In the movies, sailing seems so complicated. The jargon is foreign, the names of various boat parts sound complex. Learning how to sail isn't quite as difficult as it seems. Once you understand some sailing basics, you'll be out on the open seas in no time.
Learn how to rig your sailboat before you set out. This means getting sails attached and ready to go. Each boat is different, so you may need to have an experienced sailor help you with this. It's essential that you be able to do this before attempting to do anything else.
Check the boat's ropes. You want to make sure that none of them are tangled with each other or around anything else on the boat. Pull all ropes out of cleats and winches so that they can move freely.
Now you're ready to really sail. You'll want to sail into the wind. To determine which way this is, tie something - a strip of cloth or VHS tape - to your sailboat's shrouds.
Hoist the mainsail (the one behind the mast). You'll want to do this before raising the other sail, since it will be easier to sail into the wind with the mainsail up. Do this by pulling down on its halyard (the rope used for raising and lowering the sail). The front of the mainsail should be tight, but not so tight that creases form. Now look for the cleat; you'll want to tie it off.
Next you'll raise the jib (the smaller sail). This is done in a similar way to the mainsail. Find the halyard and pull it up, then secure it to its cleat. Don't worry about the sail flapping in the wind; for a short time, that's just fine.
To trim your sails (which means adjusting them to the conditions and wind), you have to be familiar with the various points of sail. These include sailing on a beat, which means your sailboat is near the eye of the wind, close-hauled on the port tack when the wind is coming from the port (left) side and close-hauled on the starboard tack when the wind is coming from the starboard (right) side. Your sailboat may also be on a reach when the wind is at a 90-degree angle or running when you're sailing in front of the wind. The wind will be coming from behind the boat. There are also the in-betweens: sailing close reach, which means your boat is somewhere between a beat and a reach and sailing broad reach, which is between a reach and a run.
Finally, you should learn how to sail on course. This takes experience and will vary depending on the type of sailboat you're on and the conditions. Sailing lessons or time spent on a sailboat with an experienced sailor can help clarify this for you, and give you the exposure you need to a variety of sailing situations.
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