10 Mistakes Newbies Make

1. 

   1. OVER-THINKING—Look, this is a sport. It’s not rocket science. Many of my students had bad experiences on a sailboat as a child or with their dad or first husband. That was then. Now you have another chance. Clear your mind of preconditions and take one step at a time. Read a beginners book like Sailing For Dummies to realize how much you already know. For example: Once clear of the marina, keep the engine on low speed and raise the sail while pointing into the wind.

2. OVER-CONFIDENCE—Men who used to run motorboats are the worst because they assume a sailboat isn’t much different. Way different, beginning with the stability curve. While a keel sailboat won’t tip over, a centerboard sailboat will easily flip. Motorboat dudes fail to realize how dangerous the boom can be when it tacks around, or worse—gybes.

3. ASSUMING SAFETY—The most dangerous thing about any boat is the water you risk falling into. In early spring when the weather warms up, river and lake water is still frigid and can lead to death-defying hypothermia in less than 15 minutes. Therefore…

   1. Always wear a life preserver,preferably USCG I Class because they have a neck brace built in that will keep your ahead afloat if you’re unconscious.

   2. Tether to the boat if sailing solo. Tie it off to a centerpoint of the boat, preferably the mast. Tie it tight around your waist, or better yet attach it to a safety harness that covers the entire torso.

   3. Dress for cold weather. You can always peel off the layers if things warm up. Bring an extra pair of dry socks.

   4. Learn which lines to release first and last when departing the dock. Practice docking and departing (see video below). Rule of thumb: Don’t approach the slip or dock any faster than you would if you intended to hit it. When reaching a dock, always try to slide into it rather than head-on. Think of it as parking a car.

4. SAILING TOO FAR—It’s easy to sail out into the water on a close reach, only to find out that it takes longer to get back. Be aware of the tides and when they change. It’s harder to sail against the current. Unless you have a competent engine, don’t go too far. Learn the range of how far to go on certain winds before having to turn around. Take a marine radio with you to summon help on the water. A cell phone won’t connect you to that nearby rescue boat. Among all the mistakes newbies make, this is potentially the worst.

5. BUYING TOO QUICKLY—People get so enthusiastic that they sometimes fall in love with the first boat they excell on. Take your time and test different sizes and lengths. The American Sailing Association offers 22-foot and 36-foot keel boats to test the extremes. ASA also offers a membership component that precludes buying any boat. The website getmyboat.com offers myriad sailboats of all sizes to rent on nearby bodies of water. Think of it as Uber for boats.

6. FLYING SPINNAKER—This looks fancy but it requires a certain skill and experience. Choose asymmetrical over symmetrical because the latter requires more crew. Buy a chute for the asymmetrical to raise and douse the sail easily. Be sure to keep all the spinn lines outside the boat. Learn the spinnaker from a buddy or a teacher before trying it yourself. Never fly it solo. 

7. BUYING TOO SMALL—Some new owners develop buyer’s remorse for having bought too small. Two rules of thumb:

   (a) Think distance instead of speed or comfort. If you plan on going out on a Saturday morning to sail across the water to a mooring overnight, you want at least 25 feet of boat. But if you’re taking a week’s cruise, think 30-40 feet. If you’re just enjoying an afternoon, 22 feet works fine. (b) Whatever length you decide, add two feet and buy bigger even if you think you can’t afford it. Otherwise within a year you’ll be selling the short boat at a comparative loss. Or wishing you had.

   8. OVER-REACHING—The Close Reach is the optimum point of sail for speed, but the boat shouldn’t tilt or heel more than 15%-20%. Anything beyond that is uncomfortable and won’t increase speed. Be prepared to ease the mainsheet or release the traveler. Watch the water for approaching gusts so you can turn instantly to a Beam Reach that will flatten out the boat.

8. GADGETS—Sailboats already come with plenty of challenges without adding complexity to things. Learn to read paper charts before investing in an electronic chart plotter. Take the time to read the wind before installing a wind-direction meter. Use inexpensive telltales instead. Learn to steer in any condition before converting to auto-pilot.

9. OVERBOARD—The fatal flaw to boating. Respect the water. And don’t fall off the dock, either, because it makes you look ridiculous.

Virginia Beach Sailors

No mistakes by these people, who have considerable boating backgrounds. Two couples from Virginia Beach had never met, but the men had a lot in common. Rick Albert works with Navy support ships, and Chris Wenz used to be a Navy captain.

Rick said, “I’m the chief engineer for the US Navy Support fleet, part of the Military Support Command. We service the engines for all the boats that provide bullets, bombs and beans for the Navy fleet. I operate out of Norfolk and have 150 engineers under me.” I showed him my Yanmar 18 hp with two cylinders, and he liked it. “That’s what they put in our lifeboats.” He was referring to the small orange boats on each side of a USNS ship, like what Capt. Phillips had in the movie of the same name. Rick and his wife Sherryl are looking to buy a sailboat in retirement, and they live at the oceanfront of Virginia Beach.

Chris is retired and began his sailing at the US Naval Academy, where he was on the sailing team. Severn River? I asked. “No, offshore, in 65-foot boats.” Against other NCAA teams? “No, against other 65s. We sailed the Newport to Bermuda Race, Block Island races, and others like that.” He gently guided his wife Diane on the helm as she deftly steered in fluky winds. Their daughter Michelle got a round on the helm as well. They were celebrating her birthday.

“We sail with another couple on their 50-foot catamaran out of Virginia Beach. They take it to Key West now and then.” I love the casual nature of big-boat sailing. I take my boat to the fuel dock now and then. He added, as if hearing my thoughts, “We have a catboat in our back yard near Lynnhaven that our youngest daughter takes out.”

Chris had sailed the York before–in Navy missile cruisers headed to the Naval Weapons Station. I asked if it was always a rush to sail through an open bridge. “Yes, it was. I thought it important that junior officers get the experience, so I would put them on the helm as I stood shoulder-close to them.”

Let’s Avoid 10 Mistakes Newbies Make                                           

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