Do I realy need to take sailing lessons or can I do this on my own? Dont get me wrong, I know that a sailing corse would be benifical and definitly give me a jump start. But I am not an idiot I know how to read and comprehend what I read. The books I have read so far are very detailed. The reson why I am asking this is about 5 mounths ago I had bought a 19 foot for $300, Needless to say I coulden't get papers on it so I brought it back , fortionatily I was able to get my money back. This is the funny part , I would sit in the boat and pretend I was sailing and going through the motions it dosen't look verry hard . Granted I wasn't in the water so I didn't get any real time reaction But the family enjoyed laughing at me . I would be sailing or learning to sail on a small lake , Lake Pontchartrain to be exact. and only on weekends. So in conclution am I crazie for thinking I can do this on my own or Crazier for pretending to sail.
- Status
You will benefit from having a mentor.
A large boat can kill you if you aren't careful. I would at the very least find some one with experience to sail with me a few timesbefore I went out alone. Lake P. ain't all that small!
A large boat can kill you if you aren't careful. I would at the very least find some one with experience to sail with me a few timesbefore I went out alone. Lake P. ain't all that small!
go to school
I have been sailing small boats for 30 years and recently took the plunge adn bought a 22. I am planning to go to school. I think you should. If nothing else you will make friends.
I have been sailing small boats for 30 years and recently took the plunge adn bought a 22. I am planning to go to school. I think you should. If nothing else you will make friends.
My first sailboat was a...........
My first sailboat was a 25 foot MacGregor. Neither me nor my GF had ever even been on a sailboat before in our entire lives. I worked offshore, so i got a few books from the library. I read them all in about 2 or 3 days. They all said the same thing. I called up Gf and told her top take a 2 week vacation when I got home. When I did get home, we needed a compass so I bought one. I didnt want to wait a minute longer to start out. We set the compass in my tennis shoe ans set the shoe in the middle of the floor in the cockpit. It was more or less centered. Off we went from Gulfport, Ms Panama City, Fl. Our first night we anchored off Dauphin Island, next night we spent in Pirates Cove, Al. then on to Pennsacola, destin and Panama City and back. We hit windless days and we hit bad weather days in the Gulf and the ICW. All went well and without incident. We have been adicted ever since. Its so easy a Caveman could do it..OOPS, not politically correct. Seriously, if you get overwhelmed in the weather, let all the sheets loose until you can think of what to do next. From what you wrote, i will assume that you will be on a smaller boat...up to 25Ft. Dont get me wrong, a school is always good to do, but certainly not essential. There is only so much you can read, which is not a whole lot, before all the info becomes redundant. Getting from Point A to Point B at your leisure is quite easy. How efficiently you do this is a different story. I am not a racer, so as long as I get from Point A to point B in a reasonable time frame, I am happy. As long as you are not afraid, you will always thing rationaly. If you do the wrong thing, the boat will tell you and you just change your course of action. It is not rocket science. Lake Ponchartrain is a large lake, but anything short of a hurricane will not get bad enough to sink your boat. I also taught myself to fly an Ultra light airplane from books and Im still here to talk about it. I say "just go sailing". As for being crazy.....normal people dont have fun. Tony B
My first sailboat was a 25 foot MacGregor. Neither me nor my GF had ever even been on a sailboat before in our entire lives. I worked offshore, so i got a few books from the library. I read them all in about 2 or 3 days. They all said the same thing. I called up Gf and told her top take a 2 week vacation when I got home. When I did get home, we needed a compass so I bought one. I didnt want to wait a minute longer to start out. We set the compass in my tennis shoe ans set the shoe in the middle of the floor in the cockpit. It was more or less centered. Off we went from Gulfport, Ms Panama City, Fl. Our first night we anchored off Dauphin Island, next night we spent in Pirates Cove, Al. then on to Pennsacola, destin and Panama City and back. We hit windless days and we hit bad weather days in the Gulf and the ICW. All went well and without incident. We have been adicted ever since. Its so easy a Caveman could do it..OOPS, not politically correct. Seriously, if you get overwhelmed in the weather, let all the sheets loose until you can think of what to do next. From what you wrote, i will assume that you will be on a smaller boat...up to 25Ft. Dont get me wrong, a school is always good to do, but certainly not essential. There is only so much you can read, which is not a whole lot, before all the info becomes redundant. Getting from Point A to Point B at your leisure is quite easy. How efficiently you do this is a different story. I am not a racer, so as long as I get from Point A to point B in a reasonable time frame, I am happy. As long as you are not afraid, you will always thing rationaly. If you do the wrong thing, the boat will tell you and you just change your course of action. It is not rocket science. Lake Ponchartrain is a large lake, but anything short of a hurricane will not get bad enough to sink your boat. I also taught myself to fly an Ultra light airplane from books and Im still here to talk about it. I say "just go sailing". As for being crazy.....normal people dont have fun. Tony B
