Sailing instruction

[Grehan]

We're thinking we ought to get some additional specific sailing technique tuition or instruction over and above that we get by 'just' weekend cruising (muddling through). To increase our general level of skill/confidence/experience. Maybe a week-long thing. Two weeks?
We don't especially need navigation practice, etc per se. Nor racing.

Current experience : Day Skipper (P+T) (her) Yachtmaster (T) (him) and some years of general intermittent sailing practice, lately most weekends (Solent).

Anybody recommend? Home/Foreign? Deals? Firms/Individuals? Details? . . . . (+ to avoid!)
Sun and blue skies would be nice, provided some reasonable sailing not just floating about. Not too terrifying or gut-wrenching either!

Post me a private message if you'd rather.
Many thanks. Much appreciated.

 

[incognito]

You must have a more specific idea of what you want.. you are identifying what you don't want.
Probably, you feel there is something specifically wrong? Since you said 'sailing', there are only so many topics.. setting your sails, what effects does tension have in the different parts of the sail, how to use the sail controls to reduce or increase that tension, how to trim the sails to the current wind, how to check whether what you have just done improves things or otherwise... these are just some principal topics.

 

[andrewhopkins]

To be honest...

it sounds like you are at the stage where doing it yourself and gaining experience is the best way to learn. Its an old saying but the best way is by making mistakes.

Why dont you go out in the week and set yourself some tasks like practice arriving/leaving pontoons using different warp techniques, eg. springs, etc.

Getting on to mooring buoys, onto piles......

If you really want some help then you should either go on a coastal skipper/yachtmaster practical course through sailing schools like Southern Sailing et al and they'll teach you.

 

[Twister_Ken]

rent-a-skipper

SOuthern SAiling School (and maybe others) will rent you a skipper for the day(s) on your own boat so you can learn clever things in the yacht you will eventually do those clever things in. Which given that all boats behave a little differently, and have their own idiosyncracies, might be a good idea.

Of course, you'll have to forgo the sunshine, warm water and cheap tavernas if you go this route!

 

[jollyjacktar]

Plane Sailing

What's wrong with you matey, all you need to do is put a bit of cloth up the mast and pull it in till it stops flapping. You will find that you get blown in the direction of the wind, if you can sort that out. Sometimes you seem to be going in directions other than the wind direction. That's all there is to it, the rest is up to you, practise and and a bit of fine tuning. Warning though, you may be out of control and end up un unfriendly shores.

 

[Bergman]

Re: Plane Sailing

I tend to agree with JJT

Just go out and do it, its not rocket science or black magic

All the tuition in the world won't do as much for you as practice.

Best of luck and enjoy yourself

 

[Grehan]

Thanks folks, but sometimes its good to have a bit of reassuring 'pointing in the right direction' We like to learn new things (it can be fun!), and yes JJT Happysailorman that includes learning from our own self-inflicted independent mistakes too.
I still think that mixing a bit of pleasure with a bit of conscious learning, maybe in the sun, sounds nice.

JG's Southern was kind-of on my half-baked list. I've heard other good reports of them.

Suggestions/experiences still welcome!

Thanks again.

 

[Eric]

Private Tuition

I would recommend some private tuition. Get your regular crew together for a weekend, get an instructor for the first day and continue practicing the next. This way you can focus on the particular areas you feel weak and you can practice it on your own boat.

I have done this a while ago to get some more spinnaker practice and I was really glad that I have done it.

Good luck
Eric