Contribute Your contributions are welcomed. Stories (true or fictional), extracts from your logs, advice and tips, recommendations, anything you want to share with other sailors. You can contribute by e-mail to skipper@sailtales.co.uk. Or you can contibute by clicking here (leave the name and e-mail boxes blank if you prefer). Skipper's Note: I started this site as a place for those new to yacht cruising to share their love of the sport and to learn from more experienced sailors. If, like me, you wake up one morning, half way through your life with a completely unsolicited urge to sail the seas, how do you go about it? Where do you start? Who do you talk to? You find there are many obstacles to overcome; training, clothing, chartering, finding sailing buddies and, not least, the cost of all these things. It has been said that the sailing experience can be simulated by standing fully clothed in a cold shower tearing up £50 notes with no hope of rescue. Well, it can seem that way at times. But, despite these problems I have enjoyed many very satisfying sailing trips around the UK and abroad and it is my wish that this site will help other novices to do the same. The sailing world also has a language almost of it's own. This, in itself, presents yet another hurdle for novice sailors to clamber over. All sailors must learn that the naming conventions and terminology of sailing is very important to ensure directions are universally understood. If, for example, the skipper suddenly shouts "Fall off!", the difference between knowing that you are being instructed to 'alter course slightly in order to bear away from the wind' and not, could save your life. It is for this reason that I would encourage all contributors to include explanations where appropriate. We all love to read the accounts of other sailors around the world and I believe that every sailor has a story. Not all of you however, seem to believe that your story is worth writing down. All I can say is that I have learnt a great deal by reading how theory translated into real life for other sailors. Please don't be shy about sharing your mistakes with us too. We all make them and there is so much to be learnt from them. You can tell your story in your own words on this site and remain completely anonymous if you want to. You may be amazed how much you can help other sailors by just sharing your experience with them. I would like to thank all those who have contributed to our collection of SailTales and I look forward to hearing more of your adventures on the waves. Skipper