This weekend was my first of two full weekends of sailing lessons. After the first day I realized it is nothing like I had expected. There are so many boat parts and terminology from hundreds of years ago that I have to memorize. Most of the words are really weird and they may as well be Latin since they don't have any meaning to me. I haven't had enough experience being in command of the boat yet to get to learn about wind direction and "sailing points". That's where I have the most difficulty. Luckily everyone else seems to be having as hard of a time as me. Next weekend we're going to have the test. I have to read two whole books before taking the tests, plus I barely have experience on the water (maybe an hour or two of me being in command). I'm not sure I'm going to pass this test on the first try or not. Even if I passed I would not be happy with myself if I didn't feel that I fully understand everything.
I was wondering whether or not I will like sailing. On the one hand there is soooo much to learn and master that it takes all of the fun out of it. On the other hand, it might become second nature to me and then I could enjoy it. I was thinking about how much easier motor boats are and wondered if I would enjoy that more. The others in my class said that driving a motor boat is like driving a car. It's not an experience, you don't go in the car to enjoy a drive. When you are sailing there is a lot to do, and that is part of the "fun". Hmmm :)
Working from his home office in Toronto,
Ryan de Laplante can be found developing software in
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Ryan has been designing and writing software for
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Interesting. I didn't think about all the terminology etc. etc. You basically want to just go out there and learn how to steer/sail and enjoy the scenery. Hmmmm... I think it would be too much for me. Was this a course for 'recreational' or is there no difference? Well, good luck and I hope you enjoy it more next time. xo
Posted by Mom on August 19, 2008 at 04:07 AM EDT #
This course teaches you the basic skills to operate the boat, who has right of way, etc. Someone can't teach you how to raise the sail unless you know all of the parts you are touching. Sometimes gusts of wind almost flip the boat, so you have to know where the wind is coming from, which angle you are hitting it at, and set your sails accordingly. When you can do that without much thought, then everything else will probably be easy.
There are two more courses after (intermediate and advanced). I forget what they cover but I know navigation with maps, digital devices and stars are some of them.
Posted by Ryan de Laplante on August 19, 2008 at 01:48 PM EDT #