ok almost spring here boats going to marina end of april no chance of sailing school , with this in mind how many if any have self taught themselves to sail?? and lastly looks as though like it or not thats what I'm going to do this summer. plans are to get out raise the sails and see what happens , any last minute advice???? can one just drop the sails and stop if things start to get hairy???
self taught
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Really
You have plenty of time to read some books.
When I was young maybe 30 I got hooked on sailing when a neighbor took me out on his Sunfish and than purchased a small type Sunfish and learn to sail it on a very small lake,it was a trial and error learning with a lot of ruff days trying to learn to keep it from flipping,I did well in light air but when it was windy I was wet.
So read some good books at a library and try and get some one to show you the ropes,and when you go out the first time pick a light wind day.
I switched to power boating because of friends family really enjoyed it so much,
I was 40 when I went back into sailing Hobie cats and been sailing ever since,My wife and I did take a week of lesson's when we purchased our first keel boat,also did race on other friends sailboats,it is so much better to learn from others than going out with out a clew about the boat or sailing.
Nick
You have plenty of time to read some books.
When I was young maybe 30 I got hooked on sailing when a neighbor took me out on his Sunfish and than purchased a small type Sunfish and learn to sail it on a very small lake,it was a trial and error learning with a lot of ruff days trying to learn to keep it from flipping,I did well in light air but when it was windy I was wet.
So read some good books at a library and try and get some one to show you the ropes,and when you go out the first time pick a light wind day.
I switched to power boating because of friends family really enjoyed it so much,
I was 40 when I went back into sailing Hobie cats and been sailing ever since,My wife and I did take a week of lesson's when we purchased our first keel boat,also did race on other friends sailboats,it is so much better to learn from others than going out with out a clew about the boat or sailing.
Nick
If you are intellectually average or above you can probably self teach, but if you are really smart you will seek help.
Try googling UCLA marine aquatic center. You will find links to some of the classes they offer along with a downloadable 60 pg course textbook pdf file. I found that very helpful. Its been a few years but I think it is still there.
Try googling UCLA marine aquatic center. You will find links to some of the classes they offer along with a downloadable 60 pg course textbook pdf file. I found that very helpful. Its been a few years but I think it is still there.
Did you check this out??
http://www.smallboat.sailingcourse.com/
Teaching yourself to sail is very possible if you have an aeronautical degree. It'll be slow going once you get to anchoring, docking and maneuvering in a marina, but hey, airflow is airflow. You could also do it if you are a rocket scientist. [Like me
]
If you are a mere mortal I'd refrain from taking anything of value out on the water, close to other things of value. Teaching yourself poorly is easy to do.
Colleges do sometimes offer the right courses for you. Maybe you know a sailing friend in need of beer? Do you know people in need of crew?
http://www.smallboat.sailingcourse.com/
Teaching yourself to sail is very possible if you have an aeronautical degree. It'll be slow going once you get to anchoring, docking and maneuvering in a marina, but hey, airflow is airflow. You could also do it if you are a rocket scientist. [Like me
]If you are a mere mortal I'd refrain from taking anything of value out on the water, close to other things of value. Teaching yourself poorly is easy to do.
Colleges do sometimes offer the right courses for you. Maybe you know a sailing friend in need of beer? Do you know people in need of crew?
Well- I wouldn't suggest trying to teach yourself- there's too much to know- and there's definently serious safety issues. No time to be safe? Hmmm.... if you don't have time for a "school" - why not hire a Captain to come on board and teach you? There's tons of guys around that'll do that, charging by the hour. I've been sailing my entire life and racing for 6 years - and I still have things to learn.
With all due respect
to the others on this thread, I taught myself to sail from "Chapman's Piloting".
I knew zero and found myself well prepared after reading it cover to cover (except for the maneuvering with two engines sections).
Course I'm not what you would call an exceptionally intellectual person so I had an advantage.
A students teach B students who all work for C students
to the others on this thread, I taught myself to sail from "Chapman's Piloting".
I knew zero and found myself well prepared after reading it cover to cover (except for the maneuvering with two engines sections).