Different Horses for Different Courses
J, it really depends on your personality. I studied a beginner's book, Bill Bond's The Handbook of Sailing, and understood 90% of what I read (I'm still trying to get my head around the basic meteoroloy). It all made sense to me. I remember sitting on the couch, book in one hand, the other extended to grasp an imaginary tiller, pushing it away, and moving to to another cushion on the couch during virtual "tacks," and such. When I'd read the book several times, and sailing the couch became passé, I bought a 14' sailing dinghy and towed it down to the marina, and taught myself in a relatively protected bay. Sure, I tipped the thing over a few times (slow-moving ballast w/ bad knees, and one surprise gybe/broach), but it was always instructive. I considered it part of the process, and always came home happy (and sometimes wet). After a only a couple of outings, I had the basics down and began honing skills. Before long I made it out the marina channel and along the public beach. "Open water" at last! I took a class my second summer, just to see If I was missing anything, and it only confirmed that I'd taught myself well. Shortly thereafter I bought my first keelboat, a 22-ft swing-keel Catalina 22. I'm now owner of a 10,000 lb. C30, and regularly cross the San Pedro Channel for weekends @ Catalina Island. Anchoring still causes me pause, but it's more magic than science, anyway. ; ) I recommend classes to people in general, but if you're my type (studiously read, re-read, then go and do; like to take on the challenges and make your mistakes by yourself), there's no reason you can't teach yourself. I found it very satisfying. If you're safety-conscious, limit yourself to gentle weather for a while, know how to right a capsized dinghy and get underway again, and can wave cheerfully at those who laugh at you, what's the worst that can happen except some public embarrassment? Jeff P.S.— I'd choose something bigger than an eight foot sabot, but nothing larger than a fourteen foot or so daysailer, like a Lido, which can offer very good performance. If you're teaching yourself, nineteen feet might be a bit much for your student to handle.
J, it really depends on your personality. I studied a beginner's book, Bill Bond's The Handbook of Sailing, and understood 90% of what I read (I'm still trying to get my head around the basic meteoroloy). It all made sense to me. I remember sitting on the couch, book in one hand, the other extended to grasp an imaginary tiller, pushing it away, and moving to to another cushion on the couch during virtual "tacks," and such. When I'd read the book several times, and sailing the couch became passé, I bought a 14' sailing dinghy and towed it down to the marina, and taught myself in a relatively protected bay. Sure, I tipped the thing over a few times (slow-moving ballast w/ bad knees, and one surprise gybe/broach), but it was always instructive. I considered it part of the process, and always came home happy (and sometimes wet). After a only a couple of outings, I had the basics down and began honing skills. Before long I made it out the marina channel and along the public beach. "Open water" at last! I took a class my second summer, just to see If I was missing anything, and it only confirmed that I'd taught myself well. Shortly thereafter I bought my first keelboat, a 22-ft swing-keel Catalina 22. I'm now owner of a 10,000 lb. C30, and regularly cross the San Pedro Channel for weekends @ Catalina Island. Anchoring still causes me pause, but it's more magic than science, anyway. ; ) I recommend classes to people in general, but if you're my type (studiously read, re-read, then go and do; like to take on the challenges and make your mistakes by yourself), there's no reason you can't teach yourself. I found it very satisfying. If you're safety-conscious, limit yourself to gentle weather for a while, know how to right a capsized dinghy and get underway again, and can wave cheerfully at those who laugh at you, what's the worst that can happen except some public embarrassment? Jeff P.S.— I'd choose something bigger than an eight foot sabot, but nothing larger than a fourteen foot or so daysailer, like a Lido, which can offer very good performance. If you're teaching yourself, nineteen feet might be a bit much for your student to handle.
