First time sailing for girlfriend - any tips / advice?

Can I suggest that you be alive to the possibility that she might possibly enjoy the sensations, the motion and the heeling? I wonder how many women have been put off sailing by the well-meaning assumption that the poor delicate things can possibly be expected to like things that Big Strong Men (tm) find fun?

Would you take all the recommended precautions - triple reefing, pre-emptive medication, F2 maximum and so on - if you were taking a male friend out sailing?

Just go out there, have fun, and don't patronise the poor woman. It's sounds crazy, but it might just work.
 
Plenty of people have been put off sailing by the motion, heeling and getting cold.

Not often heard anyone say "It was OK, but I was bored. I expected more action"
 
Teaching sailing

I have been a bit involved with teaching sailing and more recently teaching sailing teachers. So I have been thinking about this situation. However for a girlfriend it is all far more critical she enjoys it than for a customer.

Firstly you must only sail well within your capabilities considering weather etc. I mean you must be able to do all jobs yourself and still make it all look very easy. You must not let yourself become nervous, frightened or stressed. Plan everything and be very careful. If you are not skilled take a skilled helper. You don't want any dramas.

Explain that no matter what happens or goes wrong it is the captains fault. She can do no wrong short of sheer mischief. Carefully explain everything and don't assume she knows or understands.

Let her steer and do all the jobs while at all times being prepared to cope if she gets it wrong in a way that makes it look like no problems.

It is a difficult thing to know when to let her learn by her own mistakes versus you correcting the situation (usually steering) as said listen to her and give lots of encouragement.

If she is keen on you she will try very hard to enjoy it so be grateful. Any way you discourage her now will last for ever. good luck olewill
 
Take her out and just take it gently, build it up slowly, stay on the mooring the 1st day, lunch etc, sun and sunbathing; then a wee sail and more sunbathing on deck with a couple of drinks ....remember if she doesn't like it, that means plenty of good times out with the lads, pretending its better than having a girlfriend.
 
Have you taken her out yet? For God's sake man hurry up and get on with it. Incidently, I was out yesterday, helming our yacht in a force 6. It was totally fab, the wind did hit force 7 briefly. We were just sailing up and down in the Crouch, but the racing boats were out as well, it was very exciting.
 
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tidclacy said:
Go out on a nice calm day with lots of sunshine and booze.
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go out on a nice calm very sunny day, with pimms and those umbrella things with a cherry, and carry on doing this, until she is hooked, then you can start to do a little more daring things each time, (like sailing off the mooring, and letting the boat heel, but only a little though.)
 
Lady Sailor said:
Have you taken her out yet? For God's sake man hurry up and get on with it. Incidently, I was out yesterday, helming our yacht in a force 6. It was totally fab, the wind did hit force 7 briefly. We were just sailing up and down in the Crouch, but the racing boats were out as well, it was very exciting.
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Don't encourage him too much lady sailor, your hooked, but he's got to get her to that stage first, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pnVOt2LK2Gg......
 
My husband first took me out for a sail on a warm sunny day from South Ferriby to Hull marina on the Humber on our UFO 27. The wind was light but enough to sail, he did however take his father as well who is also an experienced sailor, so as John sailed the boat his dad was free to explain everything to me, now 5 years later we are sailing our 39footer up and down the Dutch coast and the IJsselmeer every chance we get with our 8 year old daughter, so he did something right! As a complete novice the first time I went out I would agree with those who have said whatever you do don't scare her, or shout!!!
 
this thread is packed with great advice, most of which i neglect when i take a newbie out on a dingey, so i usually come out with stuff like:
'ok so, fit your life jacket like so, and then call your loved ones and tell them you love them',
'this part is called the boom, its generally the last thing you see before it all goes dark'
'its been a good week, only 12 fatilities',
'were going to gybe now, FYI 'Gybe' is nautical slang for 'die''

needless to say im not looking forward to a career in sail instructing, but i do get to go out on my own most weeks!
 
Thanks to all for their tips and suggestions, but alas the hoped-for sailing trip did not transpire! The plan was to sail across the Solent and then down the Medina to Newport for the IoW festival, but weather just wouldn't allow it. F7/F8 is a bit much for our little boat at the best of times, and I think she would have been put off for life if I'd tried to take her out in that kind of wind!

We did unraft from a yacht and then dock on a pontoon together at Brighton Marina, so I was able to dazzle her with a few choice nautical terms - bows/stern/starboard/port/warp/spring/oops-watch-the-bowsprit!
 
Don't tell the wife! Depends on the girlfriend, but to play safe on a F2-3 max calm warm day, sail down an estuary to a sheltered anchorage then stop for a few hours, then sail back. Let new crew get used to where everything is, what the rops are and which one are used often, what not to trip over, what not to stand on, what swings and moves, how all the pumps and switches work, where the provisions are. etc.

Then next time go for a proper sail. On a day with an offshore wind F3-4, and warm.
 
Sailor Tom said:
Oh, nowhere too stressful, Southampton Water / Solent area, just a bit of ducking & diving around the precautionary area ;)
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Run over to the Island & stop at The Folly. She'll enjoy that as much as the sailing.
The "don't scare her" advice is spot-on. The marinas on the south coast are full of boats where hubby has been a smart arse & scared the s*&t out of the wife, & now spends most weekends wallpapering!
 
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