a question about sailing lessons
Posted by leecallen@reddit | sailing | View on Reddit | 20 comments
Background: I had a sailing dinghy when I was a kid. I have started sailing lessons two different summers, only to have to bail due to problems at home. This summer I am going to engage some private sailing lessons so I can make it work with my schedule. What "book learning" could I do myself, offline, to make the most of those private lessons? I recall when I previously took lessons we spent a fair amount of time on knots and rights-of-way, so clearly those. Learning the names of the boat bits and points of sail. What else? I eventually intend to test out of the ASA introductory course.
Thanks.
No_Rub3572@reddit
Don’t forget to read books that are about sailing. Slocum, Smeeton, Forrester, O’Brian… London wrote a good one called the Sea-Wolf. Calder is good for systems/maintenance.
Most of my other nonfiction recommendations are about the pnw. Curve of Time, To All Appearances a Lady is kinda heavy but really good.
A really good tool for playing with sailtrim and balancing your rig is Sailwind.
Gl3g@reddit
Sea Wolf ! I listened to the audio book free on LibriVox ! It’s a great book-absolutely fantastic until it starts becoming a love story…..The Sea Wolf
No_Brick_6963@reddit
Don’t bother.
Point the pointy end into the wind and raise the sail on the mast.
The rest you should be able to figure out on your own
leecallen@reddit (OP)
I know this is at least partly tongue in cheek. But I know I need the ASA101 cert to borrow boats from this boat club, and eventually I will own my own boat and I think I will need the cert for insurance.
No_Brick_6963@reddit
Never took a lesson. Sailing for over 50 years. Never had a cert. Always been able to charter and never need a cert for insurance.
ezbigdawg7@reddit
7 knots in the 101 book. Bowline, Figure 8, Cleat Hitch, Clove Hitch, Round Turn and 2 half hitches, Square Knot and a Rolling Hitch.
Buy a 15-foot length of cheap dock line (Amazon $15) and then go to Animated Knots and get step by step instructions.
The bowline and cleat are the ones I use the most. I use a sheet bend quite frequently as I’m re-rigging the running rigging on my boat (used to join 2 lines with different diameters).
Practice, practice, practice. Practice left-handed and right handed. Practice on vertical and horizontal objects. A chair leg is perfect with chair upside down (stanchion) or on its side (life line). You can also purchase a cheap cleat as well for practice. Visit a local marina and inspect the dock lines and how they are cleated. Learn the Flemish Flake.
leecallen@reddit (OP)
Great advice. Off boat, I am constantly wishing I had the right knot for a task. I am constantly tying knots that loosen and come apart. I am looking forward to having this skill.
Potential4752@reddit
If I were you I would buy the ASA 101 book and make sure you can pass the practice test sections.
Then instead of lessons + testing out later, sign up for a private 101 course. Ask to take the paper test first thing on the first day. The instructor can then focus on time on the water.
leecallen@reddit (OP)
I very much like this too. I'm going to take this advice. Thank you!
wleecoyote@reddit
I like this idea!
I don't know if an ASA instructor would go for it, but if you can show you have the book-learning, the instructor can focus on feeling where the apparent wind is, the shape of the sail, how to prevent an accidental gybe, and other places that are harder to teach on land.
casablanca_1942@reddit
Buy the ASA101 book. Its a good book and covers the fundamentals.
If you are going to have private training, then why are you planning to test out of the course? The private training should address the ASA101 curriculum, plus whatever else you want.
I had private training and it was with an ASA recognized school - covered 101, 103, and 104. I also needed an insurance sign-out and the instructor handled that as well.
leecallen@reddit (OP)
Buy the book - that sounds like a consensus! I will order it today.
I have found the courses are only offered on weekends. I will inquire whether the local ASA affiliated schools offer private training.
Thanks.
casablanca_1942@reddit
On reviewing your post, I am uncertain whether you have your own boat. Private lessons can work whether you have your own boat or not; however, if you don't have your own boat then you will be using the school boat and it will be much more expensive (since you have to cover the cost of the boat and there will be no other students to share the cost).
leecallen@reddit (OP)
There is a local club that offers use of their boats for a fixed annual fee. They are also the ASA training school.
wleecoyote@reddit
The ASA101 book is surprisingly well written.
As you read it, try to visualize an actual boat. This is easier with experience, of course.
Know the ropes (all of the lines and rigging) and parts of the boat, plus the points of sail. After that, try sailing.
nylondragon64@reddit
Main 2 things.
The only knots in the beginning you need are bowline and figure 8. After that will be how to tie up at dock.
Book learning is good but it doesn't sink in till you use it. When ever you go outside be aware of the wind. Where it's coming from and feel it on your skin. I don't even need the windex or instrument to set my sails now. Think when you feel where wind is coming from and how your going to adjust sails to the direction you want to go. Now when you get on boat you will have a grasp of what the instructor is showing you.
Best of luck. You got this.
nylondragon64@reddit
Oh next thing is feel the boat when your out there. She talks to you. The feel of the rudder trough the tiller. The sails and their shape. How you pickup speed or loose it depending on what you do.
MissingGravitas@reddit
You should probably buy the ASA text if you plan to test out of the course. There are enough variations in how things are done that it's simplest to align with the test expectations.
For your basic items:
Initial courses will pay lip-service to most of those, teaching only a very minimal subset. Later courses will (or rather, should) build on them over time.
Eventually classes should cover things like the following, but these are way beyond dinghy sailing:
leecallen@reddit (OP)
Thank you!
I'm guessing a minority of the subject areas you listed are for ASA-101, right?
MissingGravitas@reddit
Likely a couple basic knots, a few of the rules, a few basic chart symbols, how to start and use the outboard, and the rest is likely points of sail and basic maneuvering.