I am interested in learning how to sail. What books would be recomended for the beginer and what size, type and brand of boat would be appropriate?
I want to learn to sail
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Take some lessons and go for it
Sailing is a fun hobby and lifestyle. If you live around an area with a sailing school take lessons. The best $300 CDN I ever spent was on a basic sailing course in 14 ft dinghies. I had never sailed before and learned all the basics on the CL14 about sail handling, shape basic racing etc. A month after the course I still had the bug and my wife and I bought a 24 ft sailboat. I had never sailed a keel boat before, but most the contols were the same. I figured it out in light winds and the rest is history. I have in 2 seasons now 2500 nautical miles. Good luck
Sailing is a fun hobby and lifestyle. If you live around an area with a sailing school take lessons. The best $300 CDN I ever spent was on a basic sailing course in 14 ft dinghies. I had never sailed before and learned all the basics on the CL14 about sail handling, shape basic racing etc. A month after the course I still had the bug and my wife and I bought a 24 ft sailboat. I had never sailed a keel boat before, but most the contols were the same. I figured it out in light winds and the rest is history. I have in 2 seasons now 2500 nautical miles. Good luck
U.S. Sailing books
Go to the U.S. Sailing web site (ussailing.org). They have an excellent set of books, sold either separately, or as a set. The books start with beginning sailing through coastal cruising. The entire set is something like one hundred dollars. You can get the entire set or order the books separately. Chip
Go to the U.S. Sailing web site (ussailing.org). They have an excellent set of books, sold either separately, or as a set. The books start with beginning sailing through coastal cruising. The entire set is something like one hundred dollars. You can get the entire set or order the books separately. Chip
Check Local Community Colleges
In some areas, like here in Maryland, many of the community colleges offer sailboating 101 type of classes. for as little as $100 you get a basic understanding of sailboats, wind, handling etc and in some cases spend half of the time actually out on a sailboat. I took this a couple of years ago and we had three classroom lessons and 3 out on a 36 foot catalina. From there I was hooked. I did take the basic keel boating course from an ASA certified school, bought my own 29.5 foot hunter and live for any chance I get to go out!
In some areas, like here in Maryland, many of the community colleges offer sailboating 101 type of classes. for as little as $100 you get a basic understanding of sailboats, wind, handling etc and in some cases spend half of the time actually out on a sailboat. I took this a couple of years ago and we had three classroom lessons and 3 out on a 36 foot catalina. From there I was hooked. I did take the basic keel boating course from an ASA certified school, bought my own 29.5 foot hunter and live for any chance I get to go out!
Learn To Sail
I learned to sail well over 30 years ago with a book in one hand and the tiller in the other! That book (really more of a pamphlet) was by George O'Day. Sailing is something that is not too hard...but writing about is can make it sound hard. If you want to E-Mail your address, I can make a copy of the book. Warren warrengraumann@yahoo.com
I learned to sail well over 30 years ago with a book in one hand and the tiller in the other! That book (really more of a pamphlet) was by George O'Day. Sailing is something that is not too hard...but writing about is can make it sound hard. If you want to E-Mail your address, I can make a copy of the book. Warren warrengraumann@yahoo.com
quickest, safest and least expensive...
... way to learn is to sign up for sailing classes at a local college, community center or sailing club. Learn on a dinghy (small boat under 17 feet). All the best sailors learned on dinghys. Go down to where the sailors hang out (as in the dock) and ask them where the schools are. If possible find a school that offers single handed experience, such as Sabots or Lasers. It's very important to become self-reliant at the beginning, it will give you confidence. Have a ball.
... way to learn is to sign up for sailing classes at a local college, community center or sailing club. Learn on a dinghy (small boat under 17 feet). All the best sailors learned on dinghys. Go down to where the sailors hang out (as in the dock) and ask them where the schools are. If possible find a school that offers single handed experience, such as Sabots or Lasers. It's very important to become self-reliant at the beginning, it will give you confidence. Have a ball.
Book on sailing
Dear Warren, Thanks for the reply and the information. I would greatly appreciate the information that you could send me. My email site is "Ellbogen4@aol.com" Thanks again Dave E.
