What is the best way to learn sailing? Are a stack of good books the answer, or do you recommend thorough (and often expensive) sailing lessons? Should beginners just get in a boat and go? Teach us your preferred methods here, then vote in the week's Quick Quiz at the bottom of the home page.
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safety first
The number one thing to learn before venturing forth in a boat is what is the required safety equipment and how to use it, then understand the colregs, and finally how to get back if you do leave shore. I strongly recommend a coast guard auxiliary course to start with. You can avoid expensive lessons on small boats like daysailors (under 20 feet) but on larger auxiliary vessels you need to understand how a lot of equipment works. Ideally find someone to teach you without paying for it. How to start the engine, how to manuever out of a slip and back or off a mooring and back, etc.
The number one thing to learn before venturing forth in a boat is what is the required safety equipment and how to use it, then understand the colregs, and finally how to get back if you do leave shore. I strongly recommend a coast guard auxiliary course to start with. You can avoid expensive lessons on small boats like daysailors (under 20 feet) but on larger auxiliary vessels you need to understand how a lot of equipment works. Ideally find someone to teach you without paying for it. How to start the engine, how to manuever out of a slip and back or off a mooring and back, etc.
Books
Yes read books, but basic sailing books, so you can become familiar with the terminology such as parts of the boat and basic fundamentals of sailing. Don't try and get too ambitious at first since learning to sail is a never ending process. Easily found at the library. Look into joining a sailing club or check around for people looking for crew. You shouldn't be suprised how willing people are to get you involved in sailing. ( they may have a boat for sail) since sailors are as a whole pretty nice people. from all walks of life. Never overstate or overestimate your ability. It is better to be on the conservative side. Don't consider buying a boat until you become familiar with what is popular in your area. Make sure that your family is comfortable with your intrest. That doesn't mean they have to participate but are aware that you will be out on the water with or without them. Good luck.
Yes read books, but basic sailing books, so you can become familiar with the terminology such as parts of the boat and basic fundamentals of sailing. Don't try and get too ambitious at first since learning to sail is a never ending process. Easily found at the library. Look into joining a sailing club or check around for people looking for crew. You shouldn't be suprised how willing people are to get you involved in sailing. ( they may have a boat for sail) since sailors are as a whole pretty nice people. from all walks of life. Never overstate or overestimate your ability. It is better to be on the conservative side. Don't consider buying a boat until you become familiar with what is popular in your area. Make sure that your family is comfortable with your intrest. That doesn't mean they have to participate but are aware that you will be out on the water with or without them. Good luck.
Do it!
Many years ago, having only powerboat experience, a friend said exactly that. This was way before Nike. He had a Force 10(Laser?), showed me how to rig it, and pushed me off. As he did so he told me to "look for air, if you feel unsteady release the mainsheet". But he probably called it a rope. Needless to say I didn't want to come in at dark. After that day on a small lake in CT the books made a lot more sense.
Many years ago, having only powerboat experience, a friend said exactly that. This was way before Nike. He had a Force 10(Laser?), showed me how to rig it, and pushed me off. As he did so he told me to "look for air, if you feel unsteady release the mainsheet". But he probably called it a rope. Needless to say I didn't want to come in at dark. After that day on a small lake in CT the books made a lot more sense.
U.S. Sailing Keelboat Certification Series
I'll temper this by saying that it depends on the size of the boat and the conditions. If you are sailing a sunfish in 80 degree lake water, there are less consequenses of screwing up than sailing a 30 footer in the hypothermic and highly currented waters of say...San Francisco Bay. However, the U.S. Sailing Keelboat Certification Series combines on-the-water instruction with easy-to-read and well-illustrated texts. There is also a high degree of emphasis on safety (man overboard drills are included in every class). The fairly successful Certification Series business model is two days each for Basic Keelboat 1, BK 2, Basic Cruising 1 and BC 2. If you enjoy it, this gives you the basics to be able to reasonbly and safely handle up to a 30 foot boat so that you can charter. There is still a lot of practice necessary. These courses will also allow you to reasonably see if you like sailing before investing in a boat. Happy Sailing! Gary Scheier S/V Serenisea
I'll temper this by saying that it depends on the size of the boat and the conditions. If you are sailing a sunfish in 80 degree lake water, there are less consequenses of screwing up than sailing a 30 footer in the hypothermic and highly currented waters of say...San Francisco Bay. However, the U.S. Sailing Keelboat Certification Series combines on-the-water instruction with easy-to-read and well-illustrated texts. There is also a high degree of emphasis on safety (man overboard drills are included in every class). The fairly successful Certification Series business model is two days each for Basic Keelboat 1, BK 2, Basic Cruising 1 and BC 2. If you enjoy it, this gives you the basics to be able to reasonbly and safely handle up to a 30 foot boat so that you can charter. There is still a lot of practice necessary. These courses will also allow you to reasonably see if you like sailing before investing in a boat. Happy Sailing! Gary Scheier S/V Serenisea
I would have to vote for take lessons....
