first time sailing

[NSGhostrider]

well, I've been talking about buying a sailing boat for the last couple years and got to start looking at several this year. Still haven't found the boat I want yet but getting closer ( some days I think I'm expecting too much). Anyway my wife has never sailed before and never understood my desire to get back on the water, so I planned a surprise for her. Last month I contacted a sailing school close by and explained my situation and I booked a 5 hr sailing cruise where I had an instructor on board but me and my wife were to do the work. it was a good chance for me to relearn a lot as its been 25 +/- years since I sailed last and a chance for my wife to learn a little about sailing.

well first thing the instructor did was explain everything to my wife, what it did and how it worked and then he placed her at the helm. He had her sail out of the harbour into the wind tacking all the way, explaining every thing to her and giving her a lot of encouragement, she did fantastic. I knew she would but she was so scared, she turn as white as a ghost when he told her to take the helm I thought she was going to puke there and then. we sailed for 2 hours in 12 knot winds then went into the lee side of an island and anchored and had lunch. she was so excited and wanted to get back out there but wanted to learn more so I jumped on the helm and she worked the sails. by the time we got back out into the open ocean the winds had picked up and was gusting to 20 knots ( well that's what the instructor said they were ) I sailed for about an hour and my wife wanted back on the helm so we switched it up and she sailed for the next 2 hours heeling over and hitting at 6.5 knots and at one point his GPS showed 7 knots. ( again I'm going by what the instructor said)

I was so proud of her, when we returned to the mooring the instructor had her practice a man over board maneuver, lol, she did ok but ran the target over twice before she go used to steering and coming along side of the target. she did a great job of coming into the wind and stopping the boat to catch the mooring.

Now she understands why I want to get a boat and is all excited to go look at some more boats and is saying a 23 ft is too small and we need a 27-28 foot one.


the only problem with the whole day was we got half way to the marina and realized I forgot the camera so I didn't get any pics of that mile wide smile she had on all day. I think I know who's going to be captain on our boat when we get one.

Aye, Aye mam

[sailingdog]

Congrats NSGR.

[capttb]

A. Sounds like a good instructor, have him teach her more.
B. You may be Captain, but she will always be the Admiral, she'll let you use your own judgement unless/until she needs to step in and tell you what or how she wants it done.

is saying a 23 ft is too small and we need a 27-28 foot one.

C. See B above, she is right (of course she is, they always are, remember!!!) 23' is too small, I've been informed by my Admiral that my 27' vessel is not big enough and she intends to move her "flag" to a larger vessel ASAP, so think about 30' to 35'.
BTW check in your area for sailing clubs, they are often an economical way to sail different boats to refine what kind is gonna work for you in future.

[BJSoCal]

Sounds like you had a good time.

[ericread]

I thought your camera comment was pretty humorous. I always take my camera, but I don't think I've taken it out of it's case in the past year. I'm either busy sailing, or teaching others how to sail.

My last adventure was with some nice people at Lake Mead (Las Vegas) for the Summer Sailstice. They had recently bought their boat, motored it a few times but never raised the sails. Well we went sailing that day, and they had a ball. But once again I never had a chance to take my camera out...

That's the problem when you're doing something you really enjoy. You never take time to get the pics! LOL

Eric