Riding the Rails

When you ask someone about riding the rails, a train ride usually pops in their head. When I talk about riding the rails it takes on a whole new meaning. Imagine yourself on a boat, cruising along and suddenly the whole thing leans to one side, the lower side of the boat dipping into the water. Most people freak out when this happens and scramble to the high side of the boat. We sailors call them "rail meat", and they are used to add weight to the windward side of the boat to help counter the effect of the wind to capsize a sailboat.

Being rail meat can be exciting or frightening depending on your sense of adventure. I personally like sitting higher on the boat and often steer the boat from the high side, but nothing can help you overcome the fear of tipping except riding it out and gaining confidence in your boat and your ability to sail her.

In sail racing, people sitting on the rail, like the picture above, help flatten the boat and thus gain speed. It is a critical aspect of sail racing and adds to the excitement. I am sure for non sailors it is hard to imagine sail racing being exciting; I mean how fast do they go; 5 miles per hour? Let me assure you, if you ever participate in one, you will have a new respect for the sport. It is fast and exciting. Decisions have to be made very quickly and a slight change in the wind can throw your tactics right out the window.

Speed isn't the only factor in a race; but professional racing yachts do achieve some pretty amazing speeds. A French Trimaran recently circumnavigated the planet in 45 days, reaching speeds over 40 miles per hour, which is quite an achievement considering that a normal sloop takes 18-20 days just to cross the Atlantic ocean and Columbus took 3 months for reach the new world.

So, if you are up for adventure and want to experience sailing, ask a friend who sails if you can be "rail meat". They will probably smile or chuckle and invite you along.