Who taught you to sail? Were you in sea scouts or did one of your parents teach you? How 'bout a friend or an older mentor? Did you pay to take lessons or read a book and teach yourself? What kind of experience did you have in the early going? (I was going to say when you were learning, but since we're all still learning, I thought I should change that.) Gary Wyngarden S/V Shibumi 92 335 (Editor's note: Gary's post was so interesting it became our Quick Quiz for the week. Be sure to vote at the bottom of the home page!)
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My folks
My folks taught me to sail when I was a teen but since their boat was kept in Mexico, I wasn't able to keep up what little skills I had. When I finally decided to buy my own boat, I bought lots of books and did a lot of trial & error learning. As you said, I'm still learning every day - and loving it! LaDonna
My folks taught me to sail when I was a teen but since their boat was kept in Mexico, I wasn't able to keep up what little skills I had. When I finally decided to buy my own boat, I bought lots of books and did a lot of trial & error learning. As you said, I'm still learning every day - and loving it! LaDonna
Diverse background
I took a short sailing course (on a Sunfish) from Del Mar College's Kinesiology Dept (Phys Ed) about 7 years ago. Then I bought a 12" AquaCat, which I have had for about 5 years. Now, with my new purchase of an O'27, I am asking questions of everybody I meet and reading books & books. I plan to take some classes from our local ASA school, after I get over my initial cash outlay. Please send me your comments about the ASA classes. Thanks, Jim
I took a short sailing course (on a Sunfish) from Del Mar College's Kinesiology Dept (Phys Ed) about 7 years ago. Then I bought a 12" AquaCat, which I have had for about 5 years. Now, with my new purchase of an O'27, I am asking questions of everybody I meet and reading books & books. I plan to take some classes from our local ASA school, after I get over my initial cash outlay. Please send me your comments about the ASA classes. Thanks, Jim
GET OUT THERE
I STARTED AT 17 ON A 10FT.SOMETHING! HAD NO CLUE WHAT I WAS DOING,BUT LEARNED THE HARD WAY.25YRS.LATER I STILL HAVE TO LEARN THE SAME WAY.EVERONE SAILS DIFFERENT AND MOST OF US DO JUST FINE. LEARN AS YOU GO
I STARTED AT 17 ON A 10FT.SOMETHING! HAD NO CLUE WHAT I WAS DOING,BUT LEARNED THE HARD WAY.25YRS.LATER I STILL HAVE TO LEARN THE SAME WAY.EVERONE SAILS DIFFERENT AND MOST OF US DO JUST FINE. LEARN AS YOU GO
Natural Progression!
The sequence of events in my own sailing education began with reading some good books on sailing fundamentals then crewing a few years with an avid one-design racer (learning fine points of sail trim and racing tactics)then buying my own small boat, a Hobie 16, and progressing up thru different sizes over the years to a Catalina 320. Lots of racing and cruising in diverse conditions. I'm still learning!
The sequence of events in my own sailing education began with reading some good books on sailing fundamentals then crewing a few years with an avid one-design racer (learning fine points of sail trim and racing tactics)then buying my own small boat, a Hobie 16, and progressing up thru different sizes over the years to a Catalina 320. Lots of racing and cruising in diverse conditions. I'm still learning!
