BoatBanter.com - View Single Post - Need direction

[email protected]

On Wed, 01 Aug 2007 16:19:16 -0000, wrote:

I've been reading this newsgroup for the past year while rehabbing a
24', swing-keel sailboat, and the information that I've gleaned has
been invaluable. I'm hoping now that you can provide me with some
direction in obtaining the instruction I'll require to sail this boat.
Here is my scenario:

My husband is a life-long boater, with extensive experience in both
sailing and powerboating. My experience as a boater is primarily that
of a powerboat passenger -- in other words, minimal. We rehabbed a
boat to sail as a family, a boat into which I have personally put a
couple hundred hours worth of work. I asked my husband if my daughters
(pre-teen) and I should take sailing lessons, and he replied that he
could teach us everything that we needed to know. Well, my husband's
idea of sailing instruction was barking orders at his wife and kids,
and then yelling at us when we didn't do it fast enough or confidently
enough. After a handful of fsailing excursions ending with our
daughters huddling in tears in the cabin, he told us that he would
never sail with us again and that we'd ruined sailing for him. I think
the primary issue for me and my daughters is comfort level on the
boat. The experiences are new to us, and it's difficult to, for
example, to be immediately comfortable hoisting the mainsail in
moderate - heavy chop (we do it, just not with great speed).

The boat was something that we were looking forward to as a family. I
won't teach my kids that it's ok to quit at this just because their
father has determined that we're "incompetent" on the boat. I'm
determined to prove him wrong. The problem is that he won't help us.
Here's where I need some direction. There are a lot of boating classes
out there, and the pros and cons of each are difficult to sort
through. The sailing classes that I've located in our immediate area
use tiny little one person sailboats for instruction. This seems
inappropriate for us, since we've all read up on and experienced,
albeit to a small extent, the basic principles and logistics sailing
our particular boat. The biggest challenge we face at the moment is
getting the boat in and our of our slip at the marina... without that
ability, we're stuck in our lawn chairs hanging out at the dock. It
seems as though my immediate needs include boat handling, safety,
rules of the water and such.

I know that there is a lot to learn, and I don't expect to accomplish
all of this in a hurry, but I could sure use some help getting
pointed in the right direction. My only goal for the end of the season
is to get us out of the marina so that we can at least drop anchor and
swim a little. We don't have to be sailing pros within a few month's
time... just one small success will tide us over until next season. If
we manage to accomplish more, then that's all the better.

I currently have the electronic version of America's Boating Course at
home and I'm working my way through it as a first step. We are located
on the Illinois-Wisconsin border. What's your recommendation for the
next step? Thanks in advance for your time and advice.

Elizabeth

While it probably isn't of much direct help, let me offer my own
experiences in trying to teach my wife to drive.

We went through exactly the same cycles that your family is. Me
directing and her trying to comply. Ultimately shrieking and tears.

One of the main reasons is, I think, lack of communication, "Push in
the clutch!" "Clutch?"" Does he mean "grab it?" "Shift into first
gear" "Is that first one to the left, or first on the right?"

I was in the military and got reassigned overseas for a short period.
Because of the kids, schools, etc., it was decided that I would do an
unaccompanied tour and the wife & kids would stay at home.

While I was gone my wife went out and enrolled in a driver training
course, graduated, got her license and was driving around like a demon
when I returned home.In fact she was driving well enough that I didn't
mind ridding shotgun with her.

That is one family's tory.

If it is impossible to take lessons then another alternative is group
discussions BEFORE whatever it is, is done. Raising anchors can be
explained in steps, "You stand by until you see the anchor coming out
of the water and then holler, "STOP". "You take that hose; the one on
the left, there, and wash the mud off the chain." If y'all know what
you're supposed to do there is less screaming and hollering.

Hang in there and remember, sailing IS fun!

Bruce in Bangkok
(brucepaigeATgmailDOTcom)