Starting up: Which way to look first?

[mvillanueva]

Hello
My name is Michael, and I was referred here by a Mac owner after I had a brief email exchange a couple of days back he said something akin to If you are interested in Macs, you HAVE to take a look at (this board). As someone who has sailed only two summers on Lake Tahoe, and crewed all of twice on an Olson 30, I am going to buy a Mac in a couple of months. Obviously I am inexperienced, I do however have lots of experience at being cussed at while on the Olson 30, but I forgive him. It was his new toy and he badly wanted to win something. Here is my question: I have many questions, and while I do use the search function to the best of my abilities, I am asking if this forum is an ok place to ask quantum basic questions. If not, is there a board better suited to my needs? I am not one to lurk and wonder. I am also asking for suggestions on beginning books and knowledge areas that I ought to tackle first with a decent book. I would really like to find a sponsor/mentee to get deep and fast into sailing the apprentice route, even if only virtually, is a way I have rapidly absorbed knowledge. I have some places I aim to go, and I am going to get there afore I leave. I also do as much diving as I can and I can see the Mac is not the sorta boat one can get back into easily with gear. However, there may be tips in that area as well.

My email is listed on my profile; anyone can ping me there so not to take up board space here. Thank-you for your time, I am very glad I found this board.

[Jeff]

"I am also asking for suggestions on beginning books and knowledge areas that I ought to tackle first with a decent book"

Though I didn't buy it. * I did flip through "Sailing for Dummies" at the book store recently. I am a long time small boat day sailor but that book looked like it had lots of very useful information for newbie or more experienced folks.

* My daughter when she was only nine wanted a book about Cats. I suggested the Cats for Dummies book and she indignantly responded, "I'm not a dummy!!" I said of course you're not and bought her another book instead. That said, they are pretty good books but since then I keep my "Java for Dummies" book hidden.

[James V]

The boards is quite good a handling different problems with a Mac. Your local sailing group or dealer may be of some help with somebody in your area if somebody on the board is not in your area. The Mac does sail. In some ways differently. The manual is good for a start. The motoring for single engins DVD's will be of help as well.

The and are a little different boats so please make sure that when reading the threads that you take note which one it is related to.

Ask your questions, I did. If there is a thread that has already discussed it, somebody will direct you.

[ken smith]

Michael, the x is the boat for a diver. I dive and it is easy to get back aboard with equiptment on. There are other differences between the x and m and after reading many posts you will see a picture begin to immerge. ken

[cuisto]

I bought sailing for dummies for my wife....she didnt take it too bad.

The content is good and although it doesnt assume you know about sailing it also doesnt assume youre dumb.

She enjoyed it and it explained alot to her about the things i was explaining but didnt understand well enough to explain well.
Did that make sense?

[Francis]

I also bought sailing for dummies when I started out and it is a really great book. It is fast to read and it makes it very clear on how things can be done. I carry it all the time with me with a few other books as well. When I do things the way they suggest it has always worked for me. I would get that book as a first book.

[LOUIS B HOLUB]

The MacGregor video and DVD narrates that "more people have learned to sail on a MacGregor than any other"...
Im not sure if thats true, but as an owner of my second MacGregor, I've found them fun and easy to sail. Theyre sailed "single handled" well, after a little experience on the water.

[mvillanueva]

I appreciate the responses -- I will get the Dummy on my next trip into ABQ.

Holy, Holy Smokes!! And I thought the Land Rover or Jeep debate was lively!!

[waternwaves]

Mike (mvillanueva)

I sail alone (frequently) and dive alone(occasionally)......that being said. (neither one being particularly smart or skillful, One has to be more careful.)

Diving off my X is much easier with the inflatable dinghy snubbed tight agaisnt the transom, reboarding is almost natural., plus it is handy to store my bags and gear during doff and don. (I dont care much for my 80's touching fiberglass. The extra step is reloading the Dink when done.

I am kind of tall and large......so entry ease is ......well....... relative......