Schools, Study and Sailing
After years of powerboats and never having sailed, about 10 years ago I embarked on a crash course of learning everything I could in a short period of time. As soon as I bought my first sailboat, a 20' Gale Force, I took a Basic Keelboat course at Sail Harbor, Savannah, GA. Three months later, I took a week-long combined Coastal Cruising/Bareboat Charter course from Bluewater Sailing School in Fort Lauderdale. Both these schools were excellent and the instructors great. Bluewater was no picnic as we sailed from Ft. Lauderdale to the Keys and back in 20+ winds and only touched land once, anchoring out all but one night. Another couple who took the course with me is in their 3rd year of cruising aboard their 43' Mason, having been to South America; the Virgin Islands and all over the Caribbean and I still correspond with them. I bought my 25.5 about 4 months after completing the CC/BB course and I've sailed her hard ever since and gone on many charter trips. The schools give a novice a good basic foundation but it takes a lot of sails-up time to fine tune those skills. The combination of instruction, study and sailing experience gave me a good sailing education. Dick Vance H-25.5 "Honey Bear"
After years of powerboats and never having sailed, about 10 years ago I embarked on a crash course of learning everything I could in a short period of time. As soon as I bought my first sailboat, a 20' Gale Force, I took a Basic Keelboat course at Sail Harbor, Savannah, GA. Three months later, I took a week-long combined Coastal Cruising/Bareboat Charter course from Bluewater Sailing School in Fort Lauderdale. Both these schools were excellent and the instructors great. Bluewater was no picnic as we sailed from Ft. Lauderdale to the Keys and back in 20+ winds and only touched land once, anchoring out all but one night. Another couple who took the course with me is in their 3rd year of cruising aboard their 43' Mason, having been to South America; the Virgin Islands and all over the Caribbean and I still correspond with them. I bought my 25.5 about 4 months after completing the CC/BB course and I've sailed her hard ever since and gone on many charter trips. The schools give a novice a good basic foundation but it takes a lot of sails-up time to fine tune those skills. The combination of instruction, study and sailing experience gave me a good sailing education. Dick Vance H-25.5 "Honey Bear"
Books, books, books!
A sunfish and a book, a Hobie 16 and a book, a H23 and a book and a H37C and lots of books. I don't do the classroom thing well and generally learn everything from books....
A sunfish and a book, a Hobie 16 and a book, a H23 and a book and a H37C and lots of books. I don't do the classroom thing well and generally learn everything from books....
Calahan book, then trial and error
When the county announced plans to dam a creek, and make a lake in Rock Cut park near Rockford, IL, in 1963, my Dad and I decided to build a Moth class 12 foot scow, and learn to sail on her. Bought a book by Calahan (I still use it) and got real good at righting the Moth after being capsized by our mistakes, and the flukey midwest winds playing off the hill around the little lake. We both became quite competent the first summer. Phase 2 was racing a Sunfish with the Key West Naval Sailing Assn during my Navy tour there. Racing teaches performance, both by observation - what is that guy doing who is going faster than me, and by the debriefing over a beer after the races. (By the way, my Dad, Jack, re-ignited his enthusiasm, on a visti to Key West, and a floundering entry in the Hennessy Regatta, and bought a Sunfish with which he led the fleet at Pierce Lake in Rock Cut for the next years.) Moves ended my progress, except for some sailing with friends for over 25 years. This year, we bought a 27 foot Hunter to cruise on Lake Erie. Then, it was more books, and a return to Calahan. But we were sure we needed more, so we hired Capt. Carl Romig of Adventure Plus in Sandusky to spend a day with us when we picked up the Lady Lillie. He helped us tune her rigging, checked her out with us, and then spent a day taking us through the standard course on the Sandusky Bay. I highly recommend a course, or brush-up from such an experienced teacher. There is stuff we just wouldn't have understood in a book, or where the details for safe operation are missing. For instance, heaving to, and putting a reef in our main is was a confident and relaxed exercise in 20 knot winds the first time we tried it on our own. There are a number of other techniques we use that we might never have found on our own. To continue the development, we are now considering how to hook into other cruisers around us. Yacht club, or other activity. The little hints, and experience are a real help. This forum has been great, and our sailmaker (once he figured we could be serious buyers) is another real help.
