Dinghy or Yacht Sailing First?

[jackdale]

Originally Posted by Sublime

The OP was about sailing, not boat ownership. Had the OP been about which is better for learning cruising boat ownership, your answer would be spot on.
Sailing is very simple. Luxuries we want have made it seem much more complicated. But the art of sailing has absolutely nothing to do with that extra riff raff.

The OP asked about YACHT sailing. That extends to involve a boat on which one can live, at least for some time, which tends to require the systems not found on a Laser or Sunfish.

[Minnewaska]

While I don't really dispute the advantage of starting on a dinghy, this just ocurred to me.

If one were to learn to competently sail on a 40 footer as their first boat (despite that unlikely event), I'm sure they could hop aboard a sunfish and make it go. If all you've ever done was sail a sunfish, you wouldn't know where to begin on a 40 footer.

[Sublime]

Originally Posted by jackdale

The OP asked about YACHT sailing. That extends to involve a boat on which one can live, at least for some time, which tends to require the systems not found on a Laser or Sunfish.

Oh, I don't know about that. It didn't sound like they were asking about keelboat sailing specifically.

Originally Posted by Yacht Lady

I have had several discussions with people on whether one should start dinghy sailing before yacht sailing to gather wind awareness. Just wondered what some of you guys think. I am convinced dinghy sailing is a must but others try to convince me otherwise.
Donna

Considering that, you'll have to explain to me how engine repair teaches you about "wind awareness"?

[JoeDiver]

Well, as you can see there are varied (and heated) opinions on the subject. Some will profess learning on a dingy and pound that opinion home with their dying breath. It will boil down to personal preference.

I was faced with the same question last year. Should I buy a dingy, learn to sail, then go out and buy the boat I wanted? I read all the heated debate threads.

I decided to just go buy my boat now, learn to sail her, and start enjoying the sport now. My C25 doesn't have all the fancy wind instruments, or even a working knot meter. Only a windex up top and tell tales on the sails. I learned by first reading and studying The Annapolis Book of Seamanship, watching the DVD's, plus a couple other Learn To Sail DVD's....then just went out (in very good conditions only) and did it.

I hoisted my sails, trimmed to the tell tales, watched the windex, and started enjoying my boat and the sport of sailing. Even now, at the end of my first year of sailing and boat ownership, I sail by feel. I feel the wind on my face and cheeks, hair, neck and back. I trim to the look and sound of the sails, and how the boat feels, weather helm on the tiller. I rarely even look at the windex and tell tales anymore. I can hear and feel my trim changes in how the boat behaves and sails. All those fancy instruments would be nice to have, but I don't need them.

Yeah, there have been a few high pucker factor moments.....like when a front came through and I was suddenly grossly overpowered....and I learned first hand what "rounding up" felt like....although she never did as I was able to ease the sheets and spill enough air to keep it from happening, but I sure came close.

Learning to sail is only a small part of the big picture. In the last year I've also learned by doing:

Docking
Anchoring
Mooring
DC Electrical
AC Electrical
Plumbing
Brightwork
Engine Maintenance
Cleaning
Leaks
Marine Head Maintenance
Galley
Gearing up for a weekend aboard

And much more....like the joy of a starry night, gentle rocking while sleeping, waking up with the dawn, fresh coffee in the cockpit, smell of sausage in the galley, hanging out at the marina with other folks, new friends, raft ups....I could go on and on.

None of that would have happened if I went the dingy route...well, the sailing stuff would I guess....but I wanted more than learning to sail....I wanted to "learn the sailing lifestyle".....

[rgscpat]

Yes. Time on the water is good. Time, money, judgment, experiment, and observation can be turned into experience. Different combinations work better for some people than others; everyone has different resources (health/physical, financial, time, etc.), experiences, needs, expectations, and tolerance for risk or failure.

[jsaronson]

I would recommend that anyone start on a dinghy or day sailor under 20 feet. You can't understand the subtly of the wind on a 35 foot keelboat. I rather depend on a dinghy sailor to get my 35 back to the dock then depend on someone only sailed keelboats not to flip a laser in a puffy breeze.

[JoeDiver]

Originally Posted by jsaronson

I would recommend that anyone start on a dinghy or day sailor under 20 feet. You can't understand the subtly of the wind on a 35 foot keelboat. I rather depend on a dinghy sailor to get my 35 back to the dock then depend on someone only sailed keelboats not to flip a laser in a puffy breeze.

Not me.

Take 2 sailors. Each with 1 year experience. One guy has been sailing and flipping a little laser all over the lake. He's good. Hikes out and can really make that laser dance. The other guy owns a C30 and has been single handing all year....anchoring up, docking in the marina, sailing as much as possible, rafting up with other boats, immersed in the sailing lifestyle. He practices MOB drills, heaves to, singlehands most of the time and has a good handle on prop walk in a tight marina.

Who will I trust with my boat?

I think the answer is obvious. But, to each his own.

[Landgull]

I think that someone with a lot of experience sailing dinghies can grow from having exposure to a keelboat.

I also think that someone with a lot of experience sailing keelboats can grow from having exposure to a dinghy.

It seems like, as with most things, the way to get good at sailing is to sail. Sail anything you can get your hands on, and you'll learn something from it.

Who cares where you start, it's where you go that matters.

[Minnewaska]

Originally Posted by Landgull

I think that someone with a lot of experience sailing dinghies can grow from having exposure to a keelboat.

I also think that someone with a lot of experience sailing keelboats can grow from having exposure to a dinghy.

It seems like, as with most things, the way to get good at sailing is to sail. Sail anything you can get your hands on, and you'll learn something from it.

Who cares where you start, it's where you go that matters.

I think we have a winner.

[tarmes]

Originally Posted by skygazer

You will however get wet. So those who can't swim and are afraid to tip may prefer a keel boat. The problem with larger boats is that it's hard to feel the nuances of balance, everything is big and slow and a bit masked by the size, in comparison.

It seems to me that those who can't swim are playing a dangerous game sailing any yacht....