you can learn by doing...
Here's my story. We bought our boat 9 months ago, it's a twenty five Oday. It is my families first "real" boat. I grew up sailing small boats, sunfish, hobies and lazers on Table Rock Lake in Branson MO. So the concept of sailing was still there. But had never owned my own sailboat. Prior to buying our boat, we went to the weekly races at Davis Island Yacht club here in Tampa. Pete and Cheryl owned a 38 Morgan, and we crewed for them for the summer. I learned more about sailing from those weekly 2 hour lessons than I could learn in a lifetime of doing it by myself. Also, this summer we went to the Strictly Sail show in St. Pete. We walked into a sail trim seminar that was just finishing up. I was glued to what the instructor said. After the seminar, I and my son talked another 20 minutes with him and he gave us a "private" lesson on sail trim. I learned soooo much, and it was just for the asking. So, what am I saying, yes you can learn by doing, or you can take lessons, crew for someone, it all helps. I would like to take some lessons now, now that I know the value of doing it right and not fumbling in the cockpit. The neat thing about sailboats is that they want to sail. Even if you are sailing badly, the boat will let you know. Lessons and instructions teach to hear what the boat is telling you. Sorry for the lengthy reply.
Here's my story. We bought our boat 9 months ago, it's a twenty five Oday. It is my families first "real" boat. I grew up sailing small boats, sunfish, hobies and lazers on Table Rock Lake in Branson MO. So the concept of sailing was still there. But had never owned my own sailboat. Prior to buying our boat, we went to the weekly races at Davis Island Yacht club here in Tampa. Pete and Cheryl owned a 38 Morgan, and we crewed for them for the summer. I learned more about sailing from those weekly 2 hour lessons than I could learn in a lifetime of doing it by myself. Also, this summer we went to the Strictly Sail show in St. Pete. We walked into a sail trim seminar that was just finishing up. I was glued to what the instructor said. After the seminar, I and my son talked another 20 minutes with him and he gave us a "private" lesson on sail trim. I learned soooo much, and it was just for the asking. So, what am I saying, yes you can learn by doing, or you can take lessons, crew for someone, it all helps. I would like to take some lessons now, now that I know the value of doing it right and not fumbling in the cockpit. The neat thing about sailboats is that they want to sail. Even if you are sailing badly, the boat will let you know. Lessons and instructions teach to hear what the boat is telling you. Sorry for the lengthy reply.
