I have a problem. My family just aqquired a used Oday 28 and have been having a great time with it. We have owned boats since before i was born but i was always too young to actually sail them. My problem is, now that i am able to sail i find it to be almost too easy. Im worried im missing somthing. I really don't mean to come off like a cocky jerk but as soon as i got into the boat i was able to sail it. And i mastered pulling in and out of the slip in an afternoon. I have not sailed in rough weather or anything but is it really this easy to sail? I am positive i can handle the boat alone even since i sort of have been while my parents slept or cleaned down below. Did any of you take to boats so easily or am i just being overly confident?
Worried
- Thread starter Dr Octagon
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So Find Out
Sounds like you need to take up racing. That should tell you if you really know what your doing or if your just making it back alive.
Sounds like you need to take up racing. That should tell you if you really know what your doing or if your just making it back alive.
Over Confident
Dr. Octagon, You sound like a typical 21st century teenager. You know it all before you learn anything or being tested. Learning to pull in and out of a slip in one afternoon is not being tested. Wait until the tide/current and wind conditions change and you'll have to learn it all over again. The thing that concerns me is you sound like a prime candidate to get in over your head real easily. One of the things that comes with knowledge and real ability is RESPECT. Learning respect for the sea, and all of the challenges of sailing well can be learned over a life time. Learning to respect all things about life will go along way to keeping you from hurting yourself, the boat or others. Just settle down, and try to learn something and respect it every day. It will help you grow up to be a fine young man.
Dr. Octagon, You sound like a typical 21st century teenager. You know it all before you learn anything or being tested. Learning to pull in and out of a slip in one afternoon is not being tested. Wait until the tide/current and wind conditions change and you'll have to learn it all over again. The thing that concerns me is you sound like a prime candidate to get in over your head real easily. One of the things that comes with knowledge and real ability is RESPECT. Learning respect for the sea, and all of the challenges of sailing well can be learned over a life time. Learning to respect all things about life will go along way to keeping you from hurting yourself, the boat or others. Just settle down, and try to learn something and respect it every day. It will help you grow up to be a fine young man.
Sailing Solo
Hi,DR.Octagon I have ODAY 28 and its sails well most of my sailing is by myself up here on the coast of maine. Since you are in Haverstraw NY. and on the Hudson River its an easy place to learn or I should say to practice. I grew up in NY. and know your area, Iam retied and I am 73 and I can handle the boat alone thats my oday 28. Up here in the gulf of Maine we have the ocean. You just have to have your confidence. Next season start early, And you will have a good sailing season. Frederick Pierce.
Hi,DR.Octagon I have ODAY 28 and its sails well most of my sailing is by myself up here on the coast of maine. Since you are in Haverstraw NY. and on the Hudson River its an easy place to learn or I should say to practice. I grew up in NY. and know your area, Iam retied and I am 73 and I can handle the boat alone thats my oday 28. Up here in the gulf of Maine we have the ocean. You just have to have your confidence. Next season start early, And you will have a good sailing season. Frederick Pierce.
Sailing is easy!!!
Some aspects are harder than others. For me backing into a slip. If you sail long enough things will happen to teach you humility. But sailing is a very relaxing satisfying way to spend time. It is supposed to be fun. If you want some excitement try a Laser in 15-25 knots in the open ocean. Something about pitchpoling after burying the bow in the back of a wave gets me excited. Tom
Some aspects are harder than others. For me backing into a slip. If you sail long enough things will happen to teach you humility. But sailing is a very relaxing satisfying way to spend time. It is supposed to be fun. If you want some excitement try a Laser in 15-25 knots in the open ocean. Something about pitchpoling after burying the bow in the back of a wave gets me excited. Tom
like flying an airplane
flying an airplane too is easy if allyou have to do is rudder and yoke management, but get into things like trim, balance, and just like yachting there are things to know like ground tackle weight and scope, knots for docking, sailtrim, balance, spilling wind in heavy weather, and hoving to gracefully that are all over and above coming in to the dock. You may indeed be a natural at the tiller, (many aren't), so check out the million other skills that will keep you out of trouble.
flying an airplane too is easy if allyou have to do is rudder and yoke management, but get into things like trim, balance, and just like yachting there are things to know like ground tackle weight and scope, knots for docking, sailtrim, balance, spilling wind in heavy weather, and hoving to gracefully that are all over and above coming in to the dock. You may indeed be a natural at the tiller, (many aren't), so check out the million other skills that will keep you out of trouble.