That way you can ask questions and also have an 'expert' tell you what to do and what not to do. If you 'just do it' a whole lot can go wrong and then what do you do??? Believe me, when it gets ugly, you need all the experience you can get..
That way you can ask questions and also have an 'expert' tell you what to do and what not to do. If you 'just do it' a whole lot can go wrong and then what do you do??? Believe me, when it gets ugly, you need all the experience you can get..
Take a course first
Sure, everyone can learn from their mistakes, but some mistakes in sailing can kill you. If you take a basic sailing course, you will learn all the basics and lingo you will need. Then go out and practice on their boat b4 you mess up yours. Good luck!
Sure, everyone can learn from their mistakes, but some mistakes in sailing can kill you. If you take a basic sailing course, you will learn all the basics and lingo you will need. Then go out and practice on their boat b4 you mess up yours. Good luck!
Take a lesson
Unless you are sticking to dingies or Hobie cats in relatively safe waters, I would have to endorse the intruction route. I have taken a few well taught lessons and it really given me the confidence and skill I needed to handle most boats. You can learn by doing it yourself, but you will learn faster and, more importantly, learn it the right way through lessons. It may still take years to really gain the skills for long range voyages, but in a short couple of weeks you should be able to get to the point of costal cruising in a moderate sized sloop. Les Murray S/V Ceilidh C-36 #560
Unless you are sticking to dingies or Hobie cats in relatively safe waters, I would have to endorse the intruction route. I have taken a few well taught lessons and it really given me the confidence and skill I needed to handle most boats. You can learn by doing it yourself, but you will learn faster and, more importantly, learn it the right way through lessons. It may still take years to really gain the skills for long range voyages, but in a short couple of weeks you should be able to get to the point of costal cruising in a moderate sized sloop. Les Murray S/V Ceilidh C-36 #560
SAILING
Whatever I did does not count for others,it all depends on what degree of boating you are at when you first sail a boat. I was a searous family power boater of mostly trawlers and observed all,channels,safty,sea manship etc.When I was 70 i wanted to sail,because I admired people who could sail a boat.and of course to go to the islands. You should take lessons or a reliable sailor to teach you the fundermentals of sailing,I do not remember any teaching of the others I mentioned. Get a boat and I believe that practical aplication is the best way to learn. I think I have learned more about sailing from this forum than all the others combined. mcbubba720@aol.com New York
Whatever I did does not count for others,it all depends on what degree of boating you are at when you first sail a boat. I was a searous family power boater of mostly trawlers and observed all,channels,safty,sea manship etc.When I was 70 i wanted to sail,because I admired people who could sail a boat.and of course to go to the islands. You should take lessons or a reliable sailor to teach you the fundermentals of sailing,I do not remember any teaching of the others I mentioned. Get a boat and I believe that practical aplication is the best way to learn. I think I have learned more about sailing from this forum than all the others combined. mcbubba720@aol.com New York
Sailing lessons
i'm not so sure there is any best method. I have to agree that taking lessons from a certifiying organization is good place to begin. Following up with sailing with friends or maybe a school that has sailboats for rental. You can gain a tremendous amount of knowledge from books. I have read many related to sail trim, weather etc. while these are very informative it is still time in my boat that is best
i'm not so sure there is any best method. I have to agree that taking lessons from a certifiying organization is good place to begin. Following up with sailing with friends or maybe a school that has sailboats for rental. You can gain a tremendous amount of knowledge from books. I have read many related to sail trim, weather etc. while these are very informative it is still time in my boat that is best
Read a little then do it
I love having beginners on my boat. I get the boat out (with their help) and just give 'em the tiller. Most of them get a little uptight at first but when I kick back & tell them they'd really have to try hard to break the boat they usually relax. Of course I have my eye out the whole time & if something comes up that's potentially dangerous I'll take over if necessary but I usually just tell 'em what to do. I've had gals who had never sailed before doing almost everything by themselves by the end of the summer. I think reading is important too though cuz you'll pick up soooo much more than if you didn't read at all. We have this friend who admits to not being much of a reader. We kept telling him to just get Chapman's. Just the one book. But no, it was much easier just to give us a call! I think we harrassed him enough that he gave in & now has a nice little library. Guess what - we never get calls anymore! Lessons are good if you can afford them. LaDonna