Dear Warren, Thanks for the reply and the information. I would greatly appreciate the information that you could send me. My email site is "Ellbogen4@aol.com" Thanks again Dave E.
Sailing for Dummies
My wife bought me Sailing for Dummies, the winter before I bought my boat! This book is really good. Clear and concise, it really helped me out, without getting too technical on racing etc. I still occasionally pick it up for a reference 4 yrs later. Otherwise, check out your library. Good luck, and enjoy your new sailing life!
My wife bought me Sailing for Dummies, the winter before I bought my boat! This book is really good. Clear and concise, it really helped me out, without getting too technical on racing etc. I still occasionally pick it up for a reference 4 yrs later. Otherwise, check out your library. Good luck, and enjoy your new sailing life!
What I did and what I should have done
I tried to contact a local sailing club and when I couldn't, I bought Sailing for Dummies (a fantastic book!) and a new 14 foot Hunter dinghy. If I had it all to do over again, I would have bought the book and found a way to meet someone at the sailing club. The sailing club will offer you 2 things I really didn't have...access to sailors who are willing to help and folks looking to sell used boats. You definitely want to learn on a dinghy. It will make you MUCH better in the long run. Sailing is a lot like chess. It is fairly easy to learn but it takes time to do well.
I tried to contact a local sailing club and when I couldn't, I bought Sailing for Dummies (a fantastic book!) and a new 14 foot Hunter dinghy. If I had it all to do over again, I would have bought the book and found a way to meet someone at the sailing club. The sailing club will offer you 2 things I really didn't have...access to sailors who are willing to help and folks looking to sell used boats. You definitely want to learn on a dinghy. It will make you MUCH better in the long run. Sailing is a lot like chess. It is fairly easy to learn but it takes time to do well.
Learn by doing it
Read lost of books, try to learn the language (that's important) and find a good school. Humber College in Toronto is great. Start with the smaller boats, say 14' to 24". But most important get lots of hours on the water (in all wind conditions). Find a mentor that has lots of experience and get him or her to teach you stuff that is not in the books. Have fun!
Read lost of books, try to learn the language (that's important) and find a good school. Humber College in Toronto is great. Start with the smaller boats, say 14' to 24". But most important get lots of hours on the water (in all wind conditions). Find a mentor that has lots of experience and get him or her to teach you stuff that is not in the books. Have fun!
Sailing Clubs and Lessons
I got hooked many years ago with small boats,power and sail but always loved sailing on other peoples hobie cats and gave up the power boats. I had three different hobies and loved them all and as I got older I took some sailing lessons on bigger keel boats(30ft) and I was hooked. Go out and look for as much sailing experience as possible on small and big boats,try taking sailing lessons on a keel boat 25ft or 30ft this way you get the whole picture of sailing big and small and than you will buy the boat for your situation like I did and love my 290 hunter. nick
I got hooked many years ago with small boats,power and sail but always loved sailing on other peoples hobie cats and gave up the power boats. I had three different hobies and loved them all and as I got older I took some sailing lessons on bigger keel boats(30ft) and I was hooked. Go out and look for as much sailing experience as possible on small and big boats,try taking sailing lessons on a keel boat 25ft or 30ft this way you get the whole picture of sailing big and small and than you will buy the boat for your situation like I did and love my 290 hunter. nick
Learning how to sail
I learned at to sail on a lake in a lazer. Never read a book just got in and started "making my boat look like that one over there that is going real fast". I also got stuck down wind of the rental office and had to pay for another hour of rental. After marring the perfict woman, I found she had a dream of sailing the world and ....... "Chapman Piloting" and hands on experiance. All of the other books I have read did not cover the subject in as much detail. If you really want to learn to sail, then learn the lexicon and go get your hands "dirty". IMHO fully 1/2 of the work is learning the words so you can talk to another sailor. Clew, tack, head, sheet, jibe, jib, bow, port starboard,......cunningham, outhaul,..... And then there are all those sayings; It was so cold the balls froze off the brass monkey. Cannon balls are stored in a pryamid on a brass plate with dents for each ball called a monkey. Bill Roosa
I learned at to sail on a lake in a lazer. Never read a book just got in and started "making my boat look like that one over there that is going real fast". I also got stuck down wind of the rental office and had to pay for another hour of rental. After marring the perfict woman, I found she had a dream of sailing the world and ....... "Chapman Piloting" and hands on experiance. All of the other books I have read did not cover the subject in as much detail. If you really want to learn to sail, then learn the lexicon and go get your hands "dirty". IMHO fully 1/2 of the work is learning the words so you can talk to another sailor. Clew, tack, head, sheet, jibe, jib, bow, port starboard,......cunningham, outhaul,..... And then there are all those sayings; It was so cold the balls froze off the brass monkey. Cannon balls are stored in a pryamid on a brass plate with dents for each ball called a monkey. Bill Roosa
only one thing you need to know
you cant pee into the wind. you can pee in any direction but, NOT INTO THE WIND. grab you a small beach cat and get out thar!
