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Check It Off the Bucket List

Just last week, an old friend said the magic words: “I’ve always wanted to learn how to sail.” When you work for

a sailing magazine, as we do at SpinSheet, you hear such phrases all the time. “It’s on my bucket list,” friends say. “I should take lessons.” Luckily for us sailors, many new sailors of all ages join the sport each year.

What concerns us are the ones who put off sailing for another year. We have this big, open, sailor-friendly Bay in our backyard. Why wait to sail on it? Is it a time or money barrier? Is the language of sailing too confusing? Do would-be sailors fear that sailing is an exclusive “club”? We suspect it’s a combination of all of the above.

Since we started SpinSheet 14 years ago as a free monthly for and by Chesapeake Bay sailors, we’ve received many phone calls from prospective sailors asking us how to get into the sport. The calls usually begin, “I’m new to the area and want to get into sailing. Someone told me to call you.” Sometimes, callers don’t even know we’re a magazine. They think we’re some sort of sailing consultancy. And they’re right!

We’ve always freely shared information about how to meet sailors and find clubs, where to find skilled teachers, what to wear, what to beware of, which events longtime sailors love, and even where to relax and just watch a sailboat race. Last year, we decided to put our collective wisdom in one place, and we launched our first edition of Start Sailing Now. We hope our new and improved 2009 edition will connect more of you to the sport this season.

Contrary to “yachting” stereotypes found in movies and Ralph Lauren ads, you don’t have to be rich to start sailing. Learning doesn’t require thousands of dollars. It wouldn’t hurt to have fancy gear, a boat, or a yacht club membership, but you don’t need any of it. We’d like to show you how to start sailing today on the Chesapeake Bay with nothing but a bare bones investment and a willingness to learn.

Sailing is more fun with friends, old and new. The Ralph Lauren yachting guy might not look open to bringing new friends into the fold, but we don’t know any sailors who haven’t taught new crew how to make their way around a boat, how to decipher the lingo, or how to coil a line. The sailors we know willingly share their rain jackets or gloves with guests or give knot-tying lessons or tips on steering boats.

The SpinSheet staff knows a lot about sailing and a boatload of sailors who are eager to share their expertise with new friends. We’d like to introduce you to them. No need to defer your sailing dream another year. You can start now.

Welcome to the exciting and totally addictive world of sailing!

Molly Winans

Editor, SpinSheet

spinsheet.com


Check It Off the Bucket List ..................... 3

Don’t Keel Over--Heel Over! ................... 5

Shifting Gear ................................................ 8

Why I Sail ......................................................11

Connecting to Sailing… for Free ........14

Don’t Be Offended If… ..........................16

The Sailing School Scene .......................18

The Boats We Love to Sail ......................20

Ten Sailing-Crazy Spots ..........................22Contents

A New Sailor Guide by

start

now

800-sail-123 ext. 653www.northsailsgear.com

Gr eat G ear!The latest sailing gear & accessories from North Sails

612 Third Street, Suite 3C,Annapolis, Maryland 21403(410) 216-9309 • Fax (410) 216-9330

EDITOR Molly Winans [email protected]

PUBLISHERMary Iliff [email protected]

© 2009 SpinSheet Publishing Company

Businesses or organizations wishing to distribute Start Sailing Now shouldcontact the office.

spinsheet.com • spinsheet.info • startsailingnow.com


Below: when you go into the cabin, it’s never “downstairs.” It’s always down below.

Boom: the pole hanging horizontally above the cockpit that could boom into your head if you’re not careful.

Bow: the front end of the boat, or as sailors refer to it with a grin, “the pointy end.”

Cleat: classic ones are shaped like anvils, but there are more modern versions with pinching teeth for securing lines on deck and on the dock.

Cockpit: the area with seats near the steering station or helm.

Come about:

to turn the bow of the boat through the wind. The skipper will say, “Ready about!” The crew responds, “Ready,” and they keep their heads down to avoid the boom. The skipper says, “Helms-alee” or “Hard-alee” and turns.

Deck: anywhere you can walk around on the exterior of the boat.

Gybing: sometimes spelled jibing (never jiving). This is when the boat turns with the wind at your back. The skipper says, “Prepare to gybe!” The crew says, “Ready,” and stays low to avoid the fast-moving boom. The skipper says, “Gybe ho” and turns.

