04-17-2011
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: New Orleans
Posts: 1,328
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Another good lesson story.
Yesterday (Saturday) after that big destructive (farther north) cold front came through, we had stiff winds out of the WNW, 15 gusting 25+ in the morning, "easing" to 12-22 in the afternoon. Lake Pontchartrain still kinda angry chop with lots of fetch.
Morning beginner lesson understandably cancelled (different instructor than me). One student from that had also signed up for the afternoon lesson, which for folks having had a previous lesson or two. She showed up, zero sailing experience but a can-do attitude, so, with 3 other more experienced students, out we went, in a low-freeboard, fairly lightweight sportboat (the Beneteau First 7.5 for those of you who know it).
I woulda scratched, I think, if this were a beginner class, but figured on a bright sunny day, let's reach and avoid drenching ourselves going upwind, and it'll be fun and instructive in a "just hang on" kind of way. Wondered though if it would be too much too soon for a brand-new sailor.
Well, she did great--caught on fast, had good eye-hand coordination, unfazed by the steep "square chop" and heavy spray, and pretty quickly was feathering the boat nicely on a beam reach, with small jib (borrowed from J22) and reefed main. We needed all 5 of us on the rail for sure. i discarded my "reach-only" plan, and we hardened up and beat to windward, which took a lot of concentration in that much wind and sea for the helmsman.
After watching the others tack the boat in 20 knots, she did it too, and nicely. And was a real quick study in staying right on the sweet spot close-hauled, which to me is the most challenging point of sail, rendering the reaches "a walk in the park" by comparison. We even got in a cushion-overboard drill, and a couple of decent jibes.
The payoff then was the broad reach for home, this little boat will surf if not outright plane, and we got up to 9-10, which felt like 80 that close to the water.
It's nice when a lesson I couldve justifiably ditched due to high wind/seas ends up being enjoyable and instructive for all, and glad to see the beginner doing real well and wanting to come back.
Next time, I'd be happy with 10 knots, though......
Last edited by nolatom; 04-17-2011 at 03:51 PM.
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