When it Comes to Your Sailing Education, You’re the Boss!

One of the most important parts of beginning your sailing education is finding the right sailing school. Every individual has different strengths, weaknesses, needs, and ideal learning methods. Likewise, every sailing school has different instructors, courses, boats, and teaching methods. Even a school’s location can affect your sailing education. For example, learning to sail in San Francisco Bay’s heavy winds might scare one student and motivate another. Here at ASA, we want to provide every sailor with a sailing education that conforms to their needs and inspires them to continue sailing We know this for sure: you know yourself, and we know sailing. So it’s up to you to determine where you will be happiest and learn the most.

Aside from perusing each sailing school’s website, the best way you can determine what school is the best fit is by calling them. It might seem a little old fashioned to the younger generation, but by talking to a human being you will be able to get all your questions answered and get a real feel for the school. You are essentially interviewing each school for the opportunity to teach you how to sail. That’s one of the huge benefits of learning to sail with ASA… We have so many schools that you always have a choice!

Here are some tips for how to effectively interview a sailing school:

§ Ask what courses are offered. This is the most important piece of information!

§ Ask about specialty courses. Some schools have destination courses, courses for couples, all-female courses, racing courses, and many others.

§ See if the school offers courses at times that fit into your schedule.

    Ask about private classes and group lessons. Which do they recommend and why?

§ Ask about instructors. Some people learn best from peers, others from older mentors, and some don’t have a preference. Figure out which category you fall into and find an instructor who will help you grow as a sailor!

§ Inquire about the student demographic. Are they similar to you? Does it matter to you?

§ Take note of how the person on the other end of the line reacts to your questions. Are you looking for a basic, clear sailing education or a carefree, fun one? Their tone of voice can tell you a lot about how the school operates and what instructors, students, and administrators are like.

If you’re still stuck between a few schools and can’t make up your mind, visit them!

By Bill Schrama

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What is a Catamaran?

A traditional sailboat is a monohull–in other words, it has only one hull centered around a heavy keel. A catamaran is balanced on two hulls, with the sails in the middle. It’s as simple as that. Depending on the size of the boat, the space separating the two hulls might be filled by a cockpit, a main cabin, and usually some netting (which can be a great place for relaxing in the sun).

Why are Catamarans Popular?

Size and stability are the main factors. With two hulls and the space in between, there tends to be more room on a catamaran, both above and below decks. Vacationers chartering a boat love cats for this reason. There’s space for a lot of people and a lot of stuff. Additionally, the stability offered by having two hulls means that the boat doesn’t heel over like a monohull–it stays pretty much level. This means the sailing experience is less tiring, as you aren’t battling gravity. Catamarans don’t need as much water underneath them, so you can sail in shallower places than a monohull, and in your anchorage at night you won’t roll around. There’s also a bit more privacy for those onboard, as the two hulls are completely separate from one another. Lastly, they tend to be faster!

How is Catamaran Sailing Different from Monohull Sailing?
As noted above, catamarans don’t really heel over. This makes the entire sailing experience different; the motion of the boat is different, you have to trim the sails differently, and pay attention to other factors that you might not be used to. In light wind and upwind sailing conditions, it can be harder to make headway. When the wind is strong, because the boat doesn’t seem to “react” to the wind, it can be more challenging to tell when you are overpowered and need to reef. In heavy weather (which most casual sailors tend to avoid) a catamaran can be a liability, though with the proper training they can be handled safely. When the conditions are right, catamarans are sweet sailing, smooth performing, and comfortable, so it’s no surprise that more and more of them are appearing in the world’s best sailing destinations.


Where Can I Get Training in Catamaran Sailing?

In response to their rise in popularity, ASA developed a new course, 114: Cruising Catamaran. This course is ideal for people who already have monohull cruising experience and want to translate that over to the catamaran. You’ll learn all the advantages and disadvantages of multihull sailing so that you’ll always be making an informed decision when considering which boat to charter or buy. You’ll also get the practical sailing skills you need to be confident and have a great time on your cat. Contact an ASA school near you to see if they offer ASA 114: Cruising Catamaran.

Article taken from Sailing Blog and Social Hub from American Sailing Association - http://www.asa.com/social_media
URL to article: http://www.asa.com/social_media/2013/01/18/catamaran-sailing/

By Don Schrama

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