All of us are learning new things about sailing, but who taught you to sail when you first started? Did you learn from your parents or another family member? A youth sailing program? How about a paid class from one of the sailing schools around the world? Or were you the ultimate do it yourselfer with an entry level boat and a book? Do you recommend your method of schooling to others? Is it the best way to learn? Share your stories about the people who gave you this terrific gift, then vote in the Quick Quiz at the bottom of the home page.
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Doug Rodrigues
Myself
I started-off as a windsurfer. The sailboats looked interesting, especially the ones that obviously were leaving the windsurfer area to go somewhere else. The bug bit. I wanted to go somewhere else in dry clothing too. I read all I could about sailboats and taught myself how to sail a boat. In hindsight, taking lessons from a professional would have been easier.
I started-off as a windsurfer. The sailboats looked interesting, especially the ones that obviously were leaving the windsurfer area to go somewhere else. The bug bit. I wanted to go somewhere else in dry clothing too. I read all I could about sailboats and taught myself how to sail a boat. In hindsight, taking lessons from a professional would have been easier.
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Chris Gonzales
Self and SOHK
I was "sailing in my mind" for some years by reading books and magazines and imagining what sailing would actually be like. I knew most of the nomenclature and some about sail trim, etc. before I finally purchased a well used Capri 25. I had one test sail with the owner on the Oakland estuary for about an hour. After that it was up to the books and magazines and San Francisco bay to teach me. Mistakes were made, but nothing too serious or dangerous (some have been posted in this forum in the past) and SF bay was an efficient, even impatient teacher. Back in the Capri days there was no internet but I had found an online "BBS" where sailors would post their wisdom. I learned a lot there. Latitude 38 (a very popular SF Bay area monthly magazine) taught me a great deal and it still does. Now the net is chock full of advise and wisdom. I continue to learn here, too. SOHK? Oh, that's the School Of Hard Knocks. The best teacher I had. The worst knock? Knocking up against some rocks along the Alameda Naval Station side of the Oakland Estuary but that is a story for another time.....
I was "sailing in my mind" for some years by reading books and magazines and imagining what sailing would actually be like. I knew most of the nomenclature and some about sail trim, etc. before I finally purchased a well used Capri 25. I had one test sail with the owner on the Oakland estuary for about an hour. After that it was up to the books and magazines and San Francisco bay to teach me. Mistakes were made, but nothing too serious or dangerous (some have been posted in this forum in the past) and SF bay was an efficient, even impatient teacher. Back in the Capri days there was no internet but I had found an online "BBS" where sailors would post their wisdom. I learned a lot there. Latitude 38 (a very popular SF Bay area monthly magazine) taught me a great deal and it still does. Now the net is chock full of advise and wisdom. I continue to learn here, too. SOHK? Oh, that's the School Of Hard Knocks. The best teacher I had. The worst knock? Knocking up against some rocks along the Alameda Naval Station side of the Oakland Estuary but that is a story for another time.....
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Mike Pajewski
IRec Services
I learned to sail by taking a rec services class at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery, ME. Nothing like learning to sail in frigid water with a 10 knot current. What a trip. Mike Pajewski H-26 "Loon"
I learned to sail by taking a rec services class at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery, ME. Nothing like learning to sail in frigid water with a 10 knot current. What a trip. Mike Pajewski H-26 "Loon"
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Bob Howie
Yacht Club
The family had been involved in boating -- power and sail -- for years before I ever came along, so when my brother and I showed up, boating was a well-established family avocation since we grew up on a gulf coast. I learned to really sail in the Gulfport Yacht Club (Gulfport, MS)junior sailing program sailing Fish Class boats, later Flying Scots and, of course, the venerable Sunfish. I think sailing programs like that are a great way to learn and a great way to build friendships that seemingly last forever. I still have many friends at GYC, many who went to different schools and churches than I, that I made in the sailing program.