I love having beginners on my boat. I get the boat out (with their help) and just give 'em the tiller. Most of them get a little uptight at first but when I kick back & tell them they'd really have to try hard to break the boat they usually relax. Of course I have my eye out the whole time & if something comes up that's potentially dangerous I'll take over if necessary but I usually just tell 'em what to do. I've had gals who had never sailed before doing almost everything by themselves by the end of the summer. I think reading is important too though cuz you'll pick up soooo much more than if you didn't read at all. We have this friend who admits to not being much of a reader. We kept telling him to just get Chapman's. Just the one book. But no, it was much easier just to give us a call! I think we harrassed him enough that he gave in & now has a nice little library. Guess what - we never get calls anymore! Lessons are good if you can afford them. LaDonna
set adrift
Well when In was in the seventh grade I bought my fisrt boat. A Boston Whaler sqaull. It was 9' feet long and was classified as a sailing dingy. It was unsinkable. I at the time bought it to row with. Being (at the time) a short little Italiankid. I needed to build up my upper body. So I found rowing to be a good way to do it. I had the mast and sail up one day. While out in Boston Harbor tied up to the stern of our family sail boat. My brother decided to cast me off and set me a drift. I had no oars with me. Only the sail and rudder. My brother kindly decided to give a shout of warning. "don't look now but i think your on your way to
Well when In was in the seventh grade I bought my fisrt boat. A Boston Whaler sqaull. It was 9' feet long and was classified as a sailing dingy. It was unsinkable. I at the time bought it to row with. Being (at the time) a short little Italiankid. I needed to build up my upper body. So I found rowing to be a good way to do it. I had the mast and sail up one day. While out in Boston Harbor tied up to the stern of our family sail boat. My brother decided to cast me off and set me a drift. I had no oars with me. Only the sail and rudder. My brother kindly decided to give a shout of warning. "don't look now but i think your on your way to
Don't get overwhelmed
Our first, and so far only, boat is a Hunter 29.5. It was delivered from the factory straight to San Carlos, Sonora, Mexico. With the help of local experts (that is a whole other story) and later Geoff from Whitney Marine we assembled the boat and launched her into the Sea of Cortez. Because of delays in getting the boat assembled we were only able to spend a little over an hour on the water with Geoff. I should mention that San Carlos is a six-hour, 350 mile, dive through two Mexican boards and the American boarder from our home. On our next trip down a local sailor was kind enough to spent several hours out on the Sea with us just sailing. Before we dropped him off on his boat we practiced a few time lining the boat up on a buoy in San Carlos Bay. When we approached the slip that afternoon it was the first time I had ever brought a boat of any size to a dock. Everyone was on the dock to help us tie up. We thought they were just being really helpful later we learned they were just trying to protect their boats. For the next two years we put the sail up only when the sea was calm and the wind was light. Gradually we found ourselves putting the sail up more and more and sometime in four to six foot seas. After three years of sailboat ownership we took a basic keelboat class. Why did I go through all this to say it took us three years to take a class? We sail in Mexico and the rules of the sea are there are no rules so we never had to worry about things like the stand to boat. The biggest, fastest boat has the right of way. We use the boat to teach scuba diving so we are always in a hurry during the summer when the water is warm and winds are light so we motor a lot. In our “Day Jobs” both my wife and I teach. I teach computer technology, often to beginners. No matter how hard I try I see students totally lost because they are hit with new technology, vocabulary, and new coordination skills all at once. My suggestions: Dave is right, take a coast guard auxiliary course to start with. It never hurts to know the rules. Talk to your local sailors, they are a great bunch of people. They are always willing to show off their knowledge and help anyway they can. When you are to the point you don’t think you will be overwhelmed take a basic sailing class. Buy enough books that you can look up the vocabulary when they talk over your head on the forum or the dock. Keep some references books on the boat for new situations. “Sailing for Dummies” is a book I still use a lot. Because I am ‘techie’ I also recommend something I have not seen mentioned in the forum, interactive CDs. I find it easier to learn by seeing and the instant replay helps a lot. Good Sailing, Russ Her Diamond Ring