Don’t Keel Over—Heel Over!22 Terms All Sailors Know

If you’ve ever heard a sailor joke about do-hickeys or thingamabobs, you know that sailing has a unique language, confusing even to the saltiest among us. Even longtime sailors disagree about the meanings of certain terms. We all have sailing

dictionaries on our shelves, and we look up the Old English origins of words to resolve disputes among crew.

Learning the complex language is an ongoing process, and believe it or not, it’s fun. You don’t have to be a linguist to speak the language. Start with the basics:


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Heel: the boat heels or leans at an angle while sailing. It does not keel over as one might after too much rum.

Helm: where the skipper steers with a wheel or a stick-like tiller.

Jib: the smaller triangular sail attached at the bow.

Keel: the heavy fixed fin on the bottom of the boat. (see heel)

Line: a rope on a boat is always called a line or a sheet. (see sheets)

Mainsail: the big sail attached to the mast.

Mast: the vertical pole on deck or “the stick.”

PFD: a personal floatation device or lifejacket. If someone asks you to wear one, don’t be offended. Lifejackets are not as goofy looking as they used to be.

Port: the left side of the boat facing forward. Port and left are both four-letter words.

Sheets: lines attached to the sails to control them. Crew members help with sheets.

Spinnaker: a parachute-like, triangular sail attached at the bow and used to propel a sailboat with the wind behind it. Sometimes called the kite or chute.

Starboard: the right side of the boat facing forward.

Stern: the back end of the boat, opposite the pointy end.

Winch: spherical metal hardware—beer- or paint-can sized—on either side of the cockpit where sheets are wrapped clockwise to crank sails in and out.


Shifting Gear:What Lurks in Your Closet?

Like runners, many sailors like to have a visor to protect their eyes and face from sun and rain. A safe bet is an old-fashioned baseball cap. A hat strap with a collar clip is helpful, as more “man overboard” drills are done for runaway hats than for men.

Nothing says “newbie” quite like a bad sunburn. Sunblock is a must, even when it’s cloudy. Skiers, snowboarders, waterskiers, paddlers, and surfers know that snow and water reflection make the sun twice as powerful. Effective, non-greasy, high-protection sunblock is available at ordinary drug stores. We recommend full head to toe coverage before you go out and reapplications during sailing.

As in any outdoor sport usually performed in temperatures between 50 and 100 degrees, high tech layers are the answer. A T-shirt, long-sleeved shirt, fleece vest, fleece pull-over, and nylon shorts/pants such as used for hiking and camping would almost complete your sailing gear kit.

The outer layer or foul weather gear for sailing isn’t unlike hiking outerwear, except that the retro cheapie poncho, which might be useful and funny on a rainy hike, would be a nuisance in the wind. Make sure you find waterproof outer tops and bottoms that will not flap in the wind, and always assume it will rain. Rain usually brings wind, and wind is a good thing—a wet rear

Most sailors we’ve encountered over the years have other outdoor passions: skiing, cycling, kayaking, wake-boarding, running, white-water rafting, and hiking. All of those sports involve gear much like sailing gear. Before you

go out and make any investment in new gear, check your closet and assess what you already have to cover you from head to toe.

We’re not saying you won’t have to buy gear once you get started. Good sailors have effective, sailing-specific gear and think staying dry and warm and moving around a cockpit safely and steadily are worth every penny. What we suggest is not letting lack of gear get in the way of trying the sport. You might have enough makeshift gear to start right now. Then once you’re hooked on sailing (as we know you will be), you can find ways to bulk up your sailing gear kit without breaking the bank.

Head Core


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end is not. A cold and soggy behind could ruin an otherwise terrific sailing day. You may already have a functional Gortex shell, but do find yourself some waterproof bottoms as well.

You can buy reasonable, effective foul weather gear for $250 new. If you find a crew to sail with, it’s a guarantee they’ll each have some surplus gear to lend or donate. When it comes to lifejackets, your crew will have one on board for you, but you might want to invest in a more stylish one; lightweight and attractive lifejackets really do exist! The vest styles can be great for keeping you warm as well as safe.

Sailing gloves are reasonably priced and an excellent investment for any new sailor.


