{"id":225,"date":"2012-10-05T04:09:14","date_gmt":"2012-10-05T08:09:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/tomdove.com\/blog\/?p=225"},"modified":"2015-07-12T14:12:42","modified_gmt":"2015-07-12T18:12:42","slug":"new-sailors-questions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/tomdove.com\/blog\/2012\/10\/new-sailors-questions\/","title":{"rendered":"New Sailors’ Questions"},"content":{"rendered":"

First published 1989 in Chesapeake Bay Magazine<\/span><\/p>\n

\u0004\u0010\u0016New sailors’ questions \u0004\u0010\u0003<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

by \u0004\u0010\bTom Dove<\/span><\/p>\n

You are interested in sailing because it is a new experience \u0004\u0010with new sights, sounds and sensations. Here are answers to some \u0004\u0010of the questions you may have before you embark on that first \u0004\u0010\u0005sail: \u0004\u0010\u0015<\/span><\/p>\n

*** WHAT IS IT LIKE?<\/strong>\u0004\u0010<\/span><\/p>\n

On a moderate day, it is smooth motion without effort. On a \u0004\u0010breezy day, it is controlling an almost-living thing that leaps across \u0004\u0010the water. On a calm day, it is the harnessing the elusive air to \u0004\u0010get a slight movement of your vessel. Sailing is different each \u0004\u0010time you go out and you will learn something new every day, \u0004\u0010even after sailing for thirty years or more.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u0004\u0010\u000f *** WHO SAILS?<\/strong>\u0004\u0010<\/span><\/p>\n

Business executives and professionals sail to release the \u0004\u0010tensions of work, nature lovers sail to enjoy the outdoors, athletes \u0004\u0010sail as a competitive sport, cruisers sail to see the world one \u0004\u0010harbor at a time, lovers sail as an escape and kids sail because it’s \u0004\u0010lots of fun. Look through the exterior of any sailor and you will \u0004\u0010\u001ffind the soul of a romantic. \u0004\u0010\u0018<\/span><\/p>\n

*** WHAT SHOULD I WEAR?<\/strong>\u0004\u0010<\/span><\/p>\n

You need boat shoes with soft, nonskid soles for a good grip on \u0004\u0010the deck; don’t sail barefoot. You need a hat or cap with a wide \u0004\u0010brim or long bill to keep the sun off your face and neck. Wear \u0005\u0010loose, comfortable cotton clothes that will be cool and protect you \u0004\u0010from the summer sun but avoid dangling sleeves or jewelry that \u0004\u0010could get caught in winches or lines.<\/span><\/p>\n

If there is a chance of strong \u0004\u0010wind, carry an inexpensive hooded foul-weather jacket. In spring \u0004\u0010or fall, a sweater under a nylon shell is a good combination, and \u0004\u0010the popular pile-lined jackets are excellent for evenings and cool \u0004\u0010days at the ends of the summer season. \u0004\u0010\u0014<\/span><\/p>\n

*** WILL I GET WET?\u0004\u0010<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Probably not. A boat over about 18 feet with a keel is large \u0004\u0010enough to be dry unless the day is quite windy. If you are going \u0004\u0010out on a smaller centerboard boat on a breezy day, expect some \u0004\u0010spray to come over the bow as the boat goes through the waves. \u0004\u0010If it is actually raining, stay ashore and be comfortable. \u0004\u0010<\/span><\/p>\n

*** I’M NOT VERY AGILE. CAN I LEARN TO SAIL?\u0004\u0010<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Yes, indeed. While Olympic-class racing is very demanding, \u0004\u0010ordinary sailing is only as strenuous as you wish to make it. \u0004\u0010Paraplegics and blind sailors have crossed oceans. \u0004\u0010\u001e<\/span><\/p>\n

*** IS SAILING GOOD EXERCISE?<\/strong>\u0004\u0010<\/span><\/p>\n

The best. It appears that you are just sitting most of the \u0004\u0010time, but your body is actually making continuous adjustments to \u0004\u0010the constant motion of the boat so you exercise all your muscles in \u0004\u0010a gentle, isometric fashion. At the end of a day of sailing you will \u0004\u0010be pleasantly tired and at the end of the season you will probably \u0004\u0010have trimmed and firmed up your entire body. Best of all, this \u0004\u0010takes place in clean, open air. You won’t see many flabby sailors.<\/span><\/p>\n

