After a few seasons sailing I have finally figured how to take out newbees. Give them the wheel. Guests have something to do, I manage all the sheets and nobody feels like a bump on a log. My guests learn to feel the wind and are quickly able to find the so called sweetspot when it comes to steering a boat. No need to shout orders, just the occasional "turn a bit to the left". comments..
Taking Rookies Sailing
- Thread starter Paul8753
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great idea!
I have been dinghy sailing with each of my three pre-teen daughters this summer, and they were not nearly as excited about it as I was until I did as you suggested - let them take the tiller, and I just crew. It's fun to watch them increase their awareness of how to monitor the tell-tales and adjust accordingly. The first few times were a little trying - it's amazing how one person's attempt to steer a straight course can take you through 90 degree changes in direction! We are looking for a larger family boat, and looked at a 1977 O'Day 25 yesterday, which prompted my joining this group. -- Scott
I have been dinghy sailing with each of my three pre-teen daughters this summer, and they were not nearly as excited about it as I was until I did as you suggested - let them take the tiller, and I just crew. It's fun to watch them increase their awareness of how to monitor the tell-tales and adjust accordingly. The first few times were a little trying - it's amazing how one person's attempt to steer a straight course can take you through 90 degree changes in direction! We are looking for a larger family boat, and looked at a 1977 O'Day 25 yesterday, which prompted my joining this group. -- Scott
Yeah
Once we're out in the sound, especially in lighter airs, I am glad to find someone to take the helm. As you said Paul, it leaves me free to enjoy and and take care of the boat. The more enthusiastic ones get to bring her back to the dock, if the current and wind are not too challenging. In fact, I have a "one of those things that will never happen again" story to tell with some chagrin: I pieced a throwing line onto the cleated stern dockline with a sheet bend (that I didn't check) threw it onto the dock, jumped onto the dock, and watched the boat continue forward in the current as the knot slipped free. Fortunately, the novice helmsperson (a student intern where I work) had the good sense to look directly at me and ask calmly what I wanted her to do. I told her to put it in reverse and turn the wheel toward the dock a little, at which the boat came back close enough for me to tie her off (the boat, not the student.) I congratulated her afterward (the student, not the boat) at being able to keep a cool head. On the subject too, one of the curious things that I see when taking friends (and friends of friends, ad nauseum sometimes) out sailing, is that there are two kinds of guests on a sailboat: those who see it as something to get involved in, and those who see it as a free-of-charge dolphin watch. The latter sit in the cockpit, find it convenient to get in the way of things (including engaging my wife in social chatter while she's at the wheel, just when I've told everyone that we need to focus on maneuvering the boat for a few minutes), and almost always grab their stuff and head for the bar as soon as we tie up. The former offer to help put the sail cover on, etc. Guess which ones I look forward to having again. Anyone else have this experience? BTW welcome to the forum Scott.
Once we're out in the sound, especially in lighter airs, I am glad to find someone to take the helm. As you said Paul, it leaves me free to enjoy and and take care of the boat. The more enthusiastic ones get to bring her back to the dock, if the current and wind are not too challenging. In fact, I have a "one of those things that will never happen again" story to tell with some chagrin: I pieced a throwing line onto the cleated stern dockline with a sheet bend (that I didn't check) threw it onto the dock, jumped onto the dock, and watched the boat continue forward in the current as the knot slipped free. Fortunately, the novice helmsperson (a student intern where I work) had the good sense to look directly at me and ask calmly what I wanted her to do. I told her to put it in reverse and turn the wheel toward the dock a little, at which the boat came back close enough for me to tie her off (the boat, not the student.) I congratulated her afterward (the student, not the boat) at being able to keep a cool head. On the subject too, one of the curious things that I see when taking friends (and friends of friends, ad nauseum sometimes) out sailing, is that there are two kinds of guests on a sailboat: those who see it as something to get involved in, and those who see it as a free-of-charge dolphin watch. The latter sit in the cockpit, find it convenient to get in the way of things (including engaging my wife in social chatter while she's at the wheel, just when I've told everyone that we need to focus on maneuvering the boat for a few minutes), and almost always grab their stuff and head for the bar as soon as we tie up. The former offer to help put the sail cover on, etc. Guess which ones I look forward to having again. Anyone else have this experience? BTW welcome to the forum Scott.
great idea
That's a great idea and as a matter of fact it is how we got our kids (7 and 11 at the time, 11 and 15 now) to sail! We have also put newbies on the winch duty if they are able to work a little harder as we live on a river and you have to tack a lot. And I agree with you, Bill... we like the friends who like to help out... that way we ALL get to enjoy the ride. And especially when we take kids and teens, they are SO happy to have something to do and really gain confidence doing something they have in some cases never done before. They LOVE going home and telling their parents about the trip!
