Bill Gladstone of North U. sent some terrific tips for sailors taking friends on their very first sail. It's not always as easy as it looks or as enjoyable as you might think - these tips can help.
Here are a few tips to helping landlubbers enjoy their maiden voyage. We are assuming a keelboat here - not a dinghy.
First, get your guests familiar with a tilting world. While still at the dock or mooring, before you get underway, heel the boat. Move everyone to one side of the boat to show that it will heel, but will NOT tip over. Mention that the boat will heel when under sail, and that we control how much the boat heels.
Once under sail with the boat heeled over dump the mainsheet and stand the boat upright. Explain once more that the boat heels, but that we control how much. Furthermore, tell your guests that anytime they are uncomfortable with the heel of the boat they can ask to have the boat stood up.
Longtime sailors forget that living in a tilting world takes some getting used to. Just knowing that we are in control helps the new sailors get comfortable with heeling.
Other things to do:
Put the new sailors to work.
Trim and Grind
Show them how to tail (pull) a sheet and grind a winch and make them an active part of the crew, not “in the way” passengers. Ease to a luff and trim. Ease and trim.
Put them at the helm.
A few thoughts here: Explain that the lanes are wide, and the boat will wander. It’s like taking a dog for a walk. You won’t sail a straight line; you just want to maintain a good average course.
Steering can be tricky, and instruction can be confusing… I often suggest that they try moving the tiller or turning the wheel one way, and if that doesn’t take ‘em where they want to go, try the other way. They’ll figure it out.
Turn… Steering in a straight line can be a bore. In moderate winds with kids at the helm, trim and cleat sails to a close reach and tell the driver to spin a 360.
Keep it active and move people around. Everyone trims and drives. Sailing is a sport, or at least a leisure activity. Make it active.
Wear your lifejacket and have your guests do the same. We wear seatbelts in cars and lifejackets in boats. It is part of the routine.
Bill Gladstone
North U.
Bill@NorthU.NorthSails.com
North U., the education division of North Sails, offers a complete range of educational course and, for Sailstice sailors, some great prizes!