I also use a small boom to haul up against when I dont have the dinghy out, but if you do that, eventually you will be doing fiberglass repair.

All I have to do now is figure out how to get the tank Compressor, generator, watermaker, emergency pump, to all fit in one too small of space.

Good luck and enjoy

|>

[bob lee]

mike;

my wife and i just got into sailing last season, and if i can suggest one thing you should do, take a certification course in your area. its worth every penny. we spent a week on a 34' catalina, living on board, with a CYA skipper on board. We completed written testing as well as practical skills, and the level of confidence at the end of the course is a huge benifit. I think that anyone starting out, would learn more in a week, then in all the great sailing books combined.

well worth every penny, for safety, skills, theroy reason

best of luck!

bob lee

[Randy Smith]

Ah heck, find someone in your area with a Mac...make a new friend, buy a boat, and enjoy the rest of your days.........both feet so to speak....... Randy

All questions should be asked and can likely be answered on this site...don't hold back.............

[Scott]

Michael, something else to remember when new to sailing is that sailing isnt as complicated as most sailors make it. The reality is that a sunfish has 2 controls and a Mac can be sailed efficiently with 3. As most people get better at sailing they naturally look to enhance the performance of their boat. This leads to added controls. I do agree that a Sailboat Cert coarse would be a great way to go, If you can get your boat onto the water with the engine (out of the harbour, Sailing is as simple as:

1 raise the main while pointed into the wind with the mainsheet loose,

2 point your boat where you want to end up (providing it is at least 40+ degrees off the direction the wind is coming from),

3 Sheet in your main until the leading edge (luff) just stops fluttering (luffing).

On any tack (direction in relation to the wind) from beating (pointed upwind) to broad (wind from your right or left) This is a good way to get as near an efficient set as you can without being too involved.

You are now sailing. I realize that this is oversimplification to the n'th degree but its also how Ive taught everyone that Ive taught to sail. Keep it simple at first and get complicated as your skills and uderstanding of the art increase.

When you need to turn (Tack) turn your bow through the eye. (direction the wind is coming from) This is a little more difficult than turning the stern through the eye (Jibe) but far less dangerous. Keep your motor in the water and if you cannot complete the tack use it to bring the nose around. Loosen the mainsheet before you do this. complete the tack, sheet the main and turn off the motor.

There you go Sailing made simple. (This should set off a firestorm of debate)

[Catigale]

Roger is as guilty of marketing hype as anyone else but I will give him credit for the following (paraphrased) which I have found to be true

You can learn 90% of sailing in an hour or two, the next 10% takes a lifetime

Catigale ...currently at 90.1% rating

On edit - there is a pretty good instruction guide to sailing the in the user manual - see the Manual button on the left to download...

[argonaut]

Michael,
So far you've heard two schools of thought.
1 - Buy some books and watch TV.
2 - Buy a boat and take 'er out.

I advocate a parallel approach.

Sailing is easy, any kid can pretty much sail in about an hour.
Trailering, rigging, operating the outboard, and especially docking, and not things you're going to find much detail on in a book or video.

If there's any way you can get on someone else's boat, do it.
Bribe some unsuspecting fellow if you have to. That's not likely to be necessary though. 98% of sailors are fine folks, and remember how they learned. The nutjobs usually buy go-fast boats. Sailors are there for the journey, and usually happy to have company. They also are usually happy to pass on what they know. And you have no idea how many questions you'll have when you see things done.

Also there is more than one way to skin a cat, and do most things on a boat.

So if you had a boat this instant, you'd figure out how to sail it with no help in a few minutes. Launch and retrieval are more tricky, so spend some time watching it done somehow.

Above all, just get out there. There's no replacement for reality. Yet.

[Catigale]

I did both Michael....started by reading Eric Hiscocks book at age 6, 35 years later bought my first boat...

Read everything I could in between.

There is no substitute for doing it indeed.

Anyone wanting a test sail in the Albany NY area welcome anytime - just PM EM me

Also there is more than one way to skin a cat

Hey! I resent that!

CATigale