i bought a boat how do u sail ?lol

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Dec 7, 2009
9
o-day 22 summerland
i just bought a o-day 22 and want to learn how to use it what is the best way to learn how .thanks in advance
scott whyte
 

Ross

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Jun 15, 2004
14,693
Islander/Wayfairer 30 sail number 25 Perryville,Md.
Now buy a book. Sailing for Dummies is a good start.
 
Jan 22, 2008
8,050
Beneteau 323 Annapolis MD
Steve Colgate of Coglate Sailing School used to have a good how-to-sail video with a male and female movie star as students. Don't know if it's still available, but it is a good one.
 

higgs

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Aug 24, 2005
3,736
Nassau 34 Olcott, NY
Where is summerland? Some yacht clubs offer adult sailing lessons designed to get you the basics and to get you to join the club. Nonetheless, it can be a great way to go. Check around your area.
 

Joe

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Jun 1, 2004
8,323
Catalina 27 Mission Bay, San Diego
Take some sailing classes. Check you're local yacht clubs, community colleges, internet search... Colgate's book is more like a textbook with quizzes at the end of the chapters. Look in used bookstores to find it cheap. I like the Annapolis Book of Seamanship as a primary "how to" and reference tome.

Go to US Sailing. com and enroll in their online sailing class.
 
Mar 2, 2008
406
Cal 25 mk II T-Bird Marina, West Vancouver
G'Day bigwhyte,
Do some internet homework to get things organized for the spring.
1. If you don't already have one, you have to get a "Pleasure Craft Operator's Card" or have proof of taking an approved boating course. The boating courses (not always for sailing) are administered for the federal government by the "Canadian Power and Sail Squadron". Look on the internet or your local night school program for info. This will give you basic boating information but probably not sailing instructions.
2. Look on the internet for a local CYA approved keel-boat the sailing school. Not a dingy sailing school. CYA is Canadian Yachting Association. There should be one either up at Kelowna or possibly down at Penticton. Okanagan Lake is reputed to be a great boating lake but unfortunately is used more by power boaters and water skiers than sailboats. You should be able to get under the new bridge up at Kelowna.
Good Luck and keep an eye out for Ogopogo (they are so elusive that even my spell check doesn’t know how them).
 

BenDi

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Sep 26, 2008
31
Hunter 22 Sacandaga Lake, NY
Sailing Fundamentals by Gary Jobson is The Official Learn-To-Sail Manual of the American Sailing Association and the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary. Also check out http://www.asa.com
 
Jan 1, 2010
1
Hans Christian 42T SF
An experienced sailing buddy is a great shortcut. But don't be afraid to get out there. I've seen a lot of live-aboard lifers who seldom take their boats out. The more you're out there, the more you'll learn. Ran aground; who hasn't. Blown over; it happens. Lost a dingy crossing the SF slot; chalk it up. Steering cable jammed on a tack toward shore in a Farallons race and I learned where the emergency tiller lives and how to use it (could have just used the auto pilot but ya live and learn). Oh, and you'll learn to fix everything and anything. Point is, stuff happens out there and sometimes the first time is a panic but these little lessons teach you not to panic. Eventually you become one with the boat and waves and wind. You find yourself a sailor.
 
Jun 6, 2006
6,990
currently boatless wishing Harrington Harbor North, MD
It is not as hard as some would have you believe

I have never taken a sailing course and only read the books after I went out a few times. My approach was to start with the wind abeam (3:00 or 9:00 o-clock) and the sails a flapping. Then slowly pull each sail in a bit and wait. The boat will start moving and the rudder will start to work. Repeat till you notice the speed fall off a bit then let them back out to the "best speed" position.

The hardest part is learning all the terms, head, tack, foot, broad reach, run, ...... the list is endless. Not knowing the names makes it very hard to discuss things going on.
 
Jun 6, 2006
6,990
currently boatless wishing Harrington Harbor North, MD
Dock friends

Don't forget you will be making friends along the dock and most will be glad to help a new sailor. It is a GREAT community! Don't be afraid to ask for help.
 
Oct 16, 2008
19
Irwin 38 MKII Center Cockpit West Island
Where are you located? The best (and safest) place to start is your local Coast Guard Auxilary. They have safe boating classes, and some have sailing classes.
 
Mar 2, 2008
406
Cal 25 mk II T-Bird Marina, West Vancouver
bigwhyte:

Re-read my earlier post. It is the best advice for your situation and your location. It looks like some of the people repling didn't look at your "public profile" and don't know how to find Summerland, B.C., CANADA on Google Map/Earth. There is no US (or Canadian) Coast Guard or VHS weather services on our inland lakes and even on the coast they DO NOT put on courses or offer towing services. They control shipping, provide VHF support and provide "search and rescue" of life only (not boats).


"Do some internet homework to get things organized for the spring.
1. If you don't already have one, you have to get a "Pleasure Craft Operator's Card" or have proof of taking an approved boating course. The boating courses (not always for sailing) are administered for the federal government by the "Canadian Power and Sail Squadron". Look on the internet or your local night school program for info. This will give you basic boating information but probably not sailing instructions.
2. Look on the internet for a local CYA approved keel-boat the sailing school. Not a dingy sailing school. CYA is Canadian Yachting Association. There should be one either up at Kelowna or possibly down at Penticton. Okanagan Lake is reputed to be a great boating lake but unfortunately is used more by power boaters and water skiers than sailboats. You should be able to get under the new bridge up at Kelowna."
 

Sonya

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Oct 9, 2007
19
Mirage Sloop 25 Spanish, Ontario, Canada
Hi Bigwhyte
Ross is right....books, books, books.....subscription to DIY and some Nigal Calder Boat maintanence books as well.....Welcome to sailing
Sonya
 
Sep 19, 2006
643
SCHOCK santana27' lake pleasant,az
i'm with ross

sailing for dummies is what i got for my kids and it made a world of difference for them:D
 
Jan 9, 2010
3
Hunter 19 foot water ballast Venice
learn to sail

i just bought a o-day 22 and want to learn how to use it what is the best way to learn how .thanks in advance
scott whyte
Take a basic keelboat course with a United States Sailing Association school. Go to
U.S.Sailing .com and find a sailing school near you.
 
Oct 2, 2008
1,424
Island Packet 31 Brunswick, Ga
sailing for dummies is good, but really don't take your 22 out first try unless you have a really forgiving area, like a deep lake with no rocks or stumps and even bottom.
anyway, maybe find a sail club with a small boat that you can play with first, after reading sailing for dummies. I started with a sailing class. The basics ain't too hard, but you at least need some room for errors for a while. Otherwise you have a bad experience and get discouraged. Sorta of like breaking your arm on your first bike ride.
Don't want that!
keith
 
Mar 3, 2007
139
Catalina 36 Lexington Mi
I agree with the "Sailing for Dummies" book. My first boat was a Mac 25 and between the book and the internet I figured out how to sail it. I went to a small safe lake with a buddy (who didn't no how to sail either) and we were sailing in some light wind.
I agree that taking a course like the power sq's is a great idea. You learn a lot in them and there is a lot more to sailing than the sailing part. There is a lot of knowledge on here also, so tap into it. Most important...be safe and have fun!!!!
 
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