My learn to sail experience!

[JohnRPollard]

Originally Posted by merlin2375

2) Push your instructor to give you the best for your time. Ask a ton of questions. Most instructors are FULL of knowledge but they won't always give it all to you. The more you read (see number 1), the more questions you'll have, the better. It's your time make the best of it. Also, if you don't understand something ask. Don't just sit there.

Excellent post, Merlin.

Regarding your point #2 quoted above: As a former sailing instructor, I'll mention that sometimes we have to be careful about dumping too much information on novices. We've all made that mistake, and watched as our students' eyes began to glaze over from information overload. So if your instructor at times seems a bit reticent, it's from experience, realizing that the most important objective of a learn-to-sail course is to master the basics.

By all means, pepper your instructor with questions if you have them. Usually they will be more than happy to share their knowledge. They hold back at times only for fear of saturating the students with more information than some can process in the short period they're together.

[merlin2375]

JohnR, thanks for the comment.

I have a great appreciation for what instructors do. They have a lot of hurdles to overcome. One of them is that often they are given a class of students who have a WIDE variety of experience from never sailed before to regular-sailor-just-trying-to-brush-up. You're comment is right-on, if you have questions ask them but do it at an appropriate time but definitely ask them. Read, sail, learn, read, sail, learn and ask along the way

[Andyman]

Originally Posted by CharlieCobra

I read a couple of books, bought a small, cheap boat and taught myself. I then crewed on bigger boats racing, read lot's more books and bought a big boat. Reading and hands on have always worked for me. Nice post by the OP BTW.

Sorta kinda for me. I sailed one day on a friends boat (Catalina 25) and was hooked. Sold both my motorcycles a couple months later and bought a 23' Aquarius. I'm in my second season. I still don't know what a lot of stuff is called and last season sailed with just the main. This year the jib goes up. It took a bit of getting used to on the heeling part but I ok with it now...sorta kinda

At least I feel comfortabel that my boat won't tip over, me fall into the water, get tangled up in the rigging and drown....sorta kinda.

Anyway, I'm having fun and that's what matters.

Andy

[sailingdog]

Only two things I'd add.

First, get Dave Seidman's The Complete Sailor.

Second, get good foul weather gear... it is at least as important gloves or a PFD.