Course I'm not what you would call an exceptionally intellectual person so I had an advantage
.A students teach B students who all work for C students
Hold on there bucko. I agree with some of the above; don't "fly blind" if you've never had ANY experience...could be dangerous to you and others. If you can't scare up some local experinced sailing volunteers, at least take a safe boating course--specifically for sailing. Then, I recommend buying or checking out from your local library, the Bennett Marine series of instructional sailing videos (they came out in the '90s I believe)...they do a pretty good job of it. If a picture is worth a thousand words, then a video must be worth a million.
--charlie
--charlie
I tried that. But every page or two my ADD is kicking in and I switch to that book on "Piloting Rockets" or "How to be a goober AND pick up women."
A little rudimentary knowledge is the least that's required before going out I think. At least know how to handle your boat before you get close to others.
Even WITH some knowledge we screw up. I am thinking about the time I backed my boat off the trailer with the rudder up. Once I hit the deeper water I stepped on the swim platform, kicked and pulled the rudder down and gracefully fell off the boat. Motor still going, boat in reverse, backing right over me.
I still think they need to cover that in sailing school.
Learning to sail the old fashioned way is to go out sailing on someone elses boat and ask lots of questions. If you bring the beer it's free.
thanks for the input school is out due to all work all time "till I get on the boat
" did however go out last year once, a "pro" said point the boat in wind raise sails and then we were moving, turn the boat around both ways , thats bout all Ive done, do have a buddy that sails and agreed to show me the basics just didnt want to depend on learning every last detail as I said were friends now but countless phone calls questions and show me's could strain any relationship. will try the books and web site one of you put up , oh yeah lastly I'll get some pics / video of this voyage if anything might have a laugh or two in there for you pro's..promise not to kill anyone in the venture of sailing...
" did however go out last year once, a "pro" said point the boat in wind raise sails and then we were moving, turn the boat around both ways , thats bout all Ive done, do have a buddy that sails and agreed to show me the basics just didnt want to depend on learning every last detail as I said were friends now but countless phone calls questions and show me's could strain any relationship. will try the books and web site one of you put up , oh yeah lastly I'll get some pics / video of this voyage if anything might have a laugh or two in there for you pro's..promise not to kill anyone in the venture of sailing...
bwana ? thanks for that website that does beat reading any book I can think of ,,,,Ive learned things of the first part already . lol again thanks
No schweat Bad!!!
I think there's a sailing simulator here: http://www.nationalgeographic.com/volvooceanrace/
Somehow it doesn't work for me. (MAC + Safari) Maybe you can get it to go and pratice sail trim??
And remember, NO BRAKES!!!! (Although you could toss the anchor overboard I guess....)
I think there's a sailing simulator here: http://www.nationalgeographic.com/volvooceanrace/
Somehow it doesn't work for me. (MAC + Safari) Maybe you can get it to go and pratice sail trim??
And remember, NO BRAKES!!!! (Although you could toss the anchor overboard I guess....)
To some degree or another, we're all self-taught, but most if not all of us started by learning enough of the basics from someone else that we could survive. Find our what bribe is necessary for your friend to help, talk with sailors at nearby yacht clubs or around your dock area about either crewing for them or their coming on your boat for a few hours, look into parks and rec dept or college classes, take a learning vacation at a sailing school thats already in session. The critical thing is that you get some assistance while you master the basics, so that you can progress to teaching yourself. Remember, the cost of tuition can quickly become more than you want to pay if you make an otherwise avoidable mistake. The level of skill, experience and knowledge that you have described is too low for your safety.
Jim Kolstoe, h23 Kara's Boo
Jim Kolstoe, h23 Kara's Boo
For the most part, I learned to sail on my own, BUT I got the sailing fever the previous year from a sailing buddy by sailing 3 or 4 times with him. That very brief "exposure" with an experienced sailer made a HUGE difference. I did read several books on sailing. They were a very big help. When I finally got my own boat, I was on my own. The bottom line, I had a lot of "HOLY SH*T" moments, but somehow survived. I learned that "experience" is important, but it is NOT the best teacher at the very beginning. With "experience" as the only teacher, you get the answer BEFORE you get the question. My advice is to learn all you can BEFORE you sail alone. It is a quick learning curve if you have just a few lessons from an experienced sailor combined with some "book learning". BrianW
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