One thing
At least learn what a gybe(jibe) is, not jib sail, gybe. From anyone, school or not. That's pretty much the only deadly part about easy nice day sailing. Big boats are good for this lesson but the closer your head is to the boom, the more dangerous. I have a 16' Hobie in the back yard that will put anyone out cold, face down in the water. And just for flurtting with cutties on jet ski's. Other then that, momma nature won't let you cheat, So enjoy this new experience. But, know the gybe.
At least learn what a gybe(jibe) is, not jib sail, gybe. From anyone, school or not. That's pretty much the only deadly part about easy nice day sailing. Big boats are good for this lesson but the closer your head is to the boom, the more dangerous. I have a 16' Hobie in the back yard that will put anyone out cold, face down in the water. And just for flurtting with cutties on jet ski's. Other then that, momma nature won't let you cheat, So enjoy this new experience. But, know the gybe.
Take a Course
I know a lot of people who have taught themselves to sail or learned by crewing. I personally would vote for taking a course since it puts you a leg up on the self taught folks, IMHO. Last year after a 40 year absence from sailing I decided it was time to fulfill my dream of owning a boat. I, like you, read everything I could get my hands on related to sailing and thought I had a pretty good idea about the basics of sailing. However, I decided that if I was going to take the wellbeing of my family and myself in my hands I wanted more knowledge and skill. I took an ASA Basic Keelboat course and it's the best money I ever spent. When I got my boat even though it's a lot bigger than the boat I took the course on I knew what to expect and how it and I would react to different situations. By the way an earlier post stated that a big boat would kill you, I'd add that any boat will kill you but I've found that a bigger boat is easier to sail than a small boat, again, that's just my opinion.
I know a lot of people who have taught themselves to sail or learned by crewing. I personally would vote for taking a course since it puts you a leg up on the self taught folks, IMHO. Last year after a 40 year absence from sailing I decided it was time to fulfill my dream of owning a boat. I, like you, read everything I could get my hands on related to sailing and thought I had a pretty good idea about the basics of sailing. However, I decided that if I was going to take the wellbeing of my family and myself in my hands I wanted more knowledge and skill. I took an ASA Basic Keelboat course and it's the best money I ever spent. When I got my boat even though it's a lot bigger than the boat I took the course on I knew what to expect and how it and I would react to different situations. By the way an earlier post stated that a big boat would kill you, I'd add that any boat will kill you but I've found that a bigger boat is easier to sail than a small boat, again, that's just my opinion.
course or not
DEpending on your boating background, i'd say find a marina and talk to a few people there. Some are always looking for crew/balast for their boats. Nothing else just an excuse to show off their boat and have someone to talk to . I would highly recomend taking a boating course like the power squadron or coast guard auxilliary offers. It is free and will give you basic knoledge that you can use on the water.
DEpending on your boating background, i'd say find a marina and talk to a few people there. Some are always looking for crew/balast for their boats. Nothing else just an excuse to show off their boat and have someone to talk to . I would highly recomend taking a boating course like the power squadron or coast guard auxilliary offers. It is free and will give you basic knoledge that you can use on the water.
Helpful but not essential
I have progressed from a 16 foot ODay, to a 22 foot Venture and now a 29 foot Ericson. I have not taken a lesson yet. With just reading books, my library numbers at least 50 books now, I have learned everything I needed so far. I also have subscriptions to a few magazines and get everything I can out of this. This and practice. For me safety and seamanship are paramount so I am constantly trying to learn and refine my skills. I am not some wahoo who is going out sailing and being a danger to those around me. I pay attention, read everything I can and always do my best to be a competent seaman. I am proud to say I have learned enough sail control now to sail on and off my mooring, a personal goal. Just getting from Point A to Point B is, I was surprised to find, quite easy. Beyond that it is learning how to handle heavy weather, rules of the road, radio etiquette, sail trim, etc. That being said this summer I will be taking my first course to get charter certified. I am not 100% sure I need it but personally will feel better having run through it to be sure I know what I need to know. I am hoping to pick up a few things also. You will make mistakes, that is unavoidable. I am always heartened when I read stories about the expert sailors and the mistakes they still make. The key is to learn from them and continually improve. Start with something small also, the forces generated by a larger boat are far larger and more dangerous on a big boat. My 29 foot boat is not a large boat but the forces on sheets compared to my old 16 foot are exponential. Good Luck, Have Fun and just get out there.