When the county announced plans to dam a creek, and make a lake in Rock Cut park near Rockford, IL, in 1963, my Dad and I decided to build a Moth class 12 foot scow, and learn to sail on her. Bought a book by Calahan (I still use it) and got real good at righting the Moth after being capsized by our mistakes, and the flukey midwest winds playing off the hill around the little lake. We both became quite competent the first summer. Phase 2 was racing a Sunfish with the Key West Naval Sailing Assn during my Navy tour there. Racing teaches performance, both by observation - what is that guy doing who is going faster than me, and by the debriefing over a beer after the races. (By the way, my Dad, Jack, re-ignited his enthusiasm, on a visti to Key West, and a floundering entry in the Hennessy Regatta, and bought a Sunfish with which he led the fleet at Pierce Lake in Rock Cut for the next years.) Moves ended my progress, except for some sailing with friends for over 25 years. This year, we bought a 27 foot Hunter to cruise on Lake Erie. Then, it was more books, and a return to Calahan. But we were sure we needed more, so we hired Capt. Carl Romig of Adventure Plus in Sandusky to spend a day with us when we picked up the Lady Lillie. He helped us tune her rigging, checked her out with us, and then spent a day taking us through the standard course on the Sandusky Bay. I highly recommend a course, or brush-up from such an experienced teacher. There is stuff we just wouldn't have understood in a book, or where the details for safe operation are missing. For instance, heaving to, and putting a reef in our main is was a confident and relaxed exercise in 20 knot winds the first time we tried it on our own. There are a number of other techniques we use that we might never have found on our own. To continue the development, we are now considering how to hook into other cruisers around us. Yacht club, or other activity. The little hints, and experience are a real help. This forum has been great, and our sailmaker (once he figured we could be serious buyers) is another real help.
Began with crewing
When I decided to learn , I talked to a friend who sailed. He told me that the best way to learn is to go to the local club and offer your body as crew for the club races. I told the skipper I had no experience but he took me anyway. After a year of crewing I took a 5 day basic and coastal cruising course. That winter I bought a H25.5. Three years have gone by and I am doing a survey today for a H31. And I still crew every week.
When I decided to learn , I talked to a friend who sailed. He told me that the best way to learn is to go to the local club and offer your body as crew for the club races. I told the skipper I had no experience but he took me anyway. After a year of crewing I took a 5 day basic and coastal cruising course. That winter I bought a H25.5. Three years have gone by and I am doing a survey today for a H31. And I still crew every week.
Survey Response too Limited
The responses in the survey are too limited (at least for me) as learning to sail involved many different factors. I started with a Snark and a book, then a sunfish, then a 22 O'Day and many more books/videos, then crewed as part of a racing team, then my present Hunter. So the real answer to that question (again, at least for me) was books, videos, others, years of experiences. Heck, I am still learning.
The responses in the survey are too limited (at least for me) as learning to sail involved many different factors. I started with a Snark and a book, then a sunfish, then a 22 O'Day and many more books/videos, then crewed as part of a racing team, then my present Hunter. So the real answer to that question (again, at least for me) was books, videos, others, years of experiences. Heck, I am still learning.
My Dad
My dad crewed for a number of different people on Lake Michigan and I tagged along whenever I could. Started at 5 and still love it. All my experience is practical, and am just now starting to read more. You do pass it along to your kids, as my 19 year old son and I had a great day sailing yesterday on our C310
My dad crewed for a number of different people on Lake Michigan and I tagged along whenever I could. Started at 5 and still love it. All my experience is practical, and am just now starting to read more. You do pass it along to your kids, as my 19 year old son and I had a great day sailing yesterday on our C310
Sorry for the limited options...
We can only offer four answers, and there could easily be twnety on this question. If the alternatives aren't comprehensive enough, just vote for the source of your most valuable instruction, or 'other.'.
We can only offer four answers, and there could easily be twnety on this question. If the alternatives aren't comprehensive enough, just vote for the source of your most valuable instruction, or 'other.'.
Check Boxes instead?
Phil, Would check boxes (multiple answers) be a better alternative than radio buttons (single answer)? I know this opens up the options, but could complicate final results compilation.
Phil, Would check boxes (multiple answers) be a better alternative than radio buttons (single answer)? I know this opens up the options, but could complicate final results compilation.
A good friend
A good friend of mine worked for the administration at MIT and he also instructed in MIT's sailing program. He took me out in the Charles River in Cambridge MA is small Cat Boats. I got the bug. After mentioning how much I enjoyed sailing to my brother, a few weeks later the UPS man delivered a styrofoam Snark which my brother purchased on a "Kools" cigarette promotion. I got progressively bigger in boats and after 30+ years am sailing a 88 Legend 37.
