Since I haven't started sailing yet here in Frozen Rochester, NY, below is what I do since I have caught the sailing bug. I’m either crazy or am I already hooked (before I've even been on a sailboat)!
1) while walking the dog, or any activity outside for that matter, I'm taking notice of the wind, trying to see where its coming from, where its hitting my face, what the clouds are doing, what flags or smoke/steam from far off are doing, etc. This has added a whole new dimension to walking my dog versus just the pooper scooper. In fact, since my dog doesn't need a leash, I find that I have to remember to look down to make sure he's still at my side and hasn't wandered off or that I don’t walk into a light post! When I get home I review the weather on my phone to see how accurate I was about wind direction, speed, gusts, etc. So now, when I come home from work, and I find the kids haven't yet done the dog walking chore, no longer do I get upset. I just grab our little Shih-Tzu, Mr. Ollie Sebastion, and scurry out the door so I can once again put my wind and weather observation skills to the test. I know my kids are very confused now.
2) before driving I check wind direction, then as I drive I call out what I/we would be doing on a sailboat, what tack I’m on, etc. So if I’m cruising down the road and the wind is coming at me from the right side, I call out beam reach, starboard tack and my heading. I also take note if I'm upwind or down wind from other vehicles, etc. Then, as I make a right turn into the wind, I do the “prepare to come about, ready, hard a lee” etc. If I end up in irons, I note that too until the road or another turn puts me on another tack or gybe.
My family is ready to commit me but I’m just a wanna be sailor and can’t wait to get started in April. Hopefully these daily exercises will help my mind get used to the “processing” that has to take place quickly while in the boat so that I can focus on the other “live” scenarios happening once I’m under way with my mentor and crew.
GS
1) while walking the dog, or any activity outside for that matter, I'm taking notice of the wind, trying to see where its coming from, where its hitting my face, what the clouds are doing, what flags or smoke/steam from far off are doing, etc. This has added a whole new dimension to walking my dog versus just the pooper scooper. In fact, since my dog doesn't need a leash, I find that I have to remember to look down to make sure he's still at my side and hasn't wandered off or that I don’t walk into a light post! When I get home I review the weather on my phone to see how accurate I was about wind direction, speed, gusts, etc. So now, when I come home from work, and I find the kids haven't yet done the dog walking chore, no longer do I get upset. I just grab our little Shih-Tzu, Mr. Ollie Sebastion, and scurry out the door so I can once again put my wind and weather observation skills to the test. I know my kids are very confused now.
2) before driving I check wind direction, then as I drive I call out what I/we would be doing on a sailboat, what tack I’m on, etc. So if I’m cruising down the road and the wind is coming at me from the right side, I call out beam reach, starboard tack and my heading. I also take note if I'm upwind or down wind from other vehicles, etc. Then, as I make a right turn into the wind, I do the “prepare to come about, ready, hard a lee” etc. If I end up in irons, I note that too until the road or another turn puts me on another tack or gybe.
My family is ready to commit me but I’m just a wanna be sailor and can’t wait to get started in April. Hopefully these daily exercises will help my mind get used to the “processing” that has to take place quickly while in the boat so that I can focus on the other “live” scenarios happening once I’m under way with my mentor and crew.
GS