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Training for sailboats/yachts
"Andy" wrote in message ups.com... Jack Dale wrote: On 27 Dec 2005 15:12:16 -0800, "Andy" wrote: Why do you say we were very lucky? What exactly does one need a lot of experience with before going coastal cruising that can't be learned from books? Docking under power and sail I mentioned earlier in this thread that docking is one of the things I think is best learned from an instructor. snipped, but you listed other elements easier learned from instructors Andy, I support your views completely. Thanks for airing the pragmatic approach to learning to sail. Dangerous thing to do in this forum! One factor others in this thread have ignored is that some people learn best from books, then exploring for themselves, while others learn best by seeing and doing under supervision. The latter group are served by some who will criticise you - but let's remember they have a vested interest in increasing the demand for their market. Another factor ignored is that a lot depends on where a sailor first gained experience. It's very easy to learn (for instance) in the Mediterranean in the summer in a sheltered area such as the Inland Ionian Sea (no tides, light winds, no weather, no swell, only one dangerous under water rock to hit) After 24 hours of instruction you can send Mr and Mrs average out to skipper their own 30ft yacht - under daily supervision. It's quite another thing to learn sailing around the Channel Islands in the English Channel (5kt tide streams, 9m tidal range, thousands of hidden rocks requiring tight pilotage in sometimes poor visibility, and a good swell to boot). Instruction with these complicating factors is a lot slower, and exposure to variations a lot more important. And these two groups are pretty intolerant of each other's style of learning, though both are valid. A third factor ignored is that *everyone* extends their experience from their first 'instruction' (book or on water). What matters is how they extend their experience; responsibly (with some fear, and the knowledge that there's a lot to learn?) or irresponsibly (full of confidence that they've learnt most of it?). On extending experience: about half my (yachtmaster) examination candidates had attended full courses, and about half presented themselves as 'experienced'. A few of the total didn't meet acceptable standards. 'Course' candidate failures were mainly those who'd be difficult to teach to drive a car - lacking the ability to puzzle out a new situation under stress. More sea time was the cure. 'Experienced' candidate failures stemmed mainly from not reading through the syllabus being examined; gross omissions - such as believing that racing rules were good enough knowledge to pass for colregs! Their solution was to humble themselves by reading the syllabus and boning up on the gaps in their knowledge. JimB |
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