How to move to the next level?

[Shadrak]

OK, so I've earned my ASA 101, I've been practicing tacking up and down the coast on day sails, and it's fun, I love it.

But I want to feel confident in my skills, like I can handle many different situations... In other words, I want to be a real sailor. I feel that when I just tack and gybe up and down the beach I'm beating a dead horse, practicing what I already know. OK, so maybe I'm not that great at it, but if I keep doing that forever, I'll just be a guy who can tack and gybe really good. Isn't there something else?

I've been told to manufacture a couple of buoys out of milk gallons and practice maneuvering around those, and I'll try that. Does anyone have any other suggestions on how to practice some additional sailing skills?

[tager]

Go sailing. Watch Gui's videos about sail trim.

[nolatom]

yeah, there's racing. Go out and crew, you'll pick up a lot of pointers quicker than any other way. People are always looking for reliable crew.

[Yorksailor]

What boat?

Go a little further each time...MOB...do an over-nighter...charter...take a cruising course...MOB...charter...get a license...MOB...a few years later you will be sailing in gales, parking boats under sail and like Nell and I sailing around the world.

Good luck Phil

[Tempest]

Try taking a trip to somewhere different....enter a new port...change the scenery

Half the fun for me is planning a trip and then going somewhere that I haven't visited before.

[DSneade]

From MDR, you might like to venture south to King Harbor (Redondo Beach), There is room in the harbor for a few boats to anchor overnight in a protected area. That trip is short enough, but still another destination without taxing you or your crew. Your are allowed two nights without any kind of hassle or permit. I also agree that by crewing on races is a good way to learn some finer aspects of sail trim and tactics. Caution though: don't pick a boat of hard core racers; that can kill the fun part.

[Barquito]

Practice launching and landing on a dock under sail in various conditions.

[BubbleheadMd]

To practice solo, you don't even need painted jugs to practice, simply program some waypoints into your GPS and sail around them.

Smackdaddy has started something called the Global Regatta. He can help you make a virtual race course in your area that you plug into your GPS, and then you can race around it, competeing with everyone around the world. It's kind of a virtual race.

BFS Global Regatta

Otherwise, race on other people's boats. It will greatly accelerate your learning curve. DSneade is right, try to find a "casual" crew to keep it fun.

Plan weekend trips to other destinations and sail there. Stepping outside of your comfort zone (your familiar sailing ground) is exhiliarating and may induce a few moments of anxiety, but you get over it. If you sail in the same box every day, you'll stagnate and get bored.