*** WHAT IS THE BEST BOAT TO LEARN TO SAIL?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Adults will be most comfortable on a keel boat about 18-26 \u0004\u0010feet long while children prefer little centerboard boats in the 8- to \u0004\u001016- foot range. You will learn more and faster on a small boat \u0004\u0010than on a large one, but it will be less comfortable and require \u0004\u0010faster reflexes. Everything you learn on a small boat will transfer \u0004\u0010to the cruising vessel you may buy or charter later, but a big \u0004\u0010yacht takes much longer to respond, so it is harder to see the \u0004\u0010\u0018effects of your actions.<\/span><\/p>\n

*** WHAT IS AN IDEAL SAILING DAY?<\/strong>\u0004\u0010<\/span><\/p>\n

If you have a choice, pick a clear day with 8-12 knot winds \u0004\u0010and moderate (75-85 degree) temperatures. Spring, early summer \u0004\u0010and fall are ideal in the middle latitudes while midsummer heat \u0004\u0010may bring calm air or thunderstorms. \u0004<\/span><\/p>\n

*** HOW MUCH WIND IS TOO MUCH? TOO LITTLE?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

For your first few sailing sessions, try to avoid days with less \u0004\u0010than 5 knots or more than about 15 knots of wind. With \u0004\u0010experience you will find light air an interesting challenge, but it \u0004\u0010can be frustrating to a new sailor. If the wind is strong enough to \u0004make whitecaps on the water, things happen too fast for a \u0004\u0010beginner to absorb and the excitement may overpower the \u0004\u0010 learning.\u0004\u0010<\/span><\/p>\n

*** WHAT ARE THE DANGERS: STORMS? WAVES? SEA \u0004\u0010 MONSTERS?<\/strong>\u0004\u0010<\/span><\/p>\n

Sunburn. Use a good sunblocking lotion, especially on your \u0004\u0010nose and ears. If you wear shorts, put lotion on your knees and \u0004\u0010the tops of your legs. Wear effective sunglasses (Polaroid ones are \u0004\u0010.best for cutting glare) and remember your hat.\u0004\u0010<\/span><\/p>\n

*** SHOULD MY SPOUSE AND I LEARN TO SAIL AT THE SAME \u0004\u0010\u0005TIME?<\/strong>\u0004\u0010<\/span><\/p>\n

Yes, but not in the same boat. Most sailing schools separate \u0004\u0010husbands and wives so there will be only one captain per vessel – \u0004\u0010\u000fthe instructor.\u0004\u0010<\/span><\/p>\n

*** WHAT BOOKS CAN I READ TO BE PREPARED FOR THE \u0004\u0010\u000bFIRST SAIL?\u0004\u0010<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

If the sailing school doesn’t recommend a specific one, get a \u0004\u0010Gsmall paperback with lots of illustrations and clear language. I like \u0004\u0010”Invitation to Sailing” by Alan Brown, and “Let’s Go Sailing” by \u0004\u0010\fPeter Isler.<\/span><\/p>\n

*** WHY DO SAILORS TALK SO FUNNY?<\/strong>\u0004\u0010<\/span><\/p>\n

Nautical terminology is not only historic, it is practical. It is \u0004\u0010faster to say, “Trim the jibsheet” than to say, “Wrap the big white \u0004\u0010string connected to the front sail around that round metal thing \u0004\u0010;and pull on it.” Also, when you know the language you are \u0004\u0010accepted into a fascinating new group and can converse with any \u0004\u0010\u001eother English-speaking sailor.<\/span><\/p>\n

*** SHOULD I BRING MY DOG, CAT AND SMALL CHILD ALONG \u0004\u0010\u0012FOR MY FIRST SAIL?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u0004\u0010\u0004 No.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u0004 — The End —<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Heeling looks precarious to a non-sailor, but a heavy keel keeps this performance boat stable and safe — and exciting.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n ","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

First published 1989 in Chesapeake Bay Magazine \u0004\u0010\u0016New sailors’ questions \u0004\u0010\u0003 by \u0004\u0010\bTom Dove You are interested in sailing because it is a new experience \u0004\u0010with new sights, sounds and sensations. Here are answers to some \u0004\u0010of the questions you may have before you embark on that first \u0004\u0010\u0005sail: \u0004\u0010\u0015 *** WHAT IS IT LIKE?\u0004\u0010 Read More …<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[10,1],"tags":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/tomdove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/225"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/tomdove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/tomdove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/tomdove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/tomdove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=225"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"http:\/\/tomdove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/225\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":639,"href":"http:\/\/tomdove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/225\/revisions\/639"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/tomdove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=225"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/tomdove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=225"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/tomdove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=225"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}