I'd like to learn how to sail. Where should I start?
July 22, 2004 3:08 PM Subscribe
I'd like to learn how to sail. Where should I start?
I live on the North Shore of Long Island, and I would like to use the boat in the Long Island Sound and in the Bays along the South Shore. I'd also like to take it upstate and use it on some lakes in the Adirondaks.
What type of boat would suit me best? Is it possible to learn how to sail on your own, or should I seek out lessons? I learned how to sail a Sunfish type boat when I was a kid, but I remember absolutely nothing about it. Any recomendations?
I live on the North Shore of Long Island, and I would like to use the boat in the Long Island Sound and in the Bays along the South Shore. I'd also like to take it upstate and use it on some lakes in the Adirondaks.
What type of boat would suit me best? Is it possible to learn how to sail on your own, or should I seek out lessons? I learned how to sail a Sunfish type boat when I was a kid, but I remember absolutely nothing about it. Any recomendations?
Absolutely take lessons; while sailing a small boat is simple once it's rigged, there is a lot to know about safely and properly setting up and maintaining a sailboat. Offshore Sailing School also teaches in New York Harbor; they give the USSailing certificate instead of the ASA cert which doesn't seem to matter much, and they teach in the Colgate 26 which is a nice boat to learn in.
I'm going to assume that you'd be bored in a Sunfish now and want something that will challenge you longer. Since you want something you can car-top, you might consider a used Laser if you can find one with the radial sail kit; then you can move up to the full-sized sail as your confidence grows and you'll have a really fun boat. You can find good used Lasers for around $1000.
Sailing is truly easy to learn, but there's a huge amount to master. Take a class to get the theory and basic techniques, then buy a simple boat and start hanging out with sailors.
And: wear a life vest!
posted by nicwolff at 4:21 PM on July 22, 2004
I'm going to assume that you'd be bored in a Sunfish now and want something that will challenge you longer. Since you want something you can car-top, you might consider a used Laser if you can find one with the radial sail kit; then you can move up to the full-sized sail as your confidence grows and you'll have a really fun boat. You can find good used Lasers for around $1000.
Sailing is truly easy to learn, but there's a huge amount to master. Take a class to get the theory and basic techniques, then buy a simple boat and start hanging out with sailors.
And: wear a life vest!
posted by nicwolff at 4:21 PM on July 22, 2004
And: wear a life vest!
And a wetsuit or drysuit outside of summer, and pay attention to maintenance. I've had friends die in a boating accident in or just off Moriches Bay; near as anyone can figure their transom leaked / broke, the boat sank, and an unprotected hour or so floating in fall/winter waters will kill you thoroughly dead.
Not to be Captain Buzzkill, but it is one of those things that will actually kill you if you make the wrong mistake.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 5:11 PM on July 22, 2004
And a wetsuit or drysuit outside of summer, and pay attention to maintenance. I've had friends die in a boating accident in or just off Moriches Bay; near as anyone can figure their transom leaked / broke, the boat sank, and an unprotected hour or so floating in fall/winter waters will kill you thoroughly dead.
Not to be Captain Buzzkill, but it is one of those things that will actually kill you if you make the wrong mistake.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 5:11 PM on July 22, 2004
And a wetsuit or drysuit outside of summer
Unless you have oxygen tanks, a dry suit is a great way to die.
(1) tear small hole in drysuit
(2) fall in water
(3) drysuit fills with water
(4) sleep with the fishes!
posted by Kwantsar at 7:07 PM on July 22, 2004
Unless you have oxygen tanks, a dry suit is a great way to die.
(1) tear small hole in drysuit
(2) fall in water
(3) drysuit fills with water
(4) sleep with the fishes!
posted by Kwantsar at 7:07 PM on July 22, 2004
I went to a sailing camp when I was 12, and spent the entire summer learning the basics of sailing. My advice is to revisit that Sunfish while you learn, which is small and manageable.
Definitely, most definitely take lessons, and be prepared to do much studying. I remember endless courses on identifying parts of the boat, along with very scientific elements such as center-of-balance, water levels, and weather patterns.
In the meantime, you need to get your rope/knot tying skills up to par. This is very integral to sailing: Bowlines especially! Grab a length of rope, a manual, and get crackin! Good luck!
posted by naxosaxur at 7:21 PM on July 22, 2004
Definitely, most definitely take lessons, and be prepared to do much studying. I remember endless courses on identifying parts of the boat, along with very scientific elements such as center-of-balance, water levels, and weather patterns.
In the meantime, you need to get your rope/knot tying skills up to par. This is very integral to sailing: Bowlines especially! Grab a length of rope, a manual, and get crackin! Good luck!
posted by naxosaxur at 7:21 PM on July 22, 2004
Unless you have oxygen tanks, a dry suit is a great way to die.
I stand corrected; I only had second-hand reports of what the coroner said would have saved them.
What sort of thermal protection would be appropriate?
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 8:18 PM on July 22, 2004
I stand corrected; I only had second-hand reports of what the coroner said would have saved them.
