learning to sail

[boatingcruising]

I have been a power boater for 15 years and lived aboard our 40’ cruiser for extended periods of time. So I have some general boating experience. I am looking into sailing. How many sailors take formal sailing lesions? I took an introductory class and it seems there are some technical basics I need to learn. Can I learn them online & than practice on the water? I am looking at a 30’ sailboat for starters.

[MSN2Travelers]

Why don't you start with a local sailing organization in your won back yard?

Philadelphia Sailing Club

Quite often you can partner up with a boat owner and learn the basics.

[deniseO30]

Read a few books was all I did. Just get out there and give it a try! Some people would have others thinking it's a big scary intimidating learning curve but it's not.
That said, I want to take a coastal nav course someday

[BarryL]

Hey,

I learned most of what I know by reading about it and then practicing. I don't think it's that hard to learn. I did sail a relatively small boat (Catalina 22) for a year before I moved up to a 28'. It also helps to sail on other people's boats and to try to crew on a race boat.

Good luck,
Barry

[boatingcruising]

One more thing Berry,
I have written for Long Island Boating World, on occasion "Adventures of Domenic & Cherie” I may start writing again with this new adventure of sailing

[bljones]

Originally Posted by boatingcruising

One more thing Berry,
I have written for Long Island Boating World,

Small world- my FIL recently retired from Long Island Boating World.

[BubbleheadMd]

At first, I taught myself with a lot of book reading and web forum input.
Then, I started racing on other people's boats which accelerated my learning curve exponentially.

I did start out on a pretty small, 25 foot boat though. I found it easy to handle alone. Then, I bumped up to 30 feet and I plan to stay there for ease of handling, operating and maintanence cost reasons.

If you're not interested in racing, dinghy sailing will also quickly teach you how to sail. Dinghies require quick responses in helm and sail trim, and these skills translate very well to large, keelboat sailing.

[SeaQuinn]

We learned with our kids at a Boy Scout Camp on the Pamlico river! It is good to at least take an ASA 101 course and then some additional lessons when you can as you move on to larger boats.

[WDS123]

http://www.chesapeakeboatingclub.com/


Cheasapeake Boating club uses easy to learn Harbor 20s. They have lessons and more. There is also quite an active group pf Harbor 20 sailors from Annapolis YC

[sailbum105]

i suggest you go out with an instructor a few times, whether just you two or as part of a group lesson is up to you. it's more effective to have someone experienced show you, watch you, correct you, and then have you practice. Focus on: man overboard (sharpens mmaneuvering skills), heave to, reefing and then docking under sail, picking up a mooring under sail and anchoring