Like riding a bike?

[kpgraci]

so....I know you northern latitude sailors deal with long sailing layoffs due to that thing you call winter, and there may be quite a number of occasional sailors about, so I was wondering about sailing rust, as it were.

Since I bought the boat 3 years ago I've gone out at least once, but usually two or three times a month, until my latest bout of troubles, so it's been 7-8 months now since I've been on the water.

I'm not worried about forgetting how to sail in 9 months, but there are lots of little nuances to it, docking for one. Perhaps a more relevant issue for those of us that aren't spring chickens anymore is boat fitness - all those muscles you use while sailing that don't get much use elsewhere.

Incidentally, when I first got the boat a sailor friend told me Id take the boat out every weekend for 6 months then it would sit unused at the dock (like I see so many other boats). Nope, not my experience - I'd sail every day if I could, no idea what he was talking about.

 

[RECESS]

What is this "winter" you speak of?

 

[LuzSD]

I would advise that you just take your time, don't do things as if someone was watching, just slow everything down and enjoy the process of getting it ready, and shove off when you are calm and ready. I see so many people rush through their proceedures, madly putting thing up and away and out.... and then rush out to find out they forgot to connect the main halyard or something equally important. I watched a woman sailing one day in the harbor with her 2 children. She was so relaxed, and sailed so effortlessly that it never left me. I mimicked her after that and now it is ingrained in me. I gained alot of confidence just with that little adjustment.

Have fun, enjoy all the processes.

 

[Ross]

been there done that. Endurance is the big issue that you will face. As with almost everything sailing uses a different muscle combination so when you have been out of commission for several months it takes a little while to get back into you best condition. All of that said you will be fine. It sometimes is a bit harder to get started on day two.

 

[Mormandeus]

Fear not brother for the Sailing Gods smile upon the avid!

As a northern guy (putting in next weekend !!) with 7 months of no boat, believe me it returns with astonishing speed. The secret is not to stress out and relax... let those automatic reactions do their thing.

 

[dlandersson]

There is some "rust" as it were. I try to get out by myself early in the season to check out the boat and to "re-learn" the small things that I knew automatically last season.

 

[Anonymous 121765]

KP,

I'm pretty lucky as I live in Florida so sailing/boating is a year-round thing. I feel for the northern sailors that have to bear winters. I was born up North & hated the cold.

However, there are times I cannot go due to what life brings up. Sometimes maybe up to 2 months.

You are correct in thinking about "forgetting." I do notice that not being on my boat in awhile, I tend to forget the little things. I have all activities down to a science & an exact routine that I use, and in order. So if I forget to do something that normally would have been done earlier, I REALLY notice it.

When this happens, I just curse & then laugh to myself.
You know what they say, "a mind is a terrible thing."

CR