That's awesome! The ASA 101 course is a great way to get started. Best of luck with your training in Seattle! I'm sure we'll cross paths on the water someday. Happy sailing! ⛵
I live in an area where not many people sail - inland. I own a boat and have taught myself sailing with no help. I wanted to have a nice sailing vacation in Florida so I rented a room and a sailboat. Thing is you can't rent the boat unless you pay for a few hours of instruction. For just a bit more I could take an ASA101 course and then I would have something that could be used to rent elsewhere. The instructor was knowledgeable but he was also a bully. I did alright most of the time but I was sharing my lesson time with another guy who had nevernbeen sailing. He was constantly berated fo not knowing stuff while he was under pressure and in the process of sailing. It takes time to be able to perform a maneuver and describe what you will do - what you expect to happen - then narrate while you do it an then analyze what you did. Most people canydo that on their first day on a boat. I really felt bad for the guy as the instructor berated and abused him. I tried to be a helpful crewman when it was his turn in order to reduce the amount of abuse he experienced. I cought hell myself a couple times. Remeber I have no one to talk to about sailing when I am on my boat. I never verbalize what I am doing - I just do it. Am I on a port tack? Who cares when I am the only boat? It is something worth knowing but it helps to have a sailing buddy to talk to and other boats to practice right of way. I learned some things that day (yes about sailing too) but my most valuable lesson: for the cost I paid timo rent a boat and room I could have bought a Catalina 22 in better shape than the one I rented that week. I could have found some kind sailor to go out with me and help me brush up my skills and we would have ended up friends. I could have resold that boat and been money ahead or abandoned it and break even. I could have sailed my own boat on days when the rental was withheld from me just because their insurance won't cover if the wind is fresh. I could have avoided Florida altogether - which I highly recommend as on every one of 3 Florida vacations that I have had, I feel the car rental companies find ever better ways to rape my wallet there and the very roads themselves are designed to steal my money. There are other States with water. Basically my vacation was a bust but dealing with a nasty instructor did nothing to improve matters.
Helpful video! I’m on my fourth lesson for ASA 101 and I would of much rather had them been 1 on 1 lessons. I feel like I’ve learned the book back and forth but don’t have as much water experience due to sharing time with three other students.
Thanks for watching and for your comment! It’s great to hear that you’ve really nailed the book material. I totally get where you’re coming from with the group lessons-splitting time on the water can be a bit challenging when you’re eager to practice and the time in larger groups is usually spent on answering questions. If you can, maybe see if your instructor offers any one-on-one sessions or smaller groups for some extra hands-on time. Mine offered me more time with more people because I mentioned my main goal was to see how everyone reacted, free of charge. But every course and instructor is different. Never hurts to ask though! Either way, keep at it! The more time you spend on the water, the more everything will start to click. Seriously, the best practice is practice. Happy sailing and hope to see you out there and I'm shore I will! 😉 ⛵
101 is an introductory course but foundational. Boat time in the Pacific bays is a tougher ice breaker than a small lake sailor would have so keep your head up and keep moving forward as chaos is part of sailing 👍🏼⛵️
Thanks for the encouragement! You're right-starting with the ASA 101 course was a great foundation, and navigating the Pacific bays definitely adds an extra layer of challenge. I’m embracing the chaos as part of the adventure and staying focused on improving my skills. Appreciate the support and the reminder to keep moving forward! ⛵️👍🏼
I am a kitesurfer with 20 yrs exp. I bought a 38’ liveaboard kiteboard made by beneteau. I’ve sailed … never until now. I went out with a sailor a few times. I’ve gone solo now too Ya lessons would be great I’m sure. Very $$$$ and full up so maybe another time
Agreed, the lessons are expensive and prices even vary based on location. I'd say if you want it, it provides value but it's not a necessity. Experience is what I found most valuable out of it but there are other ways to get experience. We're looking at 38' for our live aboard as well. So happy you found your forever boat ⛵
@@dadzilla007 I'll be honest, I found the book not so great. Turns out the book was written by the Coast Guard and the ASA class has a different test style. Like the wording is very different. The book states that power driven vehicles must give way to ones under sail. But this is not true 100% of the time. You have to find the exceptions to the rule somewhere else as a side note in a paragraph talking about something else entirely while the ASA asks specifically when a boat under sail gives way. I'd say 1/3 of the book key is used on the test and if you can find a copy of the test to study with, the book becomes more helpful
Close hauled is an undesirable point of sail. Those who choose to sail close hauled, when they do not have to, are thrill seeking not destination making. When you heal excessively, it means you are losing forward momentum to sideways slippage.
I'm definitely not a thrill seeker, that's for sure lol. Any advice on what the best point of sail is? Through all the books and training, it eludes to it being optimal, but I agree, when I'm out there actually sailing, heading in or bearing away a bit feels more right. Like they can't teach feeling or experience but any suggestions from your experience?
@@michewi I think that a broad reach is the most comfortable and effective point of sail. Between broad an close hauled gets more uncomfortable. Like I said before heal=sideways motion=inefficient sailing. I am far from a champion sailor and do not enjoy racing at all. Some sailors would say if you don't race you don't sail, but I disagree.
I also disagree with that sentiment. I'm looking for the most efficient way of sailing. I'm fascinated by how far the push sideways is when we're doing different points of sail. I think we'll try doing a broader reach next time and I appreciate your recommendation 🩷
@michewi stay strong!! While I may not be able to fully understand or appreciate your fear, the important thing is that you didn't let it stop you from realizing your dream. We will all encounter difficulties along the way. Bully on you for not letting it stop you! Too many people let fear stop them. You didn't do that. The basest of all things is to be afraid. Good job!