you cant pee into the wind. you can pee in any direction but, NOT INTO THE WIND. grab you a small beach cat and get out thar!
start small
I had bought a 12' mistral at a farm auction for $75.00 it sat in the backyard for 2 years , I decided that I should clean her up and put her in the water. After reading the "sailors handbook" I learned a few terms and moves. so I drug her to a warm lake, (incase I would capsise) and all of a sudden I got hooked. this was 8 years ago, in the mean time I moved from a 12' to a 16' to a 21'san Juan and now a 26' San Juan and I loveit. So it shows you can teach yourself and you will learn from your own mistakes. Good luck.
I had bought a 12' mistral at a farm auction for $75.00 it sat in the backyard for 2 years , I decided that I should clean her up and put her in the water. After reading the "sailors handbook" I learned a few terms and moves. so I drug her to a warm lake, (incase I would capsise) and all of a sudden I got hooked. this was 8 years ago, in the mean time I moved from a 12' to a 16' to a 21'san Juan and now a 26' San Juan and I loveit. So it shows you can teach yourself and you will learn from your own mistakes. Good luck.
Learn to sail by sailing
The best way to learn to sail is by sailing on someone else's boat. Many marinas have a place where you can post your name as available to crew. Some local class associations have the same. Ask at work if anybody has a boat and wants crew. (Ask if you can bring along something for the boat.) For a book I recommend the Annapolis Book of Seamanship by John Rousmaniere. I avoided this book for some time because the title looked like a cross between the Little Golden Book of Seamanship and some Naval Academy Manual but it turns out to be excellent. Barnes and Noble is selling it for $32. Worth it and your library may have it.
The best way to learn to sail is by sailing on someone else's boat. Many marinas have a place where you can post your name as available to crew. Some local class associations have the same. Ask at work if anybody has a boat and wants crew. (Ask if you can bring along something for the boat.) For a book I recommend the Annapolis Book of Seamanship by John Rousmaniere. I avoided this book for some time because the title looked like a cross between the Little Golden Book of Seamanship and some Naval Academy Manual but it turns out to be excellent. Barnes and Noble is selling it for $32. Worth it and your library may have it.
Amen, Garry
If you can crew for someone who races (preferably in the low-key, less intense variety at first), and ask lots of 'dumb' questions, you will learn more in a day than you might otherwise learn in a year. Help to prep and clean up the boat and you'll be invited back. Sail every chance you get and be on the lookout for a super deal on a boat you know you can resell when you want to move up. Don't be self-conscious about lack of knowledge, just try to learn at least one thing new each time out - for example, learn the proper way to tie/cleat dock lines. Pretty soon you will be giving good advice as well as heeding it.
If you can crew for someone who races (preferably in the low-key, less intense variety at first), and ask lots of 'dumb' questions, you will learn more in a day than you might otherwise learn in a year. Help to prep and clean up the boat and you'll be invited back. Sail every chance you get and be on the lookout for a super deal on a boat you know you can resell when you want to move up. Don't be self-conscious about lack of knowledge, just try to learn at least one thing new each time out - for example, learn the proper way to tie/cleat dock lines. Pretty soon you will be giving good advice as well as heeding it.
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