I have progressed from a 16 foot ODay, to a 22 foot Venture and now a 29 foot Ericson. I have not taken a lesson yet. With just reading books, my library numbers at least 50 books now, I have learned everything I needed so far. I also have subscriptions to a few magazines and get everything I can out of this. This and practice. For me safety and seamanship are paramount so I am constantly trying to learn and refine my skills. I am not some wahoo who is going out sailing and being a danger to those around me. I pay attention, read everything I can and always do my best to be a competent seaman. I am proud to say I have learned enough sail control now to sail on and off my mooring, a personal goal. Just getting from Point A to Point B is, I was surprised to find, quite easy. Beyond that it is learning how to handle heavy weather, rules of the road, radio etiquette, sail trim, etc. That being said this summer I will be taking my first course to get charter certified. I am not 100% sure I need it but personally will feel better having run through it to be sure I know what I need to know. I am hoping to pick up a few things also. You will make mistakes, that is unavoidable. I am always heartened when I read stories about the expert sailors and the mistakes they still make. The key is to learn from them and continually improve. Start with something small also, the forces generated by a larger boat are far larger and more dangerous on a big boat. My 29 foot boat is not a large boat but the forces on sheets compared to my old 16 foot are exponential. Good Luck, Have Fun and just get out there.
More organized, faster
I teach a hands-on sailing course, organized by safety, seamanship and sail plan. It tends to move people through the basics more quickly and builds their confidence faster, all the while offering ample opportunity for questions.
I teach a hands-on sailing course, organized by safety, seamanship and sail plan. It tends to move people through the basics more quickly and builds their confidence faster, all the while offering ample opportunity for questions.
A small boat will kill you faster than a big boat
because it may tip over. School or a sailing buddy is your choice, but choose one or the other. You need somebody to "show you the ropes". There's no way to get it from a book. If you read my other posts you will see that I very seldom take a hard line, but this is a life and death situation. If you just go out and try it on your own, chances are pretty good that you'll get smacked in the head with the boom and end up unconscious in the water. There are lots of folks who would love to go out with you and show you the basics. A few hours of instruction will get you started. Good Luck!
because it may tip over. School or a sailing buddy is your choice, but choose one or the other. You need somebody to "show you the ropes". There's no way to get it from a book. If you read my other posts you will see that I very seldom take a hard line, but this is a life and death situation. If you just go out and try it on your own, chances are pretty good that you'll get smacked in the head with the boom and end up unconscious in the water. There are lots of folks who would love to go out with you and show you the basics. A few hours of instruction will get you started. Good Luck!
One of the neater things about sailing school
is you get to go out sailing! Different, way different, than, say, math.
is you get to go out sailing! Different, way different, than, say, math.
Take the course
You will benefit from a combination of three resources that have been suggested here (read a lot, take a course, sail with a friend). You won't lose anything from taking a course. It will compel you to master certain safety practices (such as man-overboard procedures) that you may otherwise overlook. It will provide you good foundation to learn the finer arts of sailing later when you realize that sailing is more than just going from point A to point B.
You will benefit from a combination of three resources that have been suggested here (read a lot, take a course, sail with a friend). You won't lose anything from taking a course. It will compel you to master certain safety practices (such as man-overboard procedures) that you may otherwise overlook. It will provide you good foundation to learn the finer arts of sailing later when you realize that sailing is more than just going from point A to point B.
Sailing models counts but not entirely
My sailing began with an in-the-pond model sailboat and graduated to R/C Marblehead class sailing (50 inch long hull with 800 square inches of sail). The model had all the working rigging of a full size boat and sailed the same too. I learned all about tacking and gybing and playing the wind for best sail shape and forward effort using the winds energy. I was a member of an R/C sailing club and learned about the rules of the road in practice which helped to coordinate the rules learned in the books (which get confusing in a 3-dimensional and moving environment where exciting things are happening). I got tired of watching the R/C boat have all the fun with me firmly standing on shore so I looked into trailerable sailboats. I took the Boating and Seamanship course offered by the US Coast Guard Auxiliary which I think is an excellent course if taken seriously. That is the sum total of my schooling besides paying attention to everything I do while afloat. One thing to consider is how seriously you take what you are doing. There are plenty of folks out there who have taken courses at sailing schools who don't seem to apply anything they have learned. I gave my parents a gift tuition to a sailing school and they found it to be a wonderful experience and went from novices who didn't really want to take the tiller to confident sailors who sailed the boat while I took a nap. Whatever you do, learn all you can and apply what you learn.
