: Tell me Steve, do you think a keelboat instructor needs
: to take yet another certification course to teach small
: boats? I don't.

"NotPony" wrote
I do. Most keel boat sailors I know haven't a
clue about capsizing or weight placement.


Bart Senior wrote:
Hahahaha! That is funny. If they don't they'll get wet!
I doubt they would have that problem for long.

Depends on the sailor.
I've literally seen guys get angry and insist that something
was wrong with the boat, when putting them into a C-15 or JY
after years of sailing 30+' keel boats.


... Why not
just turn them loose in a boat for a few days? The
principals are the same. They'd pick it up what they
need to know quickly.


I think that's a good idea, but it could get costly if you
turn them loose in a shallow area.

One small boat club I was involved with, had 4 boats bend
and/or break their masts in one day. After that, club
leadership suddenly got serious about demostrating cpasize
drills before turning people loose in boats.

They also got serious about using mast floats, which I think
NotPony's program already is.

This club eventually bought mainsails with foam top panels,
which I think is an awesome idea. Using these, the boats
were *impossible* to turtle under almost any circumstances.






Lots of keelboat people have started in dinks!

That's true, but then lots of them have also been out of it
for years. IMHO your idea about demonstrating the skills
makes sense.


... What
about them? Should an experience adult have to sit
through a boring certification course with a bunch of
kids? I'm talking about someone who knows how
to sail a Laser, and has completed the instructors clinic
for US Sailing, ASA, RYA or the equivalent?

What about a guy who has competed in the Olympics
on skiff's and has a keelboat instructors certification?
Does he have to take the course too? That is the policy
now, AND IT MAKES NO SENSE!

US Sailing is either stupid and inflexible or else it is
purely and simply a functioning on a profit motivation!


Well "stupid & inflexible" is the default setting on most
organizations consisting of more than 5 people, IMHO.

Fresh Breezes- Doug King