A good friend of mine worked for the administration at MIT and he also instructed in MIT's sailing program. He took me out in the Charles River in Cambridge MA is small Cat Boats. I got the bug. After mentioning how much I enjoyed sailing to my brother, a few weeks later the UPS man delivered a styrofoam Snark which my brother purchased on a "Kools" cigarette promotion. I got progressively bigger in boats and after 30+ years am sailing a 88 Legend 37.
Checkboxes a good idea
...but but accepting one value versus multiple combinations of multiple values requires that I re-write the guts of the code. It's a great idea for the future, but unfortunately I can't make it happen fast enough to make any difference this week. I'll put it on the list, though!
...but but accepting one value versus multiple combinations of multiple values requires that I re-write the guts of the code. It's a great idea for the future, but unfortunately I can't make it happen fast enough to make any difference this week. I'll put it on the list, though!
wekly quiz response
I taught my self by reading books and testing theory on the water. That was 35 years ago. I learned to sail in three months and to race the next three months and became local fleet champion during the next 3 months. It was in Guantanomo Bay Cuba while i was in the Navy. I was sailing a sun fish i had bult in the hobby shop. Fred
I taught my self by reading books and testing theory on the water. That was 35 years ago. I learned to sail in three months and to race the next three months and became local fleet champion during the next 3 months. It was in Guantanomo Bay Cuba while i was in the Navy. I was sailing a sun fish i had bult in the hobby shop. Fred
Who taught me
I had a love for sailing at a young age even though my parents were not boaters. I read dozens of books on the subject and finally bought a 12' Lockley Sea Witch at the age of 16. My parents had a rule saying that I had to stay "close to shore". The first few days of owning my boat were disappointing. I couldn't seem to get the hang of it becuase the wind kept shifting and I didn't know how to respond to the conditions. Finally a neighbor approached me and informed me that the shoreline trees were hampering the wind. He said I had to get further off shore to get consistant wind. I convinced my parents to let me venture out a little further into the lake. I did so and with that, the world opened up to me. It was wonderful. From that point on I was hooked on sailing forever. I spent countless hours teaching myself some of the fine details of sailing. I was fortunate to do so on one of the most beautiful lakes on the planet--Higgins Lake (in Michigan). I never got into sailboat racing, although I wish I had. Thanks for asking and thanks for reading! See you on the water...
I had a love for sailing at a young age even though my parents were not boaters. I read dozens of books on the subject and finally bought a 12' Lockley Sea Witch at the age of 16. My parents had a rule saying that I had to stay "close to shore". The first few days of owning my boat were disappointing. I couldn't seem to get the hang of it becuase the wind kept shifting and I didn't know how to respond to the conditions. Finally a neighbor approached me and informed me that the shoreline trees were hampering the wind. He said I had to get further off shore to get consistant wind. I convinced my parents to let me venture out a little further into the lake. I did so and with that, the world opened up to me. It was wonderful. From that point on I was hooked on sailing forever. I spent countless hours teaching myself some of the fine details of sailing. I was fortunate to do so on one of the most beautiful lakes on the planet--Higgins Lake (in Michigan). I never got into sailboat racing, although I wish I had. Thanks for asking and thanks for reading! See you on the water...
I started by reading
I'd always been around and had small powerboats since I was 10. I then bought a Sunfish on a whim and started reading and playing with the boat. Sunfish are not very forgiving and I dunked a lot. Some friends were into sailing and asked us to go on a charter to the BVI. I figured that this would be my chance. The boat had a skipper and I picked his brain. He taught me a lot. Two years later, I did another skippered charter and picked his brain. I continued sailing the Sunfish. Three months later we owned a Catalina 25. We took that boat bay and coastal cruising for 4 years throughout southern New England and , as always, looked at bigger boats. The Legends were always an attraction and in 1994 we found an '88 Legend 37 for sale that we bought and still sail. I still find lots to learn from anybody who I sail with. On Wednesday nights, a group of us sails on a different boat each week - a guys' night out. We learn more about our boats because the boats usually get pushed a little harder, but everybody contributes to the learning experience. It's always an ongoing learning experience.