My sailing began with an in-the-pond model sailboat and graduated to R/C Marblehead class sailing (50 inch long hull with 800 square inches of sail). The model had all the working rigging of a full size boat and sailed the same too. I learned all about tacking and gybing and playing the wind for best sail shape and forward effort using the winds energy. I was a member of an R/C sailing club and learned about the rules of the road in practice which helped to coordinate the rules learned in the books (which get confusing in a 3-dimensional and moving environment where exciting things are happening). I got tired of watching the R/C boat have all the fun with me firmly standing on shore so I looked into trailerable sailboats. I took the Boating and Seamanship course offered by the US Coast Guard Auxiliary which I think is an excellent course if taken seriously. That is the sum total of my schooling besides paying attention to everything I do while afloat. One thing to consider is how seriously you take what you are doing. There are plenty of folks out there who have taken courses at sailing schools who don't seem to apply anything they have learned. I gave my parents a gift tuition to a sailing school and they found it to be a wonderful experience and went from novices who didn't really want to take the tiller to confident sailors who sailed the boat while I took a nap. Whatever you do, learn all you can and apply what you learn.
How Safe Do You Want To Be?
How safe do you want to be? I work with folks who learned computer programming from a book - they do a bunch of things that sort of work most of the time - they never had an experienced instructor providing feedback about what they thought that they understood, but really only partly learned. What happens the day you get hit by a thunderstorm microburst? Are you sure that you picked the right theory? It is easy to think that you remembered everything in the book - until the water is pouring into the cockpit. Sailing school, or sailing under experienced sailors; IMHO: either or preferably both is way safer than just a book. OC
How safe do you want to be? I work with folks who learned computer programming from a book - they do a bunch of things that sort of work most of the time - they never had an experienced instructor providing feedback about what they thought that they understood, but really only partly learned. What happens the day you get hit by a thunderstorm microburst? Are you sure that you picked the right theory? It is easy to think that you remembered everything in the book - until the water is pouring into the cockpit. Sailing school, or sailing under experienced sailors; IMHO: either or preferably both is way safer than just a book. OC
I smiled
J, I smiled when I read your post. I remembered the first time I trailer sailed my P13 (looks like a Laser) in the yard. The wife thought I was crazy, but it gave me a good idea of what it was like with some wind in the sail. I'm a "read and apply" kind of guy. So I read up on dingy sailing, especially Lasers. I prepared for my first sail on the river... PFD, paddle, bailer, some tools in a dry bag and a plan. I waited for the right day and sailed 5 miles up river and then back. Applying what I read on that first sail was all I needed. If you don't want to spend the money for lessons, then plan to start small and work your way up. I don't mean it has to be a real small boat like my P13, but maybe start out on a medium wind day with a reef in just to get a feel for it. Sail with just the main a few times until you're comfortable. I always sailed my H170 with my wife because I was more comfortable having someone along. The first day that she didn't want to go, I sailed solo with a reef in, and just the main. Now, I've sailed solo in my H170 so many times it doesn't bother me at all. I know the boat well enough that I know when to stay at the dock. Also, check the weather for the day, know what you'll be working with, plan ahead. Someone said "it's not rocket science", I agree, but use your head and trust your instincts. Taking a course would probably give you a head start toward sailing, but not required. Have fun and be careful, JerryA
J, I smiled when I read your post. I remembered the first time I trailer sailed my P13 (looks like a Laser) in the yard. The wife thought I was crazy, but it gave me a good idea of what it was like with some wind in the sail. I'm a "read and apply" kind of guy. So I read up on dingy sailing, especially Lasers. I prepared for my first sail on the river... PFD, paddle, bailer, some tools in a dry bag and a plan. I waited for the right day and sailed 5 miles up river and then back. Applying what I read on that first sail was all I needed. If you don't want to spend the money for lessons, then plan to start small and work your way up. I don't mean it has to be a real small boat like my P13, but maybe start out on a medium wind day with a reef in just to get a feel for it. Sail with just the main a few times until you're comfortable. I always sailed my H170 with my wife because I was more comfortable having someone along. The first day that she didn't want to go, I sailed solo with a reef in, and just the main. Now, I've sailed solo in my H170 so many times it doesn't bother me at all. I know the boat well enough that I know when to stay at the dock. Also, check the weather for the day, know what you'll be working with, plan ahead. Someone said "it's not rocket science", I agree, but use your head and trust your instincts. Taking a course would probably give you a head start toward sailing, but not required. Have fun and be careful, JerryA
I want to be very safe.
