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November/December
2001
Issue 21
www.goodoldboat.com
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November/December
2001 |
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| Then I waited anxiously for the months to pass. I arrived in Portland at the end of July and explored the charming waterfront area while waiting for the start of my sailing school adventure. The next day I was welcomed aboard. |
On our first sail we kept track of our location
using a taffrail log and charted our progress on our cabintop chart, as
well as on a real chart. Larry's experience as a math teacher helped us to quickly grasp the concept of dead reckoning. |
We could hear the tension in Kate's voice when she said, "I don't even know how to drive a car," but Larry calmly gave her step-by-step directions, assuring her she could do it. Larry taught sailing terms and points of sail, while assigning each person tasks to |
| Students ranged in age from a high school senior
to 40- or 50-something, and our skill ranged from complete novice to experienced
sailor. Right away we gathered on deck for our first lesson in coastal navigation. Larry guided us as we developed a compass rose and chart, writing directly on the cabintop! |
"We decided it would be prudent
for me to devlop my navigation skills. Ken encouraged me to take a course simply to bolster my confidence" |
raise sails and navigate our course. Letty quietly assisted students, reinforcing Larry's instruction. Peaceful landfall |
| (Larry removes the marks after every class.)
We learned about charts by making one, focusing on the most critical parts
of the chart without the confusion of numerous markings. We learned how to measure for the appropriate placement of latitude and longitude lines. We charted several practice routes. |
Following our "classroom" instruction
and a delicious lunch served in the cockpit, Larry directed Kate, the high school senior, to steer as we set off on our first sail. He calmly gave her instructions as she motored the 52-footer away from the dock and out of the harbor. I doubt I would have been that calm turning over the wheel of our boat to a novice. |
It was good that this was a short sail. Three
of five students were seasick due to the substantial ocean swell. Letty passed the designated bucket around to those in need, and Larry emptied it overboard without missing a beat in his instruction. There was no swell on subsequent days, and no one was seasick again, though some of us used our scopolamine patches just in case. |
| A few of the many sailing schools available |
| Adams School of Sailing 13329 NW Glenridge Dr. Portland, OR 97229 Annapolis Sailing School Banana Bay Sailing School Blue Water Sailing School Emerald Coast Sailing Learn to Sail - San Diego
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Modern Sailing Academy Offshore Sailing School Sailboats Inc. Superior Sailing Center of Santa Barbara San Juan Sailing, Inc.
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School of Ocean Sailing Sea Dog Sailing Sea Sense, Inc. Sequin Navigation Co. Silver Waters Sailing Water Ways Sailing School Women in the Wind |
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