Will I get comfortable over time?

[timebandit]

Originally Posted by Lucy54

Thanks again everyone. I will be saying "the further it heels, the more force it takes to go over, the more it wants to right" this weekend and let you know if it works. I like that!

Also, I watched the videos on YouTube that uspirate shared the links to. I'm thinking that's about where we were - the deck of the boat was just about or in the water, but I'm sure the rails weren't - so is that fairly typical on a windy day? What degree/angle would that be?

I am guessing about 45 degs.

Try these exercises at home and see if they help.

1) Standing on one foot while you brush your teeth then alternate to the other foot fot the same amount of time.

2) In the middle of the living room place your feet about shoulder with apart and rotate your upper body in a circular motion in one direction than the other for a while keeping your eyes open.

3) You see it coming dont you???
Now do them with your eyes closed!

Rick

[TG29]

My partner and I (in our 50s) are both very new to sailing, but we were fortunate that we learnt with a very good skipper who went out of his way to emphasise safety, explain the physics of the boat, and make the learning experience fun and gentle. We didn't even leave the berth on the first lesson!

The result was that we always felt comfortable and in control. I think that's absolutely essential when first starting. I remember how clumsy I was just trying to step onto the boat the first day - it was so tippy and the darn thing MOVED when I stepped down! Going forward on deck was pretty unnerving too. Now after sailing for a few months on our own boat we both feel comfortable and move with ease without thinking about it. Not that were are careless, it has just become natural to us to be aboard.

The same with heeling - the first couple of times out he went in light airs and made sure the boat hardly heeled at all. Next lesson was in a good wind and he let the boat really sail - I was at the helm and before I knew it the rail was in the water and we were flying along - it was totally exhilarating and not at all scary. I was hooked. Janine, my partner, was a bit nervous, but once she took the wheel she enjoyed it as well. I think being in control has a lot to do with settling initial nerves.

Persevere and see how you feel in 6 months. I don't think sailing is a "kind of" thing - you either love it or not.

Cheers

[Lucy54]

Just wanted to let you all know that we had our last lesson this past weekend (an evening/navigation sail). Using everything I'd read on this post, it ended up being a very comfortable, enjoyable evening. With the 5 other students on board (all men) jumping to get the chance to do whatever needed to be done, I took the opportunity to sit in the corner for quite a bit and just enjoy the experience and evening cityscape. It was so relaxing I just about fell asleep.
Two days later my husband and I took out a 26' for our first solo sail. It was a gorgeous day, and there were a few issues that we encountered, but resolved, so we were pretty proud of ourselves. Looking forward to our next time out!
Thanks again so much to everyone who responded. Your advice and support were exactly what I needed!

[sailingdog]

Good for you Lucy.

[merlin2375]

Very nice, glad to hear it was more comfortable!

[djodenda]

Congratulations!

David

[Dzedzej]

We all get uneasy, first kiss, date, driving car, flying.....
You get use to it over time. My wife started sailing with me on monohulls 10 years ago and she got nervious, after a few years, her biggest smiles come when we were heeled over 30 and flying like a bat out of hell. I hope your instructor started out slow.

We did go out on a few small boats Hobie. sunfish ect and have dumped some....it helps show just how far you can heel and still sail...or swim (put on a life jacket for that)

We live on a cat now, more for the space but it does fly with no heeling.

Rich

[mrsadm]

I don't like heeling myself but my husband reminds me how big and heavy the keel is; it's not like the power boats I grew up with. Not too likely to go over. The keel tends to want to pull the boat back up just from its own weight. Love that keel!

[inshallamiami]

Heeling scared the hell out of me when I first started (at age 48.) I also felt that we were going to hit every boat out there and was terribly afraid of being "waked" by the numerous speedy powerboats. ( I learned on the Barnegat ). With a little time and experience, I grew more confident--I assumed more control of the boat, I assumed responsibility for navigating. I read everything I could. We also got a larger and less "tender" boat which helped too.
Now I am proud of the fact that I overcame my fears! I went from a nervous bookworm to an "adventuress" (kinda.)
And, welcome to Sailnet!

[Stillraining]

Originally Posted by Lucy54

My husband and I are nearing the end of a sailing lesson program in the Northeast. We have always wanted to learn to sail, and we're having a great time (we are mid-fifties). The problem is I am, in general, more of a timid person as opposed to an adventurer like my husband. Our latest lesson involved a day sail which brought us into open water. On our return the weather turned and it was raining and quite windy, causing the boat to heel excessively multiple times. Everyone else except for me and one other person seemed fine with the conditions. I was terrified that the 28' boat would topple over. At times it seemed that we were almost on the verge of "going over". We have one more outing before the session is over. After this last one, I'm not sure this is the sport for me, but I don't want to give up this easily. On the other hand, I don't think I want to get more involved in something that will cause me to become so unnerved everytime a less than ideal situation arises (which I know is certain to happen). Is this something that I will or can get used to? Is there somewhere that I can read something that may convince me that the boat will not tip over? I want to believe that this can be a safe sport if you follow the rules and are smart about things. Thanks ahead for any advice anyone can provide.

Lucy:
Can you not swim?....Are you afraid to be in water over your head with an approved life jacket on?...If Yes then you may never get more comfortable with healing as that fear is fear of the water and nothing more..

Good Sailboats are made to tip over and right themselves back again...It's in there design..What you are afraid of is drowning or getting hurt because of the boat sinking or rolling over on you or leaving you to the sharks....or....______________you fill in the blank...

You were afraid the first time you dove from a diving board...the first time you road on the back of a motorcycle the first time you made love... the first time you ___________...

I suggest you get on a smaller boat with your instructor and tell him you want to go out and purposely get knocked down...and right it again..Then you will have a positive experience as to what that is like..

You will fall out of the boat
you will get wet
You will get tired working with him to right it
you will learn some things very quickly
you will start laughing when it rights itself
you will be very greatfull it did
you will feel an adrenaline rush once back on board and confirm life is still in you
you will then make up your mind if sailing is or is not for you right there

I bet you will walk away saying ...Now what on earth was I so scared about anyway..that was kind of fun!..
I will bet you money you brag about it to all your girlfriends..

Now go do it.......best gift you can give your husband ( self confidance) for every thing else there is master card