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Sailing Lessons for NoTaLines and RickG
Sailing Lessons for NoTaLines and RickG
We did sailing lessons the weekend before Memorial Day. I really enjoyed them and I'm looking forward to moving forward. The 19' Flying Scots were great. Our instructor was young and liked getting out early and finishing late. We had two other students in our boat: Mr. Stupid and Mrs. I'm-Afraid-of-Capsizing. We did fine anyways, on a flooded Potomac with gusty and changing winds.
I really liked being engaged in the wind direction, trim of the sails, log and stump slalom, managing tides, shallow avoidance/centerboard trim. Tacking was pretty straight forward - picking a point on the shore as my point to tack to was genius. Jibing was hard with the gusts, but we took it freaking slow and did fine. Running up the Potomac on a rainy Sunday against the tide was rather nice, except for the usual parade of flood debris.
NoTanLines/Sweet Christine needs more time sailing to get comfortable with the basics. Pushing the tiller opposite of where you want to go felt like an unnatural act. We did man-overboard drills as her second time on the tiller and she did great until she exclaimed "I can't do this." It was easy for me, after watching her try twice in the gusty winds, which did not amuse her.
We both have our US Sailing Small Craft certifications!
I really think the right solution for us is to crew on some charters so that we can get familiar with all of the systems, sail plan and handling of a cruiser. I have my Annapolis Book of Seamanship next to me, and I imagine that we won't be continuously trimming a job sheet while underway on a cruiser. There are two charters in the BVIs (Jeannious and Mustan Sally) that I have my eye on. CYOA with a captain (Jay) would be great as well. I keep thinking about the week that y'all are going to be down there, but we may go with our PEI friends in February.
All just part of a plan to spend more time in the islands!
Cheers, RickG
I really liked being engaged in the wind direction, trim of the sails, log and stump slalom, managing tides, shallow avoidance/centerboard trim. Tacking was pretty straight forward - picking a point on the shore as my point to tack to was genius. Jibing was hard with the gusts, but we took it freaking slow and did fine. Running up the Potomac on a rainy Sunday against the tide was rather nice, except for the usual parade of flood debris.
NoTanLines/Sweet Christine needs more time sailing to get comfortable with the basics. Pushing the tiller opposite of where you want to go felt like an unnatural act. We did man-overboard drills as her second time on the tiller and she did great until she exclaimed "I can't do this." It was easy for me, after watching her try twice in the gusty winds, which did not amuse her.
We both have our US Sailing Small Craft certifications!
I really think the right solution for us is to crew on some charters so that we can get familiar with all of the systems, sail plan and handling of a cruiser. I have my Annapolis Book of Seamanship next to me, and I imagine that we won't be continuously trimming a job sheet while underway on a cruiser. There are two charters in the BVIs (Jeannious and Mustan Sally) that I have my eye on. CYOA with a captain (Jay) would be great as well. I keep thinking about the week that y'all are going to be down there, but we may go with our PEI friends in February.
All just part of a plan to spend more time in the islands!
Cheers, RickG
S/V Echoes - Coral Bay - St. John, VI
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California Girl
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sailorgirl
- Posts: 1644
- Joined: Mon Oct 30, 2006 3:03 pm
I had the same issues with the tiller as Sweet Christine, for me it was just about retraining the brain with practice, lots of tacking drills until it became muscle memory. The good thing is when you are down in the islands your boat will have a wheel! Its alot to process all at once, especially if the wind is up, sounds like your lessons happened under challenging conditons. My husband's tolerance for heeling is much greater than mine so we have found a middle ground. He gets to single hand frequently so he can bury the rail all he likes without me!
As for jibing, you will find its a skill you may chose to use less and less as the boats get bigger. Just too much stress on the rig, its easier just to tack all the way around.
Welcome aboard, fair winds and following seas.
As for jibing, you will find its a skill you may chose to use less and less as the boats get bigger. Just too much stress on the rig, its easier just to tack all the way around.
Welcome aboard, fair winds and following seas.
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designbyroe
- Posts: 1348
- Joined: Tue Feb 27, 2007 1:27 pm
- Location: Chilaxin on White Bay at least in my mind
Hi Rick!
Just want to tell that my hubby love to sail, love to do the things you describe. (He has just participated in the sailing boat race “Around Funen”). Together with a couple of friends we have a small sailboat, but I do not like to sail. I thought, I would like it, but I have had too many unpleasant experiences, so now I stay home.
Like you I took a course- not in a weekend but during a period. I had no problems with the examination in the theory, but when it came to practice, I was a mix of “ Mr. Stupid and Mrs. I'm-Afraid-of-Capsizing”, and the teacher was not a very good one. No patience, no teaching abilities.
Besides, hubby do not belong to the cautious type, and the first time hubby, me and our son were on a sail trip we run aground. At that time we hadn’t got a radio, a storm started, and we had to use our distress rockets. A long story which also included that I became seasick. I tried go again a few times, but doesn't really enjoy it, was afraid, and after a new unpleasant experience in the Straits of Gibraltar together with some friends in their boat, I just gave up. No sail trip for me in our boat, unless it’s absolutely calm weather, and we only take a short trip on the inlet.
