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Thinking of learning how to sail

M

Martin

Lifer
For some reason, I am vaguely fascinated by sailing. There is a local coop/club where you can get several hours a week of sailing time and a course for around 500 over the summer months.

Anybody else sail? How do you like it? Is it worth it?
 
Originally posted by: MIKEMIKE
Its not exactly easy...
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My dad bought a 27' sailboat and had no prior experience and he's pretty damn good at it IMO. I think a basic boater safety class would be a good idea if you haven't had one. After that, going out on a friend's boat, if possible, would definitely get you accustomed to what it is like. The actual mechanics of what sails to put out and how far really aren't that difficult and I think you could pick that up just by reading, but getting an actual feel for it would require first-hand experience.
 
stay away from the Somali coast.

edit: and NEVAR get on a boat with NFL players, from the love boat in MN to Benson in TX and now the current tragedy.
 
Sailing is great fun. I learned how to sail in Boston Harbor several years ago. Depends on the boat you have (size mainly) -- it can be easy or hard. Weather conditions can be tricky as well, but you learn to read the water. Go for it!
 
I used to sail a catamaran on the Chesapeake Bay.

One of the most amazing experiences of my life. The wind, the sounds, the fact that it is just you and the wind making the boat work, no motor etc.
It can be a lot of physical work since you are essentially fighting against the wind to make the boat go.

But the rewards are amazing!!!! 🙂

Once you learn the basics it is not that hard. This was on a small cat with 2 sails. I imagine a small sailboat with one sail would be easier since there are less moving parts.
 
sailing is great, I started out through the BSA, we learned on small personal sail boats and eventually were spending summers sailing 22 footers

looking to get one some day, would prefer something big enough for the ocean, but they are a money sink, so I'm leaning towards something small on a lake
 
Lesson One: Always wear a life vest!! Always!!!!

We had one of the wires holding up the mast break in the middle of the Chesapeake Bay and we almost had to ditch the boat and swim ashore without it. Thank god someone in a small boat came along and towed us ashore.
 
I grew up doing a moderate amount of small time sailing. Some people really like it, some don't. My dad and neighbors had smaller racing boats (a laser and a hobiecat) which are pretty fun once you learn it. Very frustrating (and somewhat dangerous) at first if you don't have someone to show you.

if it's a small boat, you'll flip it alot at first, so be prepared to get wet and know what to do when you do it. Hell, try to flip it, it's kinda fun. big boats have a keel and are nearly impossible to flip.

 
We only flipped our cat once and that was due to a sudden breeze when we were just starting and weren't in position.

We were never even able to get up on one hull and we sailed 3-4 times a week for at least a year or two.
 
Sailing is like riding a bike. You take those lessons and you will never forget the basics of "flying" the wind. I don't think you'll regret it either. I sailed the San Juan Islands in a 36' sloop, and raced a summer series in a '22 and a '25 on Commencement Bay. The racing is a blast. Hang out and do what you can to crew on a race boat.
 
This thread reminds me of my dad's 22' SunCoast. Great sailer!! It's stuck in FL still just sitting there (wer'e in TN now).............. It's sad. My dad would practically give it away if to, the right person (trailer and all)

Orinoco Flow (Sail Away!)
 
Don't get me started on the small Sunfish my dad and I owned.

I learned alot and met many chicks on that, pulling up to bars on the beach. It's really funny though, my wife hates water. Well, not water, but being on any boat in the water. Hell, we took 2 cruises to Mexico on Carnival, and she feels the aftermath for 2+ days later. I'm drinking, at the time, so I suppose it balances itself out.

Thanks for the memories/thread 🙂

 
So I decided to sign up and just got an email telling me I've been accepted in the club 😀

Sailing (and the extra lessons/classes I got) in a month, now I can't wait.
 
Originally posted by: CorCentral
Don't get me started on the small Sunfish my dad and I owned.

I learned alot and met many chicks on that, pulling up to bars on the beach. It's really funny though, my wife hates water. Well, not water, but being on any boat in the water. Hell, we took 2 cruises to Mexico on Carnival, and she feels the aftermath for 2+ days later. I'm drinking, at the time, so I suppose it balances itself out.

Thanks for the memories/thread 🙂
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My first and only experiences sailing (at the 'helm') were using a sunfish as well. 🙂

I used to sail back and forth from east moriches to fire island in ny all the time and it was such a fantastic time. Great memories. :thumbsup:
 
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