Our first, and so far only, boat is a Hunter 29.5. It was delivered from the factory straight to San Carlos, Sonora, Mexico. With the help of local experts (that is a whole other story) and later Geoff from Whitney Marine we assembled the boat and launched her into the Sea of Cortez. Because of delays in getting the boat assembled we were only able to spend a little over an hour on the water with Geoff. I should mention that San Carlos is a six-hour, 350 mile, dive through two Mexican boards and the American boarder from our home. On our next trip down a local sailor was kind enough to spent several hours out on the Sea with us just sailing. Before we dropped him off on his boat we practiced a few time lining the boat up on a buoy in San Carlos Bay. When we approached the slip that afternoon it was the first time I had ever brought a boat of any size to a dock. Everyone was on the dock to help us tie up. We thought they were just being really helpful later we learned they were just trying to protect their boats. For the next two years we put the sail up only when the sea was calm and the wind was light. Gradually we found ourselves putting the sail up more and more and sometime in four to six foot seas. After three years of sailboat ownership we took a basic keelboat class. Why did I go through all this to say it took us three years to take a class? We sail in Mexico and the rules of the sea are there are no rules so we never had to worry about things like the stand to boat. The biggest, fastest boat has the right of way. We use the boat to teach scuba diving so we are always in a hurry during the summer when the water is warm and winds are light so we motor a lot. In our “Day Jobs” both my wife and I teach. I teach computer technology, often to beginners. No matter how hard I try I see students totally lost because they are hit with new technology, vocabulary, and new coordination skills all at once. My suggestions: Dave is right, take a coast guard auxiliary course to start with. It never hurts to know the rules. Talk to your local sailors, they are a great bunch of people. They are always willing to show off their knowledge and help anyway they can. When you are to the point you don’t think you will be overwhelmed take a basic sailing class. Buy enough books that you can look up the vocabulary when they talk over your head on the forum or the dock. Keep some references books on the boat for new situations. “Sailing for Dummies” is a book I still use a lot. Because I am ‘techie’ I also recommend something I have not seen mentioned in the forum, interactive CDs. I find it easier to learn by seeing and the instant replay helps a lot. Good Sailing, Russ Her Diamond Ring
Lessons on your boat
If you already have the boat (!), take lessons on it. If you come preequipped with a spouse, include him/her in the lessons. If you don't have a boat, take lessons on the smallest boat you can, and then further lessons on a bigger boat. If you don't have a spouse, take lessons with a married couple (there will be lessons beyond sailing!).
If you already have the boat (!), take lessons on it. If you come preequipped with a spouse, include him/her in the lessons. If you don't have a boat, take lessons on the smallest boat you can, and then further lessons on a bigger boat. If you don't have a spouse, take lessons with a married couple (there will be lessons beyond sailing!).
Join a club and crew on other boats
I had sailed in camp when I was young and in college a couple of times 20 years ago. Last April, we got the urge to sail, bought a Starwind 223, a book on sailing, subscribed to SAIL, went on the internet, AND joined the Mark Twain Lake Sailing Association. The MTLSA members are great! We sailed almost every weekend. We sailed alone in light wind. When we didn't feel comfortable, someone was always eager to help us - sail with us or let us crew on their boat. Through the summer as our skill and experience increased, we sailed in more challenging conditions. By the end of the summer, we were sailing in 15-20 knot winds. Recognize, Mark Twain is an inland lake. The biggest waves we see are the 3 ft. wake from the 50 ft. house boat. Bottom line, read everything you can find, join a good friendly sailing association, know and stay within your limits, sail every weekend - on your boat or crew on another. Oh yea, we plan to spend a week in lessons this summer. We think this will be a good investment. For what it's worth from a new sailor.