All this just to tell that it also seems as a very good idea to me that you start your sailing experiences with having a captain. Also remember to be patient with your Christine and to accept if she perhaps is more cautious than you. Don’t push her!
But I had to say : a sail trip in the Caribbean must be terrific!
Linne
Just want to tell that my hubby love to sail, love to do the things you describe. (He has just participated in the sailing boat race “Around Funen”). Together with a couple of friends we have a small sailboat, but I do not like to sail. I thought, I would like it, but I have had too many unpleasant experiences, so now I stay home.
Like you I took a course- not in a weekend but during a period. I had no problems with the examination in the theory, but when it came to practice, I was a mix of “ Mr. Stupid and Mrs. I'm-Afraid-of-Capsizing”, and the teacher was not a very good one. No patience, no teaching abilities.
Besides, hubby do not belong to the cautious type, and the first time hubby, me and our son were on a sail trip we run aground. At that time we hadn’t got a radio, a storm started, and we had to use our distress rockets. A long story which also included that I became seasick. I tried go again a few times, but doesn't really enjoy it, was afraid, and after a new unpleasant experience in the Straits of Gibraltar together with some friends in their boat, I just gave up. No sail trip for me in our boat, unless it’s absolutely calm weather, and we only take a short trip on the inlet.
All this just to tell that it also seems as a very good idea to me that you start your sailing experiences with having a captain. Also remember to be patient with your Christine and to accept if she perhaps is more cautious than you. Don’t push her!
But I had to say : a sail trip in the Caribbean must be terrific!
Linne
Hi Rick & Christine, well, you knew that I would have to chime in. I actually gave Christine a "good-luck" pm just before you left, but I'm thinking that you're not giving her much computer time Rick 
Anyway, as you know, I loved sailing but cannot deny that it was not all that "natural" 
to me and I tried to give up on several occassions but our fantastic instructor, hubby and one of the other students aboard just wouldn't let me. (Thank you gentlemen.) Our cat didn't have a tiller, so I'm afraid I can't offer any advice on that. I did become quite accompished with the dingy and I think that's the same principle...but there's alot to take in over a short period of time, so I can only imagine (and hope) that it will all eventually make sense. For me, the love of the experience is my motivating factor. That, coupled with lots of practice, makes me confident that I will eventually get to where I feel completely comfortable with sailing. (Thank god the seas are big enough for practicing sailors like myself. lol!) Kudos to you both on getting the certification. Ali~
Anyway, as you know, I loved sailing but cannot deny that it was not all that "natural" to me and I tried to give up on several occassions but our fantastic instructor, hubby and one of the other students aboard just wouldn't let me. (Thank you gentlemen.) Our cat didn't have a tiller, so I'm afraid I can't offer any advice on that. I did become quite accompished with the dingy and I think that's the same principle...but there's alot to take in over a short period of time, so I can only imagine (and hope) that it will all eventually make sense. For me, the love of the experience is my motivating factor. That, coupled with lots of practice, makes me confident that I will eventually get to where I feel completely comfortable with sailing. (Thank god the seas are big enough for practicing sailors like myself. lol!) Kudos to you both on getting the certification. Ali~STJ - I "get it"
linne, wow!! You don't start slowly!!! Straights of Gibralter? That sounds like some of the hardest possible sailing combined with lots of commercial traffic. I think you need a charters Caribbean sailing vacation with a Captain!
Ali, Christine's around doing her lurker thing. Getting her to post is like trying to get a cat to sing. It pretty much just pisses off the cat. She's there and mentioned some STJ business that were dropping their sales prices. I just keep a straight face and mention the WAPA 40% price increase. Thanks.
designbyroe, the next step is Basic Keelboat and then Bareboating certification. That, plus experience (or a credit card at Moorings) gets you a boat. I want to have fun and not have a stress fest, so I expect we'll hire a skipper when we go out. I'll probably do Basic Keelboat before we charter and Bareboating liveaboard class after we do a charter. Bareboating seems to be a lot about the systems on a cruiser, so I'd like to have some time to tinker before I have to go to school for it.
Cheers, RickG
Ali, Christine's around doing her lurker thing. Getting her to post is like trying to get a cat to sing. It pretty much just pisses off the cat. She's there and mentioned some STJ business that were dropping their sales prices. I just keep a straight face and mention the WAPA 40% price increase. Thanks.
designbyroe, the next step is Basic Keelboat and then Bareboating certification. That, plus experience (or a credit card at Moorings) gets you a boat. I want to have fun and not have a stress fest, so I expect we'll hire a skipper when we go out. I'll probably do Basic Keelboat before we charter and Bareboating liveaboard class after we do a charter. Bareboating seems to be a lot about the systems on a cruiser, so I'd like to have some time to tinker before I have to go to school for it.
