Chris


I just sent Jon and email about dates around 12/19. I told him that you and I were exchanging IMs. I've also taken your advise and my wife, daughter and I are taking the 101 course at a local sailing school.

No problem - I talk to a lot of people who ask the same question and it does make sense - why learn on a boat I don't intend to sail? But when I see students trying to learn the basics on a big cat I feel for them. I think a couple of days on the small boat really helps a lot.

We just finished up at the Annapolis Boat Show and flew to Tahiti to do a flotilla with some of our sailing school alumni. The Annapolis show is amazing! Be sure to stay in touch - we will be in Annapolis again next year. We are planning to do a seminar for people looking to do sailing school next year - so keep an eye out for that! If you go to our website and fill out an inquiry form you can sign up for our newsletter - that would be a good way to stay up on what we have happening. Just mention that we have been talking on Cruiser's Forum in the inquiry.

Beam winds,

Chris

Chris


Thank you for the information. I really appreciate you taking the time to answer my question. I've been a power boater for years and actually swore I'd never sale. Never say never right? Wind is free and when my wife and I want to sail away into the sunset free is better than $4.00 per gallon. We're about a year 1/2 off before we take our classes. Next year we'll be at the Annapolis show to check out cats and then start moving from there. Thanks again!

ShellBack, I think it was you asking why you might want to take a course on a small monohull when you never intend to sail a monohull - correct? I hope I got that right.

The reason I would recommend it is because you just don't feel what the boat is doing on a catamaran. You don't get the same feedback from the steering and the sensation of sailing when the boat is trimmed correctly vs. when it is a bit off. With the small monohull you get a lot more response. You feel it when you are doing it right and when you are doing it wrong.

It is also a lot easier to maneuver - so learning how to release a jib sheet properly and trim it in on the new tack is easier.

Once you learn these skills on the small monohull (such as a J/105 or similar) you will be able to transfer these skills to the catamaran. You will become a better cat sailor from the experience you get sailing on the small keel boat.

I hope that helps!

Chris

Chris - if I know I’ll never skipper a monohull why would it be important to take the basic keel boat course on the J105 compared to everything on a Cat? I didn’t want to hijack the op thread. ShellBack89 aka Mike