Learning to sail

[muelled]

I haver a 74 Cal 229, which I like very much but for one thing. I do not know how to sail. I has been done by my son, now a student at Maine Maritime Academy. My boat is docked in Ceder Hill park on the Nanticoke River, and as I am recently retired, I would like to get more use out of it. It would be helpful to get views of real sailors on the best way of leaning to sail my boat. Right now I only use the engine, a Farryman Diesel. Fine for leaving the marina but not ideal for getting full enjoyment from the boat.

Thanks for your suggestions and experience

[sailaway21]

Welcome. There is a whole page of threads devoted to just that topic, here at sailnet. I think you'll find the inmates here will be extremely helpful with any questions you may have. You'll probably find many of your questions asked and answered in the archived past threads, just do a search in that forum.
I own a Cal 21 and am a 1978 grad of the USMMA, so we have a tangential connection. Your son will get a good education at MMA, and I think you will also on the various forums here. Again, welcome to sailing and sailnet.

[camaraderie]

Welcome aboard! Here's a little off-site reading to get you started as well:
How to Sail a Boat - WikiHow

Then you can go play with sails and rudder and wind direction right here on line without getting wet!
National Geographic | Volvo Ocean Race 2001-2002

A course with the local CG auxillary or at an ASA certification school is always helpful but you have a boat, and protected waters and you can always just drop the sails and turn the key if you need to so don't be bashful about it!
Have fun and we're here for your questions as they arise!

[Guesser]

Heck, if you have the motoring part figured out, you're way ahead of most beginners. I've said it before, but I HIGHLY recommend the book Sail Power by Wallace Ross. The book does a great job of explaining how the wind moves the boat, and how adjusting the sails properly will make it move faster. Once you have that figured out, it's just a matter of learning your boat and practicing.