I had sailed in camp when I was young and in college a couple of times 20 years ago. Last April, we got the urge to sail, bought a Starwind 223, a book on sailing, subscribed to SAIL, went on the internet, AND joined the Mark Twain Lake Sailing Association. The MTLSA members are great! We sailed almost every weekend. We sailed alone in light wind. When we didn't feel comfortable, someone was always eager to help us - sail with us or let us crew on their boat. Through the summer as our skill and experience increased, we sailed in more challenging conditions. By the end of the summer, we were sailing in 15-20 knot winds. Recognize, Mark Twain is an inland lake. The biggest waves we see are the 3 ft. wake from the 50 ft. house boat. Bottom line, read everything you can find, join a good friendly sailing association, know and stay within your limits, sail every weekend - on your boat or crew on another. Oh yea, we plan to spend a week in lessons this summer. We think this will be a good investment. For what it's worth from a new sailor.
Depends . . .
Most bring to sailing the experience of whatever they did, or do, for a living. A plumber's boat has a fine head and galley, an electrician’s wiring actually looks like the schematic, and the TWA captain knows how to set his sails. The other 90 percent of staying afloat and having fun has to be learned no matter who you are. I purchased the most sailboat I could for the money in hand with nothing budgeted for lessons. If you go this route buy the books! Buy them used as they make for a nice little library. You could even sell them back to the chandlery for the next guy. Then take everything one step at a time. I'm an A&P (aircraft mechanic) and spent about a month getting intimate with the motor (a character laden Atomic 4) and then doing nothing but motoring around sitting on my "Chapmans" and being really really careful. (I owned a 17-foot skiff as a kid but it was more fun than safety back then). I practiced anchoring before ever raising a sail and have progressed to the point I can sail back to my slip if needed. Before sailing for the first time (with just the main up) I spent time at the dock just playing with the sails (it took me a few days to realize one undoes the topping lift when the main's up). While this may sound more tedious than taking a few lessons I really enjoyed the discovery of it all. So it depends on you. I think anyone can teach themselves to sail if they have the time. The more important decision is, can you do it safely with respect to yourself and others? Good luck Nick
Most bring to sailing the experience of whatever they did, or do, for a living. A plumber's boat has a fine head and galley, an electrician’s wiring actually looks like the schematic, and the TWA captain knows how to set his sails. The other 90 percent of staying afloat and having fun has to be learned no matter who you are. I purchased the most sailboat I could for the money in hand with nothing budgeted for lessons. If you go this route buy the books! Buy them used as they make for a nice little library. You could even sell them back to the chandlery for the next guy. Then take everything one step at a time. I'm an A&P (aircraft mechanic) and spent about a month getting intimate with the motor (a character laden Atomic 4) and then doing nothing but motoring around sitting on my "Chapmans" and being really really careful. (I owned a 17-foot skiff as a kid but it was more fun than safety back then). I practiced anchoring before ever raising a sail and have progressed to the point I can sail back to my slip if needed. Before sailing for the first time (with just the main up) I spent time at the dock just playing with the sails (it took me a few days to realize one undoes the topping lift when the main's up). While this may sound more tedious than taking a few lessons I really enjoyed the discovery of it all. So it depends on you. I think anyone can teach themselves to sail if they have the time. The more important decision is, can you do it safely with respect to yourself and others? Good luck Nick
Final results
Final results for the Quick Quiz ending 1/22/2001: What's the best way to learn to sail? 46% Just do it 46% Take lessons 04% From books 04% Other
Final results for the Quick Quiz ending 1/22/2001: What's the best way to learn to sail? 46% Just do it 46% Take lessons 04% From books 04% Other
final results on best way to learn
Your final results did not answer the basic question: Big boat or small. I still firmly believe; learn to sail a dink, then move up.
Your final results did not answer the basic question: Big boat or small. I still firmly believe; learn to sail a dink, then move up.
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