How Many Students On A Course ?

Dominic

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Most sailing schools take four students on a course.
The RYA say 5 students max, but 4 is the norm.

I get a number of enquiries from couples that want the boat to themselves.

Think this one through......

The Instructor is there to instruct - not to demonstrate while everyone else watches. So, during a tack for example, the instructor is talking it through with the helmsman while the one other student is working both genoa winches.

During docking practice, one student on the wheel, the instructor talking and guiding the helmsman, and the other student has to cope with both bow and stern lines.

SWMBO is not going to be happy with this level of workload.

Funny how a number of couples want a sailing course for just themselves but think it will be a skippered charter with a full crew to do the running around. They would be so much better off with two other students at the same level sharing the work.

As learners they do not want to be on a boat with strangers who know much more than them - but that never happens.

Your thoughts ?


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Chris_Stannard

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I sail two handed with my wife all of the time. There are systems for coming alongside, such as the use of a short centre line, which runs to a winch controlled by the helm, which allows you to manage.

My own thought would be, if you are going to sail two handed normally then, do your course like that. We have the problem for example, that if a friend come they try to help and just get in my wife's way when they try to help. If SWMBO likes sailing, and I am one of the fortunate few, sailing with just tohe two of you quickly becomes almost instinctive, as you learn to know what your partner will do without words. You also find that you want to meeet friends in harbour, not sail with them in your boat.

So let the instructor stand back and do manouvre as you will after the course is over

So

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Violetta

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Why is she there?

In most cases, presumably, he and she will be running a boat together - two-handed - so why not learn to run a boat two-handed? Much better for them to practice the relevant techniques straight off. If "SWMBO" doesn't want to do that, what is she doing there? If the SWMBOs want to lie about with a gin and tonic, let the blokes learn to do everything single handed and treat a little SWMBO support as a bonus.

Mind you - I think there are two sorts of SWMBOs - the ones that populate the imaginations of internet posters and the ones that are out there sailing. A quick mental check through the SWMBOs I know reveals not one that is unwilling to share with her partner the modest amount of work involved in running a boat two-handed. Most have it well sussed.

Are you talking about what you think might happen or what you find actually does happen? If the latter, I would simply discuss with the couple concerned what the issues are and what kind of experience they actually want and let them decide.

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Magic_Sailor

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I can't see the problem. As Violetta says below - if you're sailing as a couple why not train as a couple.

My SWMBO has indeed got it well sussed. I just wish she'd be a bit more confident in her own ability; all the positive comments in the world won't seem to shift it.

Magic

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kilkerr1

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Agree with all(ish) above. I'm a SWMBO myself, me and husband have learned together sailing two-handed. It has worked for us, but then I love the physical work of sailing as much as the lounging around with V&T/cold beer painting my toenails. I think you just need to be clear to couples what the training involves - i.e. if it's for just the couple then they'll both have to pull their own weight (in a manner of speaking). If they then decide that one or other isn't into that (and I've been afloat with blokes who aren't exactly into the 'all hands' idea...), they can decide to join a larger group. Just tell 'em what's involved.

As for 2 types of SWMBOs, Violetta - I think there may be many who manage to fit quite comfortably into both of your (rather simplistic) categories. It has also been said, that I am one of them... /forums/images/icons/wink.gif.

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EME

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Dominic

Really not becoming of you, looks like a sideswipe at my previous post , n'est-ce pas? I think your answer is bureied in what everyone else has already posted in response ... most will sail as couples so learn as couples. If the learning is too hard under expert guidance then you won't crack it.

Maybe have another look at the olde business model and see if some targeted marketing might be in order !! ( Only 1/2 joking)

My own course is about us 'learning whilst enjoying' hopefully.

Definitely up for that beeverage though !! And many Thanks.

( And Many Thanks! )

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