We just bought a 1976 22' Catalina, our first saiboat. My husband took classes at the Wooden Boat Center in Seattle for 10-12 weeks, I have absolutely NO experience. We have been out 3 times, a day trip, a short overnight and recently planned on a 3 day trip but had to turn around due to a storm that knocked us about a bit and scared the _)$*)(#* out of me. I am unable to help him because I don't know enough to be able to hold the tiller in the correct position when we are doing 360's and the wind is raoring and the 150 Genoa needs to come down but he can't go up and lower it due to all of the other stuff that is going on.( That's how I talk when i am nervous) Can you tell I am a little afraid of this whole sailing thing unless the weather is calm and the seas are nearly flat? My question is, he would like to go to the San Juan Islands for a long weekend. Knowing that I am a fair weather passenger, what wind speed is too fast for me to feel comfortable in. The straits of Juan DeFuca regularly report "small craft advisory" warnings and I don't know enough to determine if that is close enough to the San Juans to affect it? Would a 15 knot wind scare th bejesus out of me? How do I conquer this fear? I really, really want to love this hobby. I want to learn but have trouble learning when the adrenaline is coursing through my body. I am in love with the romantic notion of sailing leisurley and enjoying my weekends to the max. Please, any suggestions, books to read, drugs to take ( ha ha ). I appreciate it.
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New Sailor
We all started somewhere.... Read all you can, the more you know the more confident you will feel. Understand how wind effects the boat and sails, and what you CAN do to make sailing more comfortable for you. Hang in there, it is a great sport/hobby that you can enjoy for the rest of your life.
We all started somewhere.... Read all you can, the more you know the more confident you will feel. Understand how wind effects the boat and sails, and what you CAN do to make sailing more comfortable for you. Hang in there, it is a great sport/hobby that you can enjoy for the rest of your life.
Why don't/didn't you take the class?
Welcome to the wonderful world of sailing, Sue! Don't worry, all it takes is time. Don't push yourself beyond the point where you feel comfortable but don't be afraid every time the boat "tips" a little. I'm curious as to why you didn't take the class as well as hubby? There are plenty of sailing schools up your way so maybe you should find one a little closer to home that caters to women. Or take a week's vacation & go on one of those teaching cruises. You wouldn't be sorry and will only be that much more comfortable with going out. Here's another suggestion: go out every day. If there's little wind, that's the perfect time to get a feel for the tiller. If it's blowing a little, learn how to tack. Etc, etc. Good luck & don't get discouraged - your learning curve is high right now.
LaDonna
Welcome to the wonderful world of sailing, Sue! Don't worry, all it takes is time. Don't push yourself beyond the point where you feel comfortable but don't be afraid every time the boat "tips" a little. I'm curious as to why you didn't take the class as well as hubby? There are plenty of sailing schools up your way so maybe you should find one a little closer to home that caters to women. Or take a week's vacation & go on one of those teaching cruises. You wouldn't be sorry and will only be that much more comfortable with going out. Here's another suggestion: go out every day. If there's little wind, that's the perfect time to get a feel for the tiller. If it's blowing a little, learn how to tack. Etc, etc. Good luck & don't get discouraged - your learning curve is high right now.
LaDonnaSpouse to new sailer
Sue, Hang in there. That tiller thing takes a little practice. Maybe a little time in a small dingy with an outboard would be good training. The outboard engine will turn the dingy the same as the the tiller on a C22. As for the tipping make sure hubby locks down the the keel with the screw in lock stud under the left forward seat. Remember, with the keel locked down it will take one hell of a wind to blow her down. I just got done with a book titled "Dove" by Robin Lee Graham. He started around the world at the age of 15 in a 24' sailboat by himself!!! And made it!!!!!! Good Luck, Jay
Sue, Hang in there. That tiller thing takes a little practice. Maybe a little time in a small dingy with an outboard would be good training. The outboard engine will turn the dingy the same as the the tiller on a C22. As for the tipping make sure hubby locks down the the keel with the screw in lock stud under the left forward seat. Remember, with the keel locked down it will take one hell of a wind to blow her down. I just got done with a book titled "Dove" by Robin Lee Graham. He started around the world at the age of 15 in a 24' sailboat by himself!!! And made it!!!!!! Good Luck, Jay
Be patient
The previous responses are excellent. But I would suggest that you take it easy. You don't have to sail with full main and 150% Genoa. Don't even put the Genoa up until you have some way of getting it down quickly in case things get out of hand (this could be done with a $500 furler - if you don't already have one or a $10 jib downhaul). Better to sail with too little sail until you become more comfortable with the boat heeling and and you gain more experience. With experience, you will find that the threshold of wind and waves that it takes to feel out of control will beccome greater and greater as well. You can still take your boat to the islands, but consider motoring across in the early morning hours (possibly in the company of another boat) when the conditions are more sedate. I am not an expert with the San Juans, but when I have been there, like many other places, the conditions start out very sedate in the morning and progress (or degress) as the day goes on. I recently moved to Denver from Portland and have a wife and 3 children who do not like being on the boat when the weather turns nasty (and neither do I). So I pick my weather - this usualy means picking the time of day I have the sails up. Good Luck, Dave Bolton Denver, CO