That's a great idea and as a matter of fact it is how we got our kids (7 and 11 at the time, 11 and 15 now) to sail! We have also put newbies on the winch duty if they are able to work a little harder as we live on a river and you have to tack a lot. And I agree with you, Bill... we like the friends who like to help out... that way we ALL get to enjoy the ride. And especially when we take kids and teens, they are SO happy to have something to do and really gain confidence doing something they have in some cases never done before. They LOVE going home and telling their parents about the trip!
- Jan 22, 2008
- 519
newbies
This is a slightly edited repeat of my reply from another thread on this forum. It seems to fit this discussion as well. I trailer sail, so give the crew duty at the dock with launching, then give them the initial plan for motoring out then setting sail. While motoring, I typically let them take the helm and give them a course to steer, teaching them about finding the wind. I raise the sails, and instruct the crew at the helm to fall off and we start sailing. I talk us through the first couple of tacks, showing them the jib line routine. I then typically switch places at the helm, and demonstrate the various points of sail, trimming the main and jib etc, reading telltales. This seems to both increase their confidence and enjoyability of the day. I try to take pictures of them at the helm, so this necessitates them taking over again. At the end of the day, I typically find others at the helm, and making good decisions, without my input. As we head in, I start the motor, then head forward to lower the main, and furl the jib. That job done, I take over the helm to kiss the dock, as it is the skipper's privilidge to put his boat on the putty! The crew takes the lines and secures the boat. I think at the end of the day, everyone has acquired skills of sailing, tolerance, ability to teach, but most of all sharing a wonderful sail. (Otherwise it would feel that I was givng boatrides and I hate giving boat rides!)
This is a slightly edited repeat of my reply from another thread on this forum. It seems to fit this discussion as well. I trailer sail, so give the crew duty at the dock with launching, then give them the initial plan for motoring out then setting sail. While motoring, I typically let them take the helm and give them a course to steer, teaching them about finding the wind. I raise the sails, and instruct the crew at the helm to fall off and we start sailing. I talk us through the first couple of tacks, showing them the jib line routine. I then typically switch places at the helm, and demonstrate the various points of sail, trimming the main and jib etc, reading telltales. This seems to both increase their confidence and enjoyability of the day. I try to take pictures of them at the helm, so this necessitates them taking over again. At the end of the day, I typically find others at the helm, and making good decisions, without my input. As we head in, I start the motor, then head forward to lower the main, and furl the jib. That job done, I take over the helm to kiss the dock, as it is the skipper's privilidge to put his boat on the putty! The crew takes the lines and secures the boat. I think at the end of the day, everyone has acquired skills of sailing, tolerance, ability to teach, but most of all sharing a wonderful sail. (Otherwise it would feel that I was givng boatrides and I hate giving boat rides!)
Hey Bill
Glad I'm not the only one with those two types of guests - I even have a third (dreaded) version that yaps and yaps and actually gets annoyed when I have to (gasp) interrupt the blather to tack the boat away from, say, an ocean liner in a channel. Go figure! Drew
Glad I'm not the only one with those two types of guests - I even have a third (dreaded) version that yaps and yaps and actually gets annoyed when I have to (gasp) interrupt the blather to tack the boat away from, say, an ocean liner in a channel. Go figure! Drew
Right out of the harbor ...
I agree. As soon as I make the turn into the channel, I pick a likely person and ask them if they want to "steer." I tell them to push the tiller one way and then the other and watch what happens. As soon as they've got that, I anoint them "helmsperson" and spend a couple minutes fine tuning their skills while we finish running down the channel. (Alternately, when it's busy, I wait until we hit the lake for all this.) Like the previous poster, this leaves me free to work the boat, and enjoy myself, while they get to feel important. Key issue ... teaching them to drive is easier/quicker than teaching them all the rigging and sail trim. Note ... while working the boat, DO NOT assume they know WHERE to drive, just HOW. You have to continually watch course and other boats while you work the boat. Tom Monroe Carlyle Lake
I agree. As soon as I make the turn into the channel, I pick a likely person and ask them if they want to "steer." I tell them to push the tiller one way and then the other and watch what happens. As soon as they've got that, I anoint them "helmsperson" and spend a couple minutes fine tuning their skills while we finish running down the channel. (Alternately, when it's busy, I wait until we hit the lake for all this.) Like the previous poster, this leaves me free to work the boat, and enjoy myself, while they get to feel important. Key issue ... teaching them to drive is easier/quicker than teaching them all the rigging and sail trim. Note ... while working the boat, DO NOT assume they know WHERE to drive, just HOW. You have to continually watch course and other boats while you work the boat. Tom Monroe Carlyle Lake
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