What sort of thermal protection would be appropriate?
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 8:18 PM on July 22, 2004
I took a 1 week sailing course at a community college. It was big fun, and taught me a lot, especially about safety. The ocean and the weather can be unforgiving. GPS makes it safer, and most of the time, on the Maine coast around Portland, I have cellphone connection.
Many people who sail need crew for racing or buddies to sail with for fun. It's a nice way to get some sailing time in. Consider finding a partner to share a boat. Boats can be very expensive to own. Mooring, maintenance, etc. all add up fast.
posted by theora55 at 8:46 PM on July 22, 2004
Many people who sail need crew for racing or buddies to sail with for fun. It's a nice way to get some sailing time in. Consider finding a partner to share a boat. Boats can be very expensive to own. Mooring, maintenance, etc. all add up fast.
posted by theora55 at 8:46 PM on July 22, 2004
Unless you have oxygen tanks, a dry suit is a great way to die.
(1) tear small hole in drysuit
(2) fall in water
(3) drysuit fills with water
(4) sleep with the fishes!
Is there any documentation to back this up?
What does a dry suit weigh? Less than five pounds, if shipping weight is anything to go by.
In water a dry suit with no hole traps air so the effect is positive bouyancy. If punctured it will probably trap some air, but even if it is fully filled with water it will have negative bouyancy but no greater than the weight of the suit itself -- the water inside will not drag you under as the water in the suit has the same density as that outside it!
That said it will hamper your movements (and make getting out of the water really hard) so counting on the trapped air instead of a PFD may not be a wonderful idea. But then those who don't wear PFDs are taking risks anyway, whatever clothes they wear.
Suffice it to say I've known people who race 420s wear them in cold water, and kayakers, and the like often use them when conditions warrant. Hypothermia can happen very fast in cold water and is, I would think, in general a far greater danger than the potential of a rip in the worst place at the top of a dry suit.
posted by Quinbus Flestrin at 11:14 PM on July 22, 2004
(1) tear small hole in drysuit
(2) fall in water
(3) drysuit fills with water
(4) sleep with the fishes!
Is there any documentation to back this up?
What does a dry suit weigh? Less than five pounds, if shipping weight is anything to go by.
In water a dry suit with no hole traps air so the effect is positive bouyancy. If punctured it will probably trap some air, but even if it is fully filled with water it will have negative bouyancy but no greater than the weight of the suit itself -- the water inside will not drag you under as the water in the suit has the same density as that outside it!
That said it will hamper your movements (and make getting out of the water really hard) so counting on the trapped air instead of a PFD may not be a wonderful idea. But then those who don't wear PFDs are taking risks anyway, whatever clothes they wear.
Suffice it to say I've known people who race 420s wear them in cold water, and kayakers, and the like often use them when conditions warrant. Hypothermia can happen very fast in cold water and is, I would think, in general a far greater danger than the potential of a rip in the worst place at the top of a dry suit.
posted by Quinbus Flestrin at 11:14 PM on July 22, 2004
Unless you have oxygen tanks...
In fact using oxygen tanks for pretty much anything marine orientated is a very quick way to die. The only two conceivable uses I can think of are in a theraputic context for a victim of a diving accident or use by military divers in defusing acoustic mines in less than eight meters of water.
posted by dmt at 4:47 AM on July 23, 2004
In fact using oxygen tanks for pretty much anything marine orientated is a very quick way to die. The only two conceivable uses I can think of are in a theraputic context for a victim of a diving accident or use by military divers in defusing acoustic mines in less than eight meters of water.
posted by dmt at 4:47 AM on July 23, 2004
most marinas will match people who wish to learn to sail with sailors who dock at the marina. i'd call around the local marinas to see if you can crew with locals.
definitely wear the life vest and shoes that you can kick off. i fell in between my dad's boat and the dock once while we were mooring and was shocked by how hard it was to get to the surface with my sneakers securely tied to my feet. i'd never have been able to swim any appreciable distance or tread water for a decent length of time in them.
posted by crush-onastick at 1:22 PM on July 23, 2004
definitely wear the life vest and shoes that you can kick off. i fell in between my dad's boat and the dock once while we were mooring and was shocked by how hard it was to get to the surface with my sneakers securely tied to my feet. i'd never have been able to swim any appreciable distance or tread water for a decent length of time in them.
posted by crush-onastick at 1:22 PM on July 23, 2004
A good drill for anyone who spends time around water while fully clothed is to go swimming some time fully clothed. Nothing fancy, jeans and a heavy cotton shirt are ideal. As crush-onastick found out it is tough just keeping your head above water let alone actually swimming. Having (non panic) expereince can be a life saver in this situation.
posted by Mitheral at 2:13 PM on July 27, 2004
posted by Mitheral at 2:13 PM on July 27, 2004
This thread is closed to new comments.
I took a basic class from these folks in Manhattan and enjoyed it (not cheap, but then neither is a sailboat); the American Sailing Association has some lists of schools
posted by Zonker at 3:27 PM on July 22, 2004