Most folks who learn by themselves will never progress beyond the lower intermediate level of play - some will never progress past beginner or give up the sport of sailing entirely.
This is what my HS English teacher would call a glittering generality. There are many, many highly competent sailors who have learned on the fly and by learning from experienced sailors who have never taken any sailing course. Adhering to this position contributes to the mystique of sailing, a mystique that is ultimately harmful to the sport.
Qualified (key word) coaches/instructor make the learning experience easier. You have to be diligent in the selection of a school and more importantly in your assigned instructor. Does anyone think that learning to sail by themselves would be better than having Jackdaw show up at their boat and taking them out for an afternoon sail?
These statements are logically disconnected. In any endeavor a student will always benefit from being with someone who is more experienced and skilled, that's what mentorship is about. Will a novice sailor get mentorship from an ASA or US Sailing instructor? Probably not, the instructor will collect the fees and move on to the next class.
While spending an afternoon or three with
@Jackdaw sailing will no doubt provide a lot of learning, that is not what you will get from an ASA sailing course. That kind of experience comes from connecting with experienced sailors and spending time sailing with them. I would argue that one of the best ways to become a more proficient sailor is to spend time on the Wednesday Beer Can races with a competent sailor. Having spent sometime as crew with competent racing sailors, I have also found them lacking in basic seamanship skills.
Here's the problem with learning to sail a boat over 30' by yourself. There are 8 sail trim controls for the main and 6 for the jib and they all have to work together for 100% efficiency. Then there's trim sequence and the sail trim adjustment changes for each point of sail and wind condition and much more. Anyone who tells the average beginner sailor he can learn all this stuff by themselves is talking through his or her hat.
Have you been drinking
Stuart Walker's Kool-Aid? If there is any book that would deter wannabe sailors from taking up the sport, it would be his
Manual of Sail Trim.
If you want to learn to sail, find someone to teach you the basics, tacking, gybing, and steering. Then get a boat and go sail. Sail with and against more experienced sailors, ask questions, read (don't bother with Walker's books), and sail. Mostly go sail.
The ASA certification racket is driven by charter and insurance companies. After sailing for 50+ years in boats from 8' to 38' if a charter company wants me to produce an ASA certificate, they won't get my business. And frankly, it only takes about 5 minutes to know if a prospective charter knows what he or she is talking about when they step aboard the boat.
Learning to sail a boat by experience can be dangerous -- your 1st experience might be your last not only for you but the folks on board with you.
These kind of statements drive people away from sailing. Sailing is an exceptionally safe sport, so long as you don't count bruises and scrapes among the injuries.
If we want to have a sustainable sport, we need to make sailing accessible. Don, with all due respect, your statements don't do that.