The family had been involved in boating -- power and sail -- for years before I ever came along, so when my brother and I showed up, boating was a well-established family avocation since we grew up on a gulf coast. I learned to really sail in the Gulfport Yacht Club (Gulfport, MS)junior sailing program sailing Fish Class boats, later Flying Scots and, of course, the venerable Sunfish. I think sailing programs like that are a great way to learn and a great way to build friendships that seemingly last forever. I still have many friends at GYC, many who went to different schools and churches than I, that I made in the sailing program.
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Adrianne
Local sailing club
I am learning to sail through Club Nautique which is a sailing club based in the San Francisco Bay area. The school branch of the club guarantees it's lessons. It is US Sailing certified. You can repeat a class as much as needed until you pass without having to pay additional costs for the lessons. I am a case in point in that regard. Despite having a long history of ships' captains in my family, for me the sailing gene is recessive. SF Bay can be a very tough place to sail. And CN is a great way to learn in a supportive environment with very experienced instructors. Adrianne s/v Feije, and s/v Feije II
I am learning to sail through Club Nautique which is a sailing club based in the San Francisco Bay area. The school branch of the club guarantees it's lessons. It is US Sailing certified. You can repeat a class as much as needed until you pass without having to pay additional costs for the lessons. I am a case in point in that regard. Despite having a long history of ships' captains in my family, for me the sailing gene is recessive. SF Bay can be a very tough place to sail. And CN is a great way to learn in a supportive environment with very experienced instructors. Adrianne s/v Feije, and s/v Feije II
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Bill T
Still Learning
My first sailing experience was on a 30' Hunter my son and I bought about 6 years ago. He had limited experience and I none. We kept the boat for about 3 years (that's another story) and a month ago I bought a 22' Macgregor "fixer-upper". When I get it back in the water, hopefully this year, I plan to learn more and more, that is if a 67 YO can learn anything new . I plan to use the Macgregor forums a lot, so beware. We have good sailing waters here in the Florida Panhandle.
My first sailing experience was on a 30' Hunter my son and I bought about 6 years ago. He had limited experience and I none. We kept the boat for about 3 years (that's another story) and a month ago I bought a 22' Macgregor "fixer-upper". When I get it back in the water, hopefully this year, I plan to learn more and more, that is if a 67 YO can learn anything new . I plan to use the Macgregor forums a lot, so beware. We have good sailing waters here in the Florida Panhandle.
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Ray Bowles
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Robert M. Seiden
I Taught Myself
When I was 18 a friend and I bought an old 17' wood sailboat. We replaced three ribs, cleaned out the spaces between the bottom boards, laid oakum between them, put caulking over the oakum, threw the hull into the water and bailed her out a couple of days later. I still have the oakum-setting tool I bought over 50 years ago to do that job. I never used it again. Then we rigged the boat and taught ourselves how to sail. As I recall, the basics were rather intuitive. We paid $10.00/month for a mooring and were rowed out to our boat. Today my brother-in-law and I sail a 2001 C320 Hull# 851. We don't have to caulk the bottom.
When I was 18 a friend and I bought an old 17' wood sailboat. We replaced three ribs, cleaned out the spaces between the bottom boards, laid oakum between them, put caulking over the oakum, threw the hull into the water and bailed her out a couple of days later. I still have the oakum-setting tool I bought over 50 years ago to do that job. I never used it again. Then we rigged the boat and taught ourselves how to sail. As I recall, the basics were rather intuitive. We paid $10.00/month for a mooring and were rowed out to our boat. Today my brother-in-law and I sail a 2001 C320 Hull# 851. We don't have to caulk the bottom.
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Rob R.
