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Thankyou to everybody thats answered my question so far.
But what shall I wear to start off with??

Originally posted by redback I'm impressed you took my advice so thoroughly - but that Garry knows what he's talking about too.

Praise indeed! Thankyou Redback

Edited by Garry

I'm impressed you took my advice so thoroughly - but that Garry knows what he's talking about too. 

What I would like to say is that sailing is a tremendously challenging sport.  You have to learn to do so many skills intuitively so that you can then use your brain on the many decisions you have to take as well, especially if you are racing.  Also there are no rules which say a boat must be easy to sail so in consequence some are very difficult to control (but fast).  If you watch people sail a RS300 or Moth, Laser 4000, RS800 or 49er (and many others) they can make it look easy.  It isn't but that is part of the challenge.  You control a machine which is difficult and in environment which is forever changing and then you try and race and do it better than all those around.  It can take a lifetime to get it even reasonably good.  Finally I say fast and then maybe you ask how fast is that - say 12 mph and you probably think that is nothing.  Wait until you race a boat and find yourself doing that sort of speed alongside your competitors - it feels a lot faster than anything you'd ever achieve in a car or on a motorbike.  You'll have a lot more crashes too - but fortunately they won't kill you, but that doesn't stop them from frightening you silly.  I love it.

cool, welcome to the world of sailing keep us updated!

I think there are three key skills that beginners find hard to master.

1. knowing where the wind is coming from (both true and relative) and by inference understanding that it never stays constant.

2. Understanding (intuitively) the boats direction / course relative to the wind, tide and ground.

3. Being confident that their brain knows where their hands and feet are without having to look at them - hence they are free to look around (and particularly in the direction they intend to sail).

They are also difficult to teach because, like riding a bike or driving a car, to the experienced sailor they are completely intuitive.

For beginners I think it is sometimes worth getting them to crew blindfolded for 10 minutes (no gybes)and ask them to think about the feeling and motion of the boat and wind. For would be racers helming blindfolded is a well known coaching exercise.