MacGregor 26... Factory website for the MacGregor 26', $22,900 trailerable sailboat, 24 mph, the WORLD'S best selling cruising sailboat. 

 

EASY TO SAIL

 

No boat is easier to sail. You can learn to sail in an afternoon.  Read one of the widely available pamphlets on the basics of sailing. Pick a nice day with a light breeze. Take the boat to the water, launch it, fill the ballast tank and buzz around with the engine until you get the hang of it. It is no tougher than driving a car. Then set the mainsail and let the wind provide some of the power. Keep the engine running at idle to get you out of any tight places. An hour or so of this and you will have a pretty good idea of how it all works. When you are comfortable using the mainsail, raise the jib. An afternoon like this and you will be fairly accomplished.   

 

To learn to sail is easy. To learn to make a boat sail to perfection can take forever (this is one of the great joys of the sport). The best argument for learning to sail is that once you start, you will stay with it for a lifetime. It is that much fun.

 

The boat comes with a 37 page owners guide, filled with photographs and instructions, for the initial rigging of the boat, and for every phase of its operation and maintenance. It includes a well illustrated section on how to sail.  In addition, many dealers provide lessons when you purchase your boat.

For an excellent primer on how to sail, please click on HOW TO SAIL in the table of contents to the left.