I don't know what's worse...
I don't know what's worse: that Darrel sounds like a cranky old geezer, or that I secretly agree with everything he wrote.
I don't know what's worse: that Darrel sounds like a cranky old geezer, or that I secretly agree with everything he wrote.
Sailing
as Roger Macgregor said "You can learn to sail in an hour and a half, learning to sail well takes the rest of your life" Hope I didn't mess that up too bad
as Roger Macgregor said "You can learn to sail in an hour and a half, learning to sail well takes the rest of your life" Hope I didn't mess that up too bad
respect the wise
I was once told that sailing is not a skill but an art. And I have come to believe this more as time goes on. There are some that it will take a lifetime to learn just to sail.. and then there are some that have a natural ability and confidence. Having that confidence will help you to push the limits and learn faster, at the same time if not kept in check can get you into a world of trouble. Head the advice of these old guys, they may know a thing or two. After you go out and have a few “bad days” you’ll understand a bit more about humility. The art of sailing will never be mastered in a day.
I was once told that sailing is not a skill but an art. And I have come to believe this more as time goes on. There are some that it will take a lifetime to learn just to sail.. and then there are some that have a natural ability and confidence. Having that confidence will help you to push the limits and learn faster, at the same time if not kept in check can get you into a world of trouble. Head the advice of these old guys, they may know a thing or two. After you go out and have a few “bad days” you’ll understand a bit more about humility. The art of sailing will never be mastered in a day.
Wait a bit...
till you experience 30+ kts, or a dragging anchor in a tight anchorage or a man over board. That will test your new found ability. I hate to be cruel but handling in and out of a slip and basic points of sail are the easy parts.
till you experience 30+ kts, or a dragging anchor in a tight anchorage or a man over board. That will test your new found ability. I hate to be cruel but handling in and out of a slip and basic points of sail are the easy parts.
When it starts to come apart ...
I took to sailing pretty easily and intuitively at about age 10. Most of the time I found ... and still find ... that it's pretty easy. But, when things start to come apart, they can really cascade. Rough weather gets compouded by breakage gets compounded by someone else doing something stupid gets compounded by ........ Doc, have you heard of "scaling phenomenon." It means we don't always understand something very well because we only see it at one level or scale. A lot of intricacy and detail exists at deeper levels that we don't see. Give it awhile and you'll start to see a lot more complexity than you are experiencing now. My advice ... take that confidence and run with it to a lifetime of magificent exeperience, but remember, when you take a boat away froma dock, you enter an alien environment where caution and wisdom are your only defense. Tom Monroe Carlyle Lake Tom
I took to sailing pretty easily and intuitively at about age 10. Most of the time I found ... and still find ... that it's pretty easy. But, when things start to come apart, they can really cascade. Rough weather gets compouded by breakage gets compounded by someone else doing something stupid gets compounded by ........ Doc, have you heard of "scaling phenomenon." It means we don't always understand something very well because we only see it at one level or scale. A lot of intricacy and detail exists at deeper levels that we don't see. Give it awhile and you'll start to see a lot more complexity than you are experiencing now. My advice ... take that confidence and run with it to a lifetime of magificent exeperience, but remember, when you take a boat away froma dock, you enter an alien environment where caution and wisdom are your only defense. Tom Monroe Carlyle Lake Tom
Dr. Octagon, sailing is like anasthesialogy..
99% of the time they put you to sleep, and wake you up without any problems. But, occasionally things don't go as planned. Heart rate slows down, blood pressure drops.... the sh*t really hits the fan in the operating room and everyone is running all over the place in a panic. That is when you better know what you are doing or else someone is going to die. good luck abe
99% of the time they put you to sleep, and wake you up without any problems. But, occasionally things don't go as planned. Heart rate slows down, blood pressure drops.... the sh*t really hits the fan in the operating room and everyone is running all over the place in a panic. That is when you better know what you are doing or else someone is going to die. good luck abe
Doc, you posted this here on purpose, right?