I'd always been around and had small powerboats since I was 10. I then bought a Sunfish on a whim and started reading and playing with the boat. Sunfish are not very forgiving and I dunked a lot. Some friends were into sailing and asked us to go on a charter to the BVI. I figured that this would be my chance. The boat had a skipper and I picked his brain. He taught me a lot. Two years later, I did another skippered charter and picked his brain. I continued sailing the Sunfish. Three months later we owned a Catalina 25. We took that boat bay and coastal cruising for 4 years throughout southern New England and , as always, looked at bigger boats. The Legends were always an attraction and in 1994 we found an '88 Legend 37 for sale that we bought and still sail. I still find lots to learn from anybody who I sail with. On Wednesday nights, a group of us sails on a different boat each week - a guys' night out. We learn more about our boats because the boats usually get pushed a little harder, but everybody contributes to the learning experience. It's always an ongoing learning experience.
sailing class
HI ALL: I WANTED TO GET STARTED SO I TOOK A SAILING CLASS FROM A LOCAL MARINA (MILITARY) IN SAN DIEGO. IT WAS FUN..SO I TOOK THE NEXT LEVEL UP AND AGAIN I TOOK THE " ADVANCED" CLASS THEN RENTED BOATS AT THE SAME MARINA...IT WAS ALL FUN !!!!! BEST REGARDS: JOHN SAINDON
HI ALL: I WANTED TO GET STARTED SO I TOOK A SAILING CLASS FROM A LOCAL MARINA (MILITARY) IN SAN DIEGO. IT WAS FUN..SO I TOOK THE NEXT LEVEL UP AND AGAIN I TOOK THE " ADVANCED" CLASS THEN RENTED BOATS AT THE SAME MARINA...IT WAS ALL FUN !!!!! BEST REGARDS: JOHN SAINDON
Dads Cat27
When I was 8 years old my Dad decided to sell the stink pot and get a Catalina 27. It was a 1971, sail # 103 that he named 'Interlude'. It would be interesting to know if this boat is still sailing on the bay today. It was a great boat. We sailed every weekend on the San Francisco bay and Delta mostly double handed. He always had me on the helm because I was not big and strong enough to do every thing else until I got older. But at that young of age, he tought me how to get the boat in and out of the harbor with the outboard, in any kind of wind. I remember pulling the boat into an unfamiliar harbor on one of our cruises, it was very windy, my Dad on the bow, telling me where to go, and how fast, It must have been blowing 30+kts. When we got up to the club house, there were a bunch of older ladies that where watching all the boats dock in the heavy wind (a fun passtime), and they were all saying how they were amazed at how well I did and how my dad trusted me at the helm in a strange harbor in that much wind. He told them "He is better at it than I am". I think comment alone has kept me into sailing for so long. I now sail on the bay in my own '76 Catalina 27, still having a great time and introducing sailing to as many people as I can and supporting their abilities. Have a great time out there, Dave 'After Five'
When I was 8 years old my Dad decided to sell the stink pot and get a Catalina 27. It was a 1971, sail # 103 that he named 'Interlude'. It would be interesting to know if this boat is still sailing on the bay today. It was a great boat. We sailed every weekend on the San Francisco bay and Delta mostly double handed. He always had me on the helm because I was not big and strong enough to do every thing else until I got older. But at that young of age, he tought me how to get the boat in and out of the harbor with the outboard, in any kind of wind. I remember pulling the boat into an unfamiliar harbor on one of our cruises, it was very windy, my Dad on the bow, telling me where to go, and how fast, It must have been blowing 30+kts. When we got up to the club house, there were a bunch of older ladies that where watching all the boats dock in the heavy wind (a fun passtime), and they were all saying how they were amazed at how well I did and how my dad trusted me at the helm in a strange harbor in that much wind. He told them "He is better at it than I am". I think comment alone has kept me into sailing for so long. I now sail on the bay in my own '76 Catalina 27, still having a great time and introducing sailing to as many people as I can and supporting their abilities. Have a great time out there, Dave 'After Five'
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