Cheers, RickG
S/V Echoes - Coral Bay - St. John, VI
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nothintolose
- Posts: 1960
- Joined: Mon Aug 07, 2006 10:36 pm
- Location: New Orleans, LA
Lake Ponchartrain? That might cut into my beverage time.nothintolose wrote:Rick - that's awesome!!! Next Fest you guys can take my nephew's boat out on Lake Pontchartrain
So when you do the whole bareboat thing, I'll be one of your crew
Do you think you could relax enough to get into the bare-boat thing? I could picture a forum flotilla working its way clockwise by beach around STJ over a week! "Sunday Caneel, Monday Maho...." It would nice waking up at the beach.
Cheers, RickG
S/V Echoes - Coral Bay - St. John, VI
Hi Rich!
We didn’t sail through the Straights of Gibraltar, but we were there. A couple of friends have invited us and our son on a sail trip from Benalmadena in Spain to Gibraltar. The trip to Gibraltar was acceptable- we saw a lot of dolphins. But then a storm started, and we had to stay in the harbour in Gibraltar. After 2 days our friends need to go back with their boat, and we need to go back to be in time to the return flight to DK. And hubby was ready to show his sailing capacities
The boat was maximum 40 ft. and with waves as big as houses, and as you say, much commercial traffic, I felt, we were very little. In the last part of the trip, it began to lighten, and suddenly all the light from the coast line disappeared, and it became very dark.
But we reached the harbour in Benalmadena without any damages, and the others were very proud of themselves – you know - felt that they were big Vikings!! Me? I wasn’t proud. Most of the time I was doped with pills against seasickness and stayed in the berth trying to dream I were on another place.
It was in December, and next springtime I tried to “get on the horse again”, but had to give up. I couldn’t enjoy it.
But perhaps, as you suggest, I need a Caribbean charter trip with a captain to be cured!
Linne
We didn’t sail through the Straights of Gibraltar, but we were there. A couple of friends have invited us and our son on a sail trip from Benalmadena in Spain to Gibraltar. The trip to Gibraltar was acceptable- we saw a lot of dolphins. But then a storm started, and we had to stay in the harbour in Gibraltar. After 2 days our friends need to go back with their boat, and we need to go back to be in time to the return flight to DK. And hubby was ready to show his sailing capacities
The boat was maximum 40 ft. and with waves as big as houses, and as you say, much commercial traffic, I felt, we were very little. In the last part of the trip, it began to lighten, and suddenly all the light from the coast line disappeared, and it became very dark.
But we reached the harbour in Benalmadena without any damages, and the others were very proud of themselves – you know - felt that they were big Vikings!! Me? I wasn’t proud. Most of the time I was doped with pills against seasickness and stayed in the berth trying to dream I were on another place.It was in December, and next springtime I tried to “get on the horse again”, but had to give up. I couldn’t enjoy it.
But perhaps, as you suggest, I need a Caribbean charter trip with a captain to be cured!
Linne
RickG - That's awesome that you and SweetChristine are sailing. All I know about sailing is it looks complicated, seems rigorous, and the boats are pretty.
Out of curiosity, I googled sailing in Kentucky last night. To my surprise, we have a few clubs and some captains who offer lessons near the land between the lakes. Who'd a thunk it in Kentucky? Their website even had pictures of an 08 trip to the BVIs.
Keep us posted on your progress. If nothing else, we can live vicariously through you all.
Out of curiosity, I googled sailing in Kentucky last night. To my surprise, we have a few clubs and some captains who offer lessons near the land between the lakes. Who'd a thunk it in Kentucky? Their website even had pictures of an 08 trip to the BVIs.
Keep us posted on your progress. If nothing else, we can live vicariously through you all.
When the end of the world comes, I want to be in Kentucky, because everything there happens 20 years after it happens anywhere else. – Mark Twain
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nothintolose
- Posts: 1960
- Joined: Mon Aug 07, 2006 10:36 pm
- Location: New Orleans, LA
Linne, that sounds like a crazy trip!!! I never want to have that experience. I think the USVIs/BVIs would be much calmer.
pjayer, I think you can learn to sail on pretty much any lake or decent sized river. Its fun and a good weekend of learning.
nothingtolose, any boat trips next week?!!
Cheers, RickG
pjayer, I think you can learn to sail on pretty much any lake or decent sized river. Its fun and a good weekend of learning.
nothingtolose, any boat trips next week?!!
Cheers, RickG
S/V Echoes - Coral Bay - St. John, VI
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bayer40601
- Posts: 612
- Joined: Sun Oct 14, 2007 1:06 pm
- Location: Kentucky
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Jan&MikeVa
- Posts: 1084
- Joined: Mon Aug 07, 2006 5:32 pm
- Location: The Chesapeake Bay
Rick, I'm so glad you and Christine enjoyed your lessons...sounded great! When you're ready to sail the Chesapeake Bay remember that we have 2 docks! We can accomodate you easily
Keep us posted on your progess and plans! Like I mentioned to you before, a week sailing in the Bahamas was one of the best vacations we ever had!!! You'll be ready to bareboat before you know it!
Keep us posted on your progess and plans! Like I mentioned to you before, a week sailing in the Bahamas was one of the best vacations we ever had!!! You'll be ready to bareboat before you know it!