I bet you posted this here just to see how riled up everyone would get.
You probably kick hornet's nests just for fun too , don't you? Nothing wrong with just taking a ride around the lake on a nice day. Me? I am pretty much a fair-weather sailor myself. Don't care much for risking life or limb. I will agree with Bill though. Racing is a great measure of one's sailing ability. If you haven't tried organized racing I'd recommend it. Approach it with an open mind and leave any attitudes at the dock and you will learn a lot and have a great time!
I bet you posted this here just to see how riled up everyone would get.
You probably kick hornet's nests just for fun too , don't you? Nothing wrong with just taking a ride around the lake on a nice day. Me? I am pretty much a fair-weather sailor myself. Don't care much for risking life or limb. I will agree with Bill though. Racing is a great measure of one's sailing ability. If you haven't tried organized racing I'd recommend it. Approach it with an open mind and leave any attitudes at the dock and you will learn a lot and have a great time!rules of the "road"
There is more to sailing than handling the boat. If a skipper is ignorant of the rules regarding right of way and all the other points of law and courtesy, he can get into trouble fast. I would suggest taking a course in basic seamanship to get a good foundation. Sounds like you are off to a good start in boat handling. John
There is more to sailing than handling the boat. If a skipper is ignorant of the rules regarding right of way and all the other points of law and courtesy, he can get into trouble fast. I would suggest taking a course in basic seamanship to get a good foundation. Sounds like you are off to a good start in boat handling. John
Doc, your life long experience
on boats is worth something. I too have been on boats since I was 3 months old. ( didn't do much then ) I have found that I do things things by nature that others that have just started boating have to think about. I understand what you mean. Like others have said, I still find that I have my rough days. When things go bad they do seem to multiply. It is kind of like a high steel worker.... don't become complacent. ( I hope I used that word correctly) Though boating is fun it still demands constant awareness of the situation you are in or that is unfolding around you. Enjoy the boat, keep the family safe, and test your racing skills. r.w.landau
on boats is worth something. I too have been on boats since I was 3 months old. ( didn't do much then ) I have found that I do things things by nature that others that have just started boating have to think about. I understand what you mean. Like others have said, I still find that I have my rough days. When things go bad they do seem to multiply. It is kind of like a high steel worker.... don't become complacent. ( I hope I used that word correctly) Though boating is fun it still demands constant awareness of the situation you are in or that is unfolding around you. Enjoy the boat, keep the family safe, and test your racing skills. r.w.landau
Wow
Wow lots of responses here...I definatly know all about learning respect and how things can go wrong fast. as a young lad (i'm 20 now by the way) i have had my fair shares of injuries on the boat, from getting my head split by the swinging boom to being pitched overboard in rough sea. It was always my dad sailing and he knew what to do right away. I get the impression alot of you think i am being too cocky but im really not. I just always imagined handling the boat and working the sails alone was such a huge thing especially on large bodies of water. If this was lake sailing it would be no big deal, but i just feel i am missing somthing...a class like some suggested would be good though my father as taught me alot. Ive learned my leasons on right of way and such with the big barges and tugs on the hudson. Kinda crazy how quick they catch up to you. I guess what i am trying to say is from childhood up until my first day of sailing it was looked on as such a huge and complicated deal yet once i got into it, it turned out really different
Wow lots of responses here...I definatly know all about learning respect and how things can go wrong fast. as a young lad (i'm 20 now by the way) i have had my fair shares of injuries on the boat, from getting my head split by the swinging boom to being pitched overboard in rough sea. It was always my dad sailing and he knew what to do right away. I get the impression alot of you think i am being too cocky but im really not. I just always imagined handling the boat and working the sails alone was such a huge thing especially on large bodies of water. If this was lake sailing it would be no big deal, but i just feel i am missing somthing...a class like some suggested would be good though my father as taught me alot. Ive learned my leasons on right of way and such with the big barges and tugs on the hudson. Kinda crazy how quick they catch up to you. I guess what i am trying to say is from childhood up until my first day of sailing it was looked on as such a huge and complicated deal yet once i got into it, it turned out really different
What did you think
it was rocket science. The object is to become a good sailor. That is the hard part.
it was rocket science. The object is to become a good sailor. That is the hard part.
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