The previous responses are excellent. But I would suggest that you take it easy. You don't have to sail with full main and 150% Genoa. Don't even put the Genoa up until you have some way of getting it down quickly in case things get out of hand (this could be done with a $500 furler - if you don't already have one or a $10 jib downhaul). Better to sail with too little sail until you become more comfortable with the boat heeling and and you gain more experience. With experience, you will find that the threshold of wind and waves that it takes to feel out of control will beccome greater and greater as well. You can still take your boat to the islands, but consider motoring across in the early morning hours (possibly in the company of another boat) when the conditions are more sedate. I am not an expert with the San Juans, but when I have been there, like many other places, the conditions start out very sedate in the morning and progress (or degress) as the day goes on. I recently moved to Denver from Portland and have a wife and 3 children who do not like being on the boat when the weather turns nasty (and neither do I). So I pick my weather - this usualy means picking the time of day I have the sails up. Good Luck, Dave Bolton Denver, CO
The hubby to be more careful
Make sure the mainsail reefing is properly set up and reef early. Make sure you have a topping lift or a boomkicker to prevent the boom from being in your lap when you reef the main. Don't use the 150 until you are more comfortable. Reef the main and use the 110 to practice for a while. Rig a downhaul for the head sail that will allow you to take it down without going forward. The San Juans are usually less windy than the Straits but you have to be ready for anything. Do like my wife, tell hubby if he scares you to much he'll be single handing.
Make sure the mainsail reefing is properly set up and reef early. Make sure you have a topping lift or a boomkicker to prevent the boom from being in your lap when you reef the main. Don't use the 150 until you are more comfortable. Reef the main and use the 110 to practice for a while. Rig a downhaul for the head sail that will allow you to take it down without going forward. The San Juans are usually less windy than the Straits but you have to be ready for anything. Do like my wife, tell hubby if he scares you to much he'll be single handing.
See Reefing before you need to !
Hello Sue, I know alot of people who have been in your exact position, me being one! I learned to sailed on the Great Lakes being from Michigan, storms come up quickly there too. You might want to see a response I wrote regarding reefing before you need to. If your husband has been through all those classes then I'm sure he probably has a higher threshold of comfortability. So my suggestion is that he Reef the mainsail and jib (if you have roller reefing on the jib). If not then take it down so that you both could take control of the boat sailing it as upright as possible and just as close to the wind as you can manage to maintain some stability and making some headway so you don't end up going in 360 degree circles. Now I know that you are probably thinking " Thats easy for him to say, he's not there", but yet I have been there only at a different time and place, conditions were the same. I also know that your husband has to be recptive to this idea of "Reefing before you need to" and or putting off the trip until you become more confident and at ease. You know it might not hurt for both of you to take a BEGINNERS course together. With him staying more in the background and letting you progress with a good instructor it won't be long before you will find yourself doing some of the things without thinking that need to be done in a time like that. Once you have gone thru it , maybe twice, and arrived safely at your destination you will find your confidenece level rising sharply, and your husband will find he has a heck of a good first mate ! Be advised though, where you live, there is hardly a day that goes by that you won't see white caps and choppy seas, and yes I have been in situations where I had to drop ALL sail and motor across or into my dock at Mackinac Island, Michigan on Northern Lake Huron. There are plenty of other people here who I'm sure have great advice, I don't have all the answers, but if any of this helps it was worth the time to write it. Let me know how you make out. Happy Sailing, Dave LaPere PS Message in a Bottle is one of my favorite movies( Although I dislike the ending)
Hello Sue, I know alot of people who have been in your exact position, me being one! I learned to sailed on the Great Lakes being from Michigan, storms come up quickly there too. You might want to see a response I wrote regarding reefing before you need to. If your husband has been through all those classes then I'm sure he probably has a higher threshold of comfortability. So my suggestion is that he Reef the mainsail and jib (if you have roller reefing on the jib). If not then take it down so that you both could take control of the boat sailing it as upright as possible and just as close to the wind as you can manage to maintain some stability and making some headway so you don't end up going in 360 degree circles. Now I know that you are probably thinking " Thats easy for him to say, he's not there", but yet I have been there only at a different time and place, conditions were the same. I also know that your husband has to be recptive to this idea of "Reefing before you need to" and or putting off the trip until you become more confident and at ease. You know it might not hurt for both of you to take a BEGINNERS course together. With him staying more in the background and letting you progress with a good instructor it won't be long before you will find yourself doing some of the things without thinking that need to be done in a time like that. Once you have gone thru it , maybe twice, and arrived safely at your destination you will find your confidenece level rising sharply, and your husband will find he has a heck of a good first mate ! Be advised though, where you live, there is hardly a day that goes by that you won't see white caps and choppy seas, and yes I have been in situations where I had to drop ALL sail and motor across or into my dock at Mackinac Island, Michigan on Northern Lake Huron. There are plenty of other people here who I'm sure have great advice, I don't have all the answers, but if any of this helps it was worth the time to write it. Let me know how you make out. Happy Sailing,
Dave LaPere PS Message in a Bottle is one of my favorite movies( Although I dislike the ending)new sailor
la donna wants you to take the class, and you should. check your local adult school you may find a short class is offered. the author earl stanly gardner, loved the water and boating but would get deathly seasick on the ocean so he kept his boat on the sacremento delta and had a good time for many years.
la donna wants you to take the class, and you should. check your local adult school you may find a short class is offered. the author earl stanly gardner, loved the water and boating but would get deathly seasick on the ocean so he kept his boat on the sacremento delta and had a good time for many years.
