Getting Started
Roadmap — Seven
If
you are curious about sailing, or you know some of the basics, but
are not ready to make a commitment to owning a boat, there are still
some things you can do to begin to get involved in the sport. The
first three steps are really learning to sail, and are done independent
of the club. Then you start getting the club and its members to
help you to learn how to race.
a)
Sign up for a local learn-to-sail
program. This is a good way to get started. An American
Sailing Association (ASA) accredited course, such as the one at
Lake Crabtree, for example, will give you a good command of the
basics of how to get from one point to another in a sailboat. Taught
on simple Sunfish sailboats, the principles you'll learn will apply
to any kind of sailboat. See Learn
to Sail Classes.
b) Go sailing - Practice.
Once you know some of the basics - including the essential safety
rules - you will be amazed at how fast your skills will improve
if you can practice 3 times a month. A good way to do this if you
don't own a boat is to use one of the rental boats available in
the Triangle. See Triangle Area
Sailboat Rentals.
c)
Read up on sailing. Many
people find it helpful to read about sailing technique the night
before they go out to practice, and again at the end of the day
when they've been on the water. It gives you a chance to learn how
a technique or move is supposed to work, try out the technique on
the water, and then consolidate what you've learned after you've
had some experience it. See the References
section for suggestions.
d)
Join CSC as an Associate member and
participate in Club events. Being an associate member is a low-cost
alternative for non-boat owners. One of the biggest advantages of
belonging to CSC is the opportunity to learn from others. Most sailors
who have moved beyond the beginner stage have done so by learning
from other sailors and spending time on the water. You'll find CSC
members are more than willing to share what they know and help you
increase your knowledge and skills. So attend Club meetings, come
to the social events, help out on a committee, and ask lots of questions!
At your skill level, membership does not guarantee rides - but they
are easier to get if you are a member.
e)
Register on in the crew-finder on the members-only side of
the web site. Do not exaggerate your background: the knowledgeable
skipper will rapidly understand what you know once you get on the
water.
f)
Crawl though the web site (carolinasailingclub.org) to get
a feel for club activities. (For later use, note that in the members-only
side there is a Rogues Gallery of names and pictures of all members
to help you put faces with names and vice versa.)
g)
Go to the next Third Thursdays
Social to start meeting members and get the lay of the land.
h)
Read about racing.
Most racing crew are long on skills built up from experience, but
short on understanding of the underlying theories and ideas. You
can learn the theories and ideas from a book - not completely, but
more than most crew know. Read. Not just the sailing magazines,
but books.
i)
Serve on a Race Committee (You must be at least an associate
member to serve on a race committee.) By assisting an experienced
Principal Race Officer to run the races, you can observe the other
boats - their strategy, tactics, and boat handling. You can become
familiar with how the races are run, and begin to learn the essentials
of the racing rules. See the Events
page for dates and information on the various racing series.
When you joined the club you were asked for preferences about dates
for your obligatory race committee duty. Contact the Chairman of
the Regatta Operations Committee, Dave
Batchelor, and tell him you are willing to do more RC duty.
j)
Identify with a CSC Fleet. As
they gain racing skills, many non-boat owners in the club choose
to specialize in crewing with one particular fleet. This can work
well, because you learn that type of boat particularly well, and
you get to know the members of that fleet. Racing skippers are always
looking for crew that know how to race their type of boat, and they
tend to invite crew who they have already met.
k)
When you get crewing rides, ask questions. No question is
too dumb. Keep asking till you understand. The skipper is interested
in whether you are interested in learning and can learn fast. Never
sign up for a date unless you are sure you can make it; don't cancel
later. If you sign up, make it - and be on time.
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