Websites for Newbies

[cwyckham]

We get a lot of people on the forum who want to learn to sail. I also run into a lot of people in "real life" who say they want to learn.

I never really know where to send these people online. I'd love to send them to a resource for the new sailor. I'm planning to set up such a site myself since I'm not finding a lot online.

So when people ask you how to learn to sail, buy their first boat, etc. Is there a place you send them?

If you're a new sailor yourself, what are the best online resources you've found?

Thanks for your help!

[Celestialsailor]

Google search engine...much better than a CF member search engine.

[Mirage35]

No brilliant breakthrough ideas: when I first learned to sail (pre-Internet) I simply stumbled across a club/school because my roommate talked me into going to a boat show with him. More recently I just searched for nearby schools.

For a website it would be impossible to provide all of the information yourself, so you would need to find or create an aggregator site that provides links, search and sort capability to connect to all of these various resources, wherever they are. And then decide if you want it to be self-managing or curated. Pros and cons for both approaches, as well as for the other possible approaches that I haven't heard of.

In short, I could point you to the websites that I've found useful (send me a message if you'd like a list) but the challenge seems to be figuring out what to do once you have them.

Could be an interesting, possibly infinite, project.

[MarinerJo]

I would send them to this very forum we are in now. Every question I've had so far has either been answered here or have provided links to sights that did.

[knockout_mice]

YouTube can be helpful too. Just browsing around there, all sorts of tutorials for all skill levels.

[Lohi]

Well i found that no matter how many books or videos i saw/read before when i came to the boat that knowledge started to sink in only when i could visualize by doing how all those thing actually work.

So i guess i'm saying actually doing it is the best and fastest way to learn.

Although reading a book is never a wasted time.

Some apps i use:

Animated knots
Sailing right of way

Websites:

http://http://www.cruisersforum.com/
Lesson 1 Flipbook | Spinnaker Sailing
Youtube - but that is more for my daily sailing fix

Of course there are ton of other resources on the net just google

[cwyckham]

Thanks again for all the input, guys. I launched Sail Mentor yesterday.

My first two articles were on why people should learn to sail and how to learn to sail.

My next two will be on buying your first boat: costs and choosing a boat.

I'm very open to suggestions on topics or any feedback people might have.

[Tayana42]

Nice first posts on Sail Mentor. There are many people new to sailing who have similar beginner questions. Your approach is positive and encouraging without unnecessary technical complexity. Lots of sailor wannabes can be referred to your site. Good for you.


S/V B'Shert

[cwyckham]

Originally Posted by Tayana42

Nice first posts on Sail Mentor. There are many people new to sailing who have similar beginner questions. Your approach is positive and encouraging without unnecessary technical complexity. Lots of sailor wannabes can be referred to your site. Good for you.


S/V B'Shert

Thank you! That really means a lot to me.

[eastendsailor]

Great idea! Well done. After Yachtworld, CF was the second online place I discovered when looking for stuff about sailing. Your site is perfect for those who have just begun to entertain the idea of learning to sail.

I've been engaged with the various things you recommend for the last year or so ... went for a sail with a CF member, got some learn-to-sail books and a Chapman's, have been watching sailing school videos online, practicing knot tying, etc. In a couple of weeks, I'm doing the ASA 101 course.

[micah719]

Here're three I've found helpful. Being landlocked at the moment isn't conducive to actual practice (it ruins the bottom of boats, I've found), but I consider everyone a source of learning.

Introduction to the junk-rigged Corribee Mingming
Sailingmates | A site for sailors, by sailors
Zero to Cruising!

[cwyckham]

Originally Posted by eastendsailor

Great idea! Well done. After Yachtworld, CF was the second online place I discovered when looking for stuff about sailing. Your site is perfect for those who have just begun to entertain the idea of learning to sail.

I've been engaged with the various things you recommend for the last year or so ... went for a sail with a CF member, got some learn-to-sail books and a Chapman's, have been watching sailing school videos online, practicing knot tying, etc. In a couple of weeks, I'm doing the ASA 101 course.

Thanks for the feedback, eastendsailor.

It sounds like you're doing a great job of mixing self-learning with some mentorship and soon some professional instruction.

Feel free to PM me if I can help in any way and keep us posted on how your ASA 101 course goes.

[cwyckham]

Originally Posted by micah719

Here're three I've found helpful. Being landlocked at the moment isn't conducive to actual practice (it ruins the bottom of boats, I've found), but I consider everyone a source of learning.

Introduction to the junk-rigged Corribee Mingming
Sailingmates | A site for sailors, by sailors
Zero to Cruising!

Thanks, Micah. I really appreciate it. I know the zero to cruising guys, but I'll look more deeply at the others. I have a soft spot for the junk rig.