As an instructor, I hear this question quite often. \u00a0Unfortunately, there is no easy answer, because each of us is different. \u00a0We sail different amounts and do different exercises while sailing. \u00a0We learn at different speeds, and we have different backgrounds and goals. \u00a0There are however a few general guidelines to follow to help answer that question.<\/p>\n
First, if you haven’t practiced, you probably are not ready! \u00a0I see this regularly. \u00a0A student passes Basic Coastal Cruising and immediately signs up for the Bareboat Cruising class scheduled for two months out, with every intention of getting out and practicing. \u00a0Unfortunately, “life happens,” and that person doesn’t make it out sailing. \u00a0Bareboat\u00a0will not be a\u00a0pleasant experience for anyone on the boat, least of all that student. \u00a0I know this because of having seen it as an instructor, and experiencing it myself. \u00a0I was that student who struggled in Bareboat due to lack of practice in appropriately sized boats.<\/p>\n
So, what constitutes practice in appropriately sized boats? \u00a0Just going sailing will get you part of the way, however, to really get the most out of your practice sessions, set up some “exercises” to perform. \u00a0If your last class was Basic Coastal Cruising, sailing a 25 foot boat with an outboard is not going to prepare you for Bareboat. \u00a0Get out on a 27 to 34 foot boat with an inboard and practice the skills on it. \u00a0Take 30 minutes of your sailing day to do some docking and motoring drills. \u00a0While under sail, do a series of tacks and jibes. \u00a0Keep your tacks tight and controlled. \u00a0Turn from a close haul to a close haul. \u00a0Start practicing jibes from a broad reach to a broad reach, and as you improve tighten the turns up … deep broad reach to deep broad reach, run to run, and finally run to wing on wing and back. \u00a0Heave to a couple of times. \u00a0Put in and shake out a reef a couple of times. \u00a0Try putting in a reef close hauled on the jib alone, and another reef while hove to. \u00a0Finally do a couple of crew overboard drills every time you sail!<\/p>\n
Do this process during a half dozen sails, while on an appropriately sized boat, and you will be ready for the best learning experience in the next class.<\/p>\n
One final thought. \u00a0Don’t forget to practice the knots from all of your\u00a0\u00a0prior classes. Knowing how to tie the proper knot in the proper circumstance is important, and may save your life someday.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
As an instructor, I hear this question quite often. \u00a0Unfortunately, there is no easy answer, because each of us is different. \u00a0We sail different amounts and do different exercises while sailing. \u00a0We learn at different speeds, and we have different … Continue reading