Love the idea of sailing, not so much actually sailing
Posted by i_love_poutines@reddit | sailing | View on Reddit | 13 comments
I live in a seaside town and have loved the idea of sailing for years. It looks like an incredible way to spend an afternoon, plus it’s something new and would allow me to learn a new skill and meet new people in the community! Seemed like a win win situation.
The problem is I’m terrified. I signed up for CanSail 1/2 and they pretty much just throw you on a boat for you to apply the 20 minutes of classroom instruction. On one hand I get it - you learn by doing. But there is so so much to try and remember at once, the boat (a 420) feels like it’s going to capsize constantly and then the wind picks up and off you go, completely lacking control!
I want so badly to enjoy this but it terrifies me. Has anyone had a similar experience when they started and if so, what helped you feel more confident?
Sorry if this is a dumb question - I don’t want to let my fear stop me from getting the hang of this but it’s feeling a little impossible at this moment.
EDIT: I will respond to everyone who has been kind enough to reply to my post when I have more time, but I just wanted to quickly update to say THANK YOU for the insightful tips, reassurances and recommendations. What an awesome community 🥰⛵️
x_driven_x@reddit
I skipped the tiny dinghy sailing and went right to 30+ footers. Might consider doing the same!
i_love_poutines@reddit (OP)
If I can’t get my bearings by the end of this month, I might consider it!
x_driven_x@reddit
Saw you mention gradual increase of skills.
Moving up to learn as crew on a 25+ ft keelboat (normal sailboat) will get you that gradual increase of skills, because you’d an focus on one “job” at a time.
Maybe one day you are on jib sheet duty, main sheet another day, get some tiller time in when you’re comfortable, practice knot tying, have time to look at and study what the telltales on the sails are telling you, look out and see the wind lines.
You have more time to absorb and learn.
As you learn maybe the next time out you teach a newbie the one thing you really learned last time.
The keelboats are much more comfortable to take a breather while still sailing, and to really focus on a particular skill set that on a particular day.
In my opinion - dinghy sailing is more people who want to learn to race (but still not required) or a great way for kids to get introduced. If you just want to be a recreational fun sailor skip it; you’ll probably enjoy the ride on a normal sailboat much better!
i_love_poutines@reddit (OP)
The way you’re describing this is much more of how I thought the lessons were going to be. I knew the boats were smaller, but I still expected a slow and steady approach to learning. I think you’re right, the dinghy boats are more for racing and in fact, one of our instructors is on a race team
TxTransplant72@reddit
Dinghy sailing is tough. It’s all on you all the time and it’s hard to get each bit when the damn boat constantly wants to flip over, gybe, or get a line wrapped around something that shouldn’t be…it’s like starting in an acrobatic airplane vs a stable as hell, wants-to-fly-straight Cessna (which is many keel boats). For most adults, start with a keel boat, learn the parts one at a time, then put it together in a dinghy. Much more enjoyable and less bruises!!
fundip2012@reddit
MikeMelga@reddit
I started sailing after 30, and I have almost zero experience with small boats. They are very different sailing experiences and I would definitely not make it mandatory to start with small boats. I see a lot of small boat sailors coming to big boats and doing a lot of dangerous mistakes because they don't yet understand the forces at hand.
Ashamed-Warning-2126@reddit
interesting take. So, to clarify, small boat sailors were making mistakes underestimating the forces of a bigger boat?
I would love to learn more about this.
enki-42@reddit
Lol, I still feel weird doing this and I'm sure everyone laughs at my dinghy style behind the back tiller exchanges and rushing over to the other side of the cockpit.
fundip2012@reddit
Hahaha the same thing happened to me! Rushing across is just so engrained.
Ashamed-Warning-2126@reddit
a friend took me on his yacht sailing and he saw me switching sides frantically.
Finally... 3 hours in he was like 'what are you doing dude?
NickRausch@reddit
The person teaching me how to sail my sloop told me around 15 minutes in that I don't have to switch sides all the time.
I do have to switch. My only other sailing experience was racing sunfish. It was beaten into me with a tiller extention.
Ashamed-Warning-2126@reddit
hell yeah