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Today is Halloween, and Erin came dressed up as a mime. I didn't recognize her.
We got to practice our jibes today. No one actually said "jibe ho," but it was fun nonetheless. Ed went first, and by the time it was my turn to practice, the wind had died to nothing. To complicate things, there was a stand up paddleboard race in the harbor, and the announcers were yelling over their PA system for us to get out of the course. Unfortunately, without any wind, it's a bit hard to move the sailboat.
Next week is our last class. I inquired about private lessons, as, while very affordable, I feel like the group classes don't offer as efficient a learning experience as I'd like. One teacher for 15 students is a thin spread, and I'd like to get more detailed feedback on what I'm doing.
In particular... SAIL TRIM. I have a hard time reading the wind and trimming the sails accordingly. I'm afraid maybe I lack the required natural ability here, and hope that's not the case. Regardless, I got Erin's contact information and will try to work something out so that I can get more time with an experienced instructor...
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Sunday, October 31, 2010
Sunday, October 24, 2010
More Tacking
In class today we rigged the boats and spent our time learning to tack. Another gal who missed her class yesterday (it was raining) was put in our boat for a make-up session. It was pretty fun - we ran figure eights around two bouys, tacking back and forth a few times each.
Erin also went over points of sail and such in the classroom - again, not much new material here outside the books, but good to go over it.
I was a little embarassed today - I pronounced bowline as "bowlin," and while I believe that's the proper way to pronounce it, I felt like a poseur. Same thing when I referred to "blocks" and "sheets." I suppose I won't think twice about this sort of stuff later on.
I did find that tacking without the tiller extension was a little hard. My arms aren't long enough to push the tiller away from me without shifting my weight to the leeward side of the boat. With Ed already on that side, it's a lot of weight going to leeward while turning to windward, and sometimes feels a bit uncomfortable, as if we're going to tip over. So I use the tiller extension, even though I'm told we shouldn't. Not sure the reasoning behind this.
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Erin also went over points of sail and such in the classroom - again, not much new material here outside the books, but good to go over it.
I was a little embarassed today - I pronounced bowline as "bowlin," and while I believe that's the proper way to pronounce it, I felt like a poseur. Same thing when I referred to "blocks" and "sheets." I suppose I won't think twice about this sort of stuff later on.
I did find that tacking without the tiller extension was a little hard. My arms aren't long enough to push the tiller away from me without shifting my weight to the leeward side of the boat. With Ed already on that side, it's a lot of weight going to leeward while turning to windward, and sometimes feels a bit uncomfortable, as if we're going to tip over. So I use the tiller extension, even though I'm told we shouldn't. Not sure the reasoning behind this.
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Sunday, October 17, 2010
First Class - Lots of Fun!
Today was first class on the Capri 14.2 at Leeway Sailing Center. My teacher's name is Erin, and the class seems like it will be a good time - laid back, but still plenty to learn.
Most the class was spent indoors, orientation to terminology and knots. There was nothing new covered so far that wasn't covered in the books I've been reading, but was nice to get it in person rather than from the page.
Most students are older - I think I'm one of the younger ones there, and the class is split pretty evenly between guys and gals. I'm not sure what everyone's motivations for learning are, but everyone seems nice.
My partner's name is Ed. He's the tallest guy in the class, I'm the shortest. Between the two of us, we did okay in the boat while rigging and practicing our first tacks in the harbor.
I've gotta say that I feel quite alientaed from the boat. I'm a long way from embodying it like one embodies a car, to the point where one's consciousness is distributed through the mechanics being operated. I look forward to a future where I can do without thinking so procedurally. Guessing it will be a while!
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Most the class was spent indoors, orientation to terminology and knots. There was nothing new covered so far that wasn't covered in the books I've been reading, but was nice to get it in person rather than from the page.
Most students are older - I think I'm one of the younger ones there, and the class is split pretty evenly between guys and gals. I'm not sure what everyone's motivations for learning are, but everyone seems nice.
My partner's name is Ed. He's the tallest guy in the class, I'm the shortest. Between the two of us, we did okay in the boat while rigging and practicing our first tacks in the harbor.
I've gotta say that I feel quite alientaed from the boat. I'm a long way from embodying it like one embodies a car, to the point where one's consciousness is distributed through the mechanics being operated. I look forward to a future where I can do without thinking so procedurally. Guessing it will be a while!
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