Gary Jobson's book, and Pilot's license
I read like a fiend for several weeks, and then lucked into a Prindle-16 Catamaran. I had sailed before with friends and family, but never skippered. In retrospect, I wish I had taken a lesson or two, but it is not a major regret. A solid knowledge of working aerodynamics will go a very long way, and respect for other boaters kept me out of trouble. The best thing you can do is to help other new sailors who could use some help. I will be doing this next weekend with a new owner of a C-22. I get a bang out of giving back, as I have learned so much from so many. I feel obligated, in a non-overbearing sort of way! Rob
I read like a fiend for several weeks, and then lucked into a Prindle-16 Catamaran. I had sailed before with friends and family, but never skippered. In retrospect, I wish I had taken a lesson or two, but it is not a major regret. A solid knowledge of working aerodynamics will go a very long way, and respect for other boaters kept me out of trouble. The best thing you can do is to help other new sailors who could use some help. I will be doing this next weekend with a new owner of a C-22. I get a bang out of giving back, as I have learned so much from so many. I feel obligated, in a non-overbearing sort of way! Rob
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Bob Camarena
Myself
When I was in 7th grade my father and I built an 8' pram which I learned how to sail by trial and much error on a lake near our house on Little Rock Air Force Base. From then on I read and dreamed until I built a 17.5' Folbot kayak with a lanteen sailing rig in my mid-thirties and shortly thereafter bought my first real sailboat, a Santana 21 and again taught myself to sail on the California Delta. My skills really improved when I started crewing for others in our local club races and raced my own boats for a while, including a Catalina 27. Although I'm largely self-taught, belonging to the local sailing club has made me a much better sailor. I now sail a 1981 Catalina 30 on the Delta and occasionally on SF Bay.
When I was in 7th grade my father and I built an 8' pram which I learned how to sail by trial and much error on a lake near our house on Little Rock Air Force Base. From then on I read and dreamed until I built a 17.5' Folbot kayak with a lanteen sailing rig in my mid-thirties and shortly thereafter bought my first real sailboat, a Santana 21 and again taught myself to sail on the California Delta. My skills really improved when I started crewing for others in our local club races and raced my own boats for a while, including a Catalina 27. Although I'm largely self-taught, belonging to the local sailing club has made me a much better sailor. I now sail a 1981 Catalina 30 on the Delta and occasionally on SF Bay.
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Dick Carey
Boston Sailing Center
We first really learned sailing by taking several courses at Boaton Sailing Center at Lewis Wharf in Boston Harbor. A great sailing school (but in the worst looking building on the Boston waterfront).
We first really learned sailing by taking several courses at Boaton Sailing Center at Lewis Wharf in Boston Harbor. A great sailing school (but in the worst looking building on the Boston waterfront).
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Ken
El Toro
I learned one day sailing off with my friend at the age of 12 across Elliot Bay to Blake Island, in an 8' El Toro. Got in alot of trouble for that one.
I learned one day sailing off with my friend at the age of 12 across Elliot Bay to Blake Island, in an 8' El Toro. Got in alot of trouble for that one.
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Gary
Myself
I bought a Newport 16 on a wim. I had never sailed but I had a some friends who did including the guy I bought the Newport from. The boat needed some repair and they all said when it was ready they would teach me. Finaly the boat was ready and the previous owner did show me how to rig the mast and the main sheet. I was hot to sail but no one was available to go so I went to the library and got a book on basic sailing for dinghies. I read the book and away we went luckily there was hardly any wind and we had a nice slow sail. Full of confidence we went out again, this time there was much more wind and when we came out from behind a small island AUTOJIBE! No damage but lesson #1 in the school of hard knocks.
I bought a Newport 16 on a wim. I had never sailed but I had a some friends who did including the guy I bought the Newport from. The boat needed some repair and they all said when it was ready they would teach me. Finaly the boat was ready and the previous owner did show me how to rig the mast and the main sheet. I was hot to sail but no one was available to go so I went to the library and got a book on basic sailing for dinghies. I read the book and away we went luckily there was hardly any wind and we had a nice slow sail. Full of confidence we went out again, this time there was much more wind and when we came out from behind a small island AUTOJIBE! No damage but lesson #1 in the school of hard knocks.