So. Calif. Ocean Sailor
Sue, I bought my Cat 22 new in 1988 and have cruised it regularly off Southern California and Northern Mexico since. My comments: 1. I regularly sail in 15 - 20 knots of wind, and 3 - 6 foot waves. I've sailed in 25 knots gusting to 30, but would not do so if I could avoid it. 2. Above 15 knots, the mainsail should be reefed. The boat will handle much better and you'll be less scared. 3. The 150 genoa can be left up in up to 20 knots, if the main is reefed. But, in such wind I would recommend a smaller headsail too. (I have a furling 150 genoa.) 4. Anyone going out of the cockpit in rough conditions, out of swimming distance from land, should have on a safety harness. I attach mine to lines run between the bow and stern cleats on both sides. 5. In rough conditions, wear foul weather gear. You can expect a lot of water splashing or blowing into the cockpit but you'll feel a lot better if you personally aren't soaked. 6. If one person has to do most of the work, I recommend getting an autopilot. At least, get a tiller lock which will keep the boat steering straight for a short while. 7. Do not use your motor in rough windy conditions. The prop will cavitate (come out of the water) on wave crests and distract you. The sails are much more effective, even a reefed main alone. Save your fuel for when you reach the harbor. 8. The Cat 22 is a seaworthy boat as long as routine maintenance has been kept up. E.g. good standing and running rigging. Ken
Sue, I bought my Cat 22 new in 1988 and have cruised it regularly off Southern California and Northern Mexico since. My comments: 1. I regularly sail in 15 - 20 knots of wind, and 3 - 6 foot waves. I've sailed in 25 knots gusting to 30, but would not do so if I could avoid it. 2. Above 15 knots, the mainsail should be reefed. The boat will handle much better and you'll be less scared. 3. The 150 genoa can be left up in up to 20 knots, if the main is reefed. But, in such wind I would recommend a smaller headsail too. (I have a furling 150 genoa.) 4. Anyone going out of the cockpit in rough conditions, out of swimming distance from land, should have on a safety harness. I attach mine to lines run between the bow and stern cleats on both sides. 5. In rough conditions, wear foul weather gear. You can expect a lot of water splashing or blowing into the cockpit but you'll feel a lot better if you personally aren't soaked. 6. If one person has to do most of the work, I recommend getting an autopilot. At least, get a tiller lock which will keep the boat steering straight for a short while. 7. Do not use your motor in rough windy conditions. The prop will cavitate (come out of the water) on wave crests and distract you. The sails are much more effective, even a reefed main alone. Save your fuel for when you reach the harbor. 8. The Cat 22 is a seaworthy boat as long as routine maintenance has been kept up. E.g. good standing and running rigging. Ken
Go to J World
Sue, the best thing both you and your husband could do for yourselves is to plan a 3-5 day trip to San Diego and do a J World Sailing School. These people are wonderful. They remove fear and doubt, they instill knowledge and confidence, and they are reasonable. I have done two of their schools, baic keelboat and liveaboard cruising. They are a part of the US Sailing Certification System, so you can build your credentials as you learn, an important aspect if you ever want to charter in a port other than your own. The last class I did was a 5 day liveaboard and it got me certified at the cruising level, able to charter up to 40 feet, anywhere. Do it and you will never regret it. If you go, tell them Dean says Hi! Have fun!!!
Sue, the best thing both you and your husband could do for yourselves is to plan a 3-5 day trip to San Diego and do a J World Sailing School. These people are wonderful. They remove fear and doubt, they instill knowledge and confidence, and they are reasonable. I have done two of their schools, baic keelboat and liveaboard cruising. They are a part of the US Sailing Certification System, so you can build your credentials as you learn, an important aspect if you ever want to charter in a port other than your own. The last class I did was a 5 day liveaboard and it got me certified at the cruising level, able to charter up to 40 feet, anywhere. Do it and you will never regret it. If you go, tell them Dean says Hi! Have fun!!!
Take the tiller
All of the replies give very good advice. I can only add one more. My wife was very nervous about heeling in stronger winds until I did two things: 1) learned to reef earlier (the boat sails just as fast) and 2) gave her the tiller (she is able to feel just how easy the boat is to control, and will not tip over). Good luck and good sailing!
All of the replies give very good advice. I can only add one more. My wife was very nervous about heeling in stronger winds until I did two things: 1) learned to reef earlier (the boat sails just as fast) and 2) gave her the tiller (she is able to feel just how easy the boat is to control, and will not tip over). Good luck and good sailing!
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