BoatBanter.com - View Single Post - Need direction

Jere Lull

On 2007-08-01 12:19:16 -0400, said:

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: snip of pretty standard "Captain Bligh")

"Dad" teaching the wife and kids is often a debacle. HE knows what he
meant to say, but doesn't know how to get you to know.

Dinghy instructions would be *quite* valuable to you individually. I'd
rather take a dinghy sailor as crew than someone with the same amount
of time in a keel boat. Knowing how to steer the boat and keep the
sails pulling is best learned on a small boat, and the skills transfer
easily.

As far as getting competent at getting in and out of the slip,
absolutely nothing beats doing it. See if a dockmate can accompany you
without Dad a time or two. Spend the time learning how to go forwards,
backwards, sidewards, stopping by something soft in all those
directions.

Heck, motor over to some place to go swimming and relaxing between
drills. Toss the anchor and raise and lower the sails a bunch of times.
Make your mistakes with a disinterested person, not necessarily a
formal instructor (though many will give you lessons on your own boat).

I have sorta the opposite problem: Pat's more competent than most
bareboaters and I love it when she takes the helm, but compares her
skills to my 30 years of racing and cruising and "forgets" how much she
knows. To make sure she keeps her skills up, I have to "pass out" every
once in a while to force her to take the tiller to get us home.

Best thing for her (and perhaps you) would be to spend a week or so at
the boat with a "crazy" girlfriend to egg her on to taking the boat out
while I'm at work.

--
Jere Lull
Tanzer 28 #4 out of Tolchester, MD
Xan's new pages: http://web.mac.com/jerelull/iWeb/Xan/
Our BVI pages: http://homepage.mac.com/jerelull/BVI/