education: The sport requires  training and education in the form of courses and lessons. These courses are expensive, and the accessibility of trainers worldwide is limited.    
• Proximity to Waterfront Property: If you want to get into the sport, proximity to water is essential. Most of the sailing clubs and facilities are located near waterfronts, which are highly expensive.  
• Cost of Travel and Competition: If you are participating in sailing competitions, it requires investment in travel, accommodation and entry fees. This costs may be a barrier to those who don’t have any financial backing.   
• Yacht Clubs: Sailing is associated with exclusive yacht clubs, which have membership fees and usually give preference or cater to a more affluent clientele.    

 

 In recent years, sailing has been making efforts to promote the accessibility of the sport. Initiatives are being taken to provide opportunities for the underprivileged section to come forward and participate in the game. Multiple sailing clubs, organizations and programs worldwide are working towards making the sport accessible to larger groups of people despite the socio-economic groups they belong to.