Quote:
Originally Posted by BrightWolf
We went out on our first sail today! YEAH!! We went out on a 22' Catalina, Ken also went out on a tiny little Sunfish. We had a very good time overall.
|
Great! Welcome to the world of sailing!
Quote:
Originally Posted by BrightWolf
I am not sure that I would be happy with the 22' boat even for learning to sail and taking "baby steps". It is important on learn on a very small boat?
|
Some people feel it's better to start with a smaller boat. Others not. It's said the advantage to starting with a
really small boat, a
dinghy, is you can
really feel the interaction between boat, water and air. We started with a 30' boat, and are happy with our choice. We feel she's not to big, and not too small. She's just right
. (But remember: We both had prior experience.)
Quote:
Originally Posted by BrightWolf
Should I take a professional course of some sort or is it okay to learn from experienced sailors in a non-professional capacity?
|
One doesn't need professional instruction, IMO. That being said: My wife and I took an ASA101 and ASA103 course. She had experience sailing, but not on a modern keel boat. I had experience crewing a modern keel boat, but didn't really know how to
sail. By taking the courses, she became familarized with modern keel boats and I learned something of how to sail. Plus we were time-limited: We were to take delivery of the boat we'd purchased two weeks hence.
Quote:
Originally Posted by BrightWolf
If I do take a course from somewhere (I don't even know if there is a course nearby) ...
|
Check local sail and yacht clubs.
Quote:
Originally Posted by BrightWolf
Can anyone recommend a good sailing manual, with vocabulary?
|
Two, actually: Gary Jobson's
Sailing Fundimentals (which is also the ASA101 and ASA104 text) and David Seidman's
The Complete Sailor.
Quote:
Originally Posted by BrightWolf
I noticed that I would have been much more comfortable if I had had some previous education even just from a book.
|
I'm a strong believer in books, in the two years since we started sailing I've got eight books on boats and sailing, and another two on knots, but it's experience that will make a good sailor of you
.
Quote:
Originally Posted by BrightWolf
The leaning over thing made me very nervous (I don't even know the word for that).
|
It's called "heeling." You'll get used to it
Welcome, and enjoy the journey
Jim