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Don Alexander
Never Learned
I feel that I have learned something from everyone I have ever sailed with and I have been at it for 50 years. Some time back I was aboard the yacht of my original guide and mentor. He was 84 at the time and it was some 35 years after my first trip with him. After all those years he suddenly put lines of black tape radiating outwards from the helm position across the side decks. When I asked what they were for he replied that, when racing, it helped him to judge the approach angles of boats on the other tack. I feel it is not a proper question to ask "who taught you to sail" as we never can learn even a part of it. Regards,
I feel that I have learned something from everyone I have ever sailed with and I have been at it for 50 years. Some time back I was aboard the yacht of my original guide and mentor. He was 84 at the time and it was some 35 years after my first trip with him. After all those years he suddenly put lines of black tape radiating outwards from the helm position across the side decks. When I asked what they were for he replied that, when racing, it helped him to judge the approach angles of boats on the other tack. I feel it is not a proper question to ask "who taught you to sail" as we never can learn even a part of it. Regards,
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Fred L. Haney
Learning to Sail
I learned to sail at age 12 with a friend (also 12) who owned a Lightning. Here I am at 65 1/2, still at it !
I learned to sail at age 12 with a friend (also 12) who owned a Lightning. Here I am at 65 1/2, still at it !
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Bobby McCullough
The Sunfish is Included but Learning Isn't
While on vacation a few years ago in Mexico, the Sunfish was included but learning to sail her was not. Paco (his real name) required $20 to teach me. I would have paid much more than that to learn. We went out and he showed me the points of sail and I took over, a pod of 8 or more dolfins came up. I was hooked. Now I own a Hunter 140 and a few "how to" books. I've had her nearly a year and LOVING it. The first few sails prompted a little story for my wife...
While on vacation a few years ago in Mexico, the Sunfish was included but learning to sail her was not. Paco (his real name) required $20 to teach me. I would have paid much more than that to learn. We went out and he showed me the points of sail and I took over, a pod of 8 or more dolfins came up. I was hooked. Now I own a Hunter 140 and a few "how to" books. I've had her nearly a year and LOVING it. The first few sails prompted a little story for my wife...
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jim johnson
how i learned to sail
other than the fact my wife says i am still learning, probably am. my dad had power boats for over 40 years so i learned a lot about boating from him. when i bought my first sailboat, a hunter 31, the broker took me out for a couple of hours, otherwise i did it myself-books, talkintg to others, trial and error, experience, etc.
other than the fact my wife says i am still learning, probably am. my dad had power boats for over 40 years so i learned a lot about boating from him. when i bought my first sailboat, a hunter 31, the broker took me out for a couple of hours, otherwise i did it myself-books, talkintg to others, trial and error, experience, etc.
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Joe Dickson
Step Brothers....
I learned to sail from my step-brothers at the age of thirteen on Galveston bay (Seabrook). My step-mother's family had a weekend place on the bay and there were several boats. We had a Sunfish, a Porpoise (sp?), and an old O-Day. I really enjoy sailing our Hunter 31, but I really miss those summers on the bay sailing that Sunfish. What a great little boat... Joe S/V Charis
I learned to sail from my step-brothers at the age of thirteen on Galveston bay (Seabrook). My step-mother's family had a weekend place on the bay and there were several boats. We had a Sunfish, a Porpoise (sp?), and an old O-Day. I really enjoy sailing our Hunter 31, but I really miss those summers on the bay sailing that Sunfish. What a great little boat... Joe S/V Charis
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Mickey Bernstein
upgrading
My daughter attended Oyster Bay Sailing School and was so turned on by sailing that I sold my power boat and bought a 22' french built Golif. Learned how to sail it and after 9 years upgraded to my Hunter 30 which we love.
My daughter attended Oyster Bay Sailing School and was so turned on by sailing that I sold my power boat and bought a 22' french built Golif. Learned how to sail it and after 9 years upgraded to my Hunter 30 which we love.
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