I want to be very safe. But on the other hand I am self taught and started sailing offshore when I was fourteen in a boat I built. By 21 I had single handed the Atlantic in an engineless 22 foot boat. That trip was in 1974 and I think I am reasonably safe even today. Why do people think everything is too complex today? Sailing is very simple and you can easily learn how to sail on your own. Good luck and all the best, Robert Gainer
I want to be very safe. But on the other hand I am self taught and started sailing offshore when I was fourteen in a boat I built. By 21 I had single handed the Atlantic in an engineless 22 foot boat. That trip was in 1974 and I think I am reasonably safe even today. Why do people think everything is too complex today? Sailing is very simple and you can easily learn how to sail on your own. Good luck and all the best, Robert Gainer
It won't hurt you.
I bet the vast majority of folks sailing today did not take any courses. I didn't. Heck, I was in the 7th grade when I started. My Dad turned me and my brother loose on a lake in a Sailfish - with the bare minimum of "training." First thing we did was tip over. Oh, the best thing my Dad made us do was sail upwind first so he had more assurance we'd get back without him needing to swim after us. But if you have the $$ and opportunity to take courses, I don't think it'll hurt you. UNLESS - you think this is all you need. If you think taking a few courses will make you a good sailor, forget it. I strongly recommend you start on a small boat that will tip over if - and when - you don't gybe it correctly. This is how you learn the best way - make mistakes on a boat that is unforgiving. Learning how to sail on a big displacement hull is backwards, IMHO. You will make mistakes and never know it until the conditions are different and they become BIG mistakes, potentially hurting you, your crew, or the boat. Maybe the best approach is to apply what you've read to a small boat (in a safe setting). Take a course after you've tipped over a few times. Good luck and enjoy! You can learn to make a small boat go from point A to point B pretty well in a day. You'll spend the rest of your life figuring out how to do that faster than everybody else. Dave S/V Pas de Deux Catana 471-44
I bet the vast majority of folks sailing today did not take any courses. I didn't. Heck, I was in the 7th grade when I started. My Dad turned me and my brother loose on a lake in a Sailfish - with the bare minimum of "training." First thing we did was tip over. Oh, the best thing my Dad made us do was sail upwind first so he had more assurance we'd get back without him needing to swim after us. But if you have the $$ and opportunity to take courses, I don't think it'll hurt you. UNLESS - you think this is all you need. If you think taking a few courses will make you a good sailor, forget it. I strongly recommend you start on a small boat that will tip over if - and when - you don't gybe it correctly. This is how you learn the best way - make mistakes on a boat that is unforgiving. Learning how to sail on a big displacement hull is backwards, IMHO. You will make mistakes and never know it until the conditions are different and they become BIG mistakes, potentially hurting you, your crew, or the boat. Maybe the best approach is to apply what you've read to a small boat (in a safe setting). Take a course after you've tipped over a few times. Good luck and enjoy! You can learn to make a small boat go from point A to point B pretty well in a day. You'll spend the rest of your life figuring out how to do that faster than everybody else. Dave S/V Pas de Deux Catana 471-44
Applying what you learn
The key to the whole thing is how well you apply what you learn, whether this comes from a course or a book. Sailing courses depend on books also after all. You could take a course and not get anything out of it if you don't pay attention. If you are the self taught kind of person, like I am, then learning from books and practicing will work. The most important thing is practice, getting out there and doing it. You could take all the courses available or read every book available and you still can't say you can sail. Figure out what kind of person you are, self taught or course taught and go that route. Then just get out there and like Dave said, start small. A Sunfish or similar will teach you a lot very quickly and you can't get into much trouble. Have Fun
The key to the whole thing is how well you apply what you learn, whether this comes from a course or a book. Sailing courses depend on books also after all. You could take a course and not get anything out of it if you don't pay attention. If you are the self taught kind of person, like I am, then learning from books and practicing will work. The most important thing is practice, getting out there and doing it. You could take all the courses available or read every book available and you still can't say you can sail. Figure out what kind of person you are, self taught or course taught and go that route. Then just get out there and like Dave said, start small. A Sunfish or similar will teach you a lot very quickly and you can't get into much trouble. Have Fun
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