Necklaces, dangling earrings, and precious gems can make for difficult or dangerous sailing wear. Leave them in your jewelry box at home. Buy Croakies to keep your expensive sunglasses from going “in the drink.”

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ToesSlipping on a wet deck, stubbing

your toe on metal hardware, and scuffing up the deck of someone else’s boat are the considerations when you choose sailing footwear. Flip-flops and dark-soled running or hiking shoes make lousy sailing shoes. Chuck Taylor high tops, white-soled tennis shoes, Keens, Tevas, and old fashioned Top-Siders make good non-scuffing sailing shoes. High tech wicking socks are the best.

Photo courtesy of Fair Wind Sailing School

Why I Sailby Warren Milberg


I had the opportunity to take a number of non-sailing friends out on my boat for long daysails last season. Most had never

set foot on a sailboat before. A number who had tried small boats such as Sunfish, without instructions first, were frustrated and disappointed by the experience. Many of my non-sailing passengers enjoyed the experience on my boat, but wondered why I own and sail a sailboat. To them, it seemed to be too much bother and too much expense.

Most of them are familiar with such homilies that describe sailing as, “getting cold and wet while slowly going nowhere at great expense.” Some have even heard, “It’s all in the journey, not the destination.” There is a modicum of truth in both of these platitudes. But, they hardly describe why I own a sailboat.

Unless you live aboard a sailboat, owning a sailboat doesn’t make much sense from an economic standpoint. The advent of fiberglass boats in the late 1950s ended the era when only the very rich sailed. The price of most boats today is within the reach of many.

However, in addition to the initial cost, the next major cost is where to keep it. Wet slips were never cheap, and the annual costs for them keep rising. Even if you keep a one-design racer on a trailer, you’ll have to pay for a place to park it unless that space is your

driveway. Even so, you may have to pay a launch fee every time you put your baby in the water or buy a special vehicle to tow it.

Sailboats demand a lot of time and continual maintenance. When spring rolls around, you’ll be spending virtually every warm weekend getting your boat ready for the season. This often involves sanding, prepping, and painting the bottom. And then there are all those “marine grade” items, from caulk to cleats, to stainless steel nuts

and bolts that keep nickel and diming you to death. We all have our own sense of just what a “boat unit” is.

Sailboats, by definition, depend on sails for power. Sooner or later, sails have to be replaced. I don’t know anyone who gives them away for free.

In between these major cost events, you make numerous trips to the chandlery to buy items for your boat that will just make life afloat more enjoyable. A new GPS chart-plotter; radar; depth, wind, and speed indicators; and furling and anchoring systems beckon like mermaids on the rocks each time I enter a boat store. More boat units.

Non-sailors tend to add all this up and arrive at the conclusion that sailing just doesn’t make any economic sense. I even know one fellow sailor who adds up all the things he has spent money on during the season—which he has tracked on a

“…when I raise the sails, and the boat heels a bit as it picks up speed, it is always a rush for me. Always.”


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computer spreadsheet—and divides that by the number of times he sailed. The purpose, so he says, is to find out how much each sail “costs.” I hope I never have this affliction.

I do just the opposite. While I have a general idea of how much things cost, I studiously avoid tracking them in any organized way. It’s not that I don’t want to know, it’s more of a case of it not being relevant.

So, what’s involved in this strange thing called sailing?

Let’s look at the skills needed to actually sail a boat—no small thing. The first thing one must do is to learn a foreign language. Every part on your boat has a unique nautical name. How things work and how you use them also have “funny” names to

non-sailors. When was the last time you took a non-sailor for a ride and asked him to “trim in the jib sheet?” And “hard alee” is hardly understandable without an explanation.

Sailing also involves the mastery of a number of interrelated skills, both physical and intellectual. Knowing which sails to raise and raising them require mental and physical work. Just think about what is needed to sail your boat to an upwind destination, between shoals and other obstacles, when it’s howling out there. You also must gain some understanding of navigation and the weather to become a successful repeat sailor.

Then comes maintenance and upkeep. I assume a very large percentage of sailors like to do as much of their own maintenance as


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is reasonable and possible. Not only is it nice to save money, it is satisfying to plan and complete a task on your boat yourself.

While few of us are capable of complete diesel engine overhauls, most of us know how to change a water pump impeller and replace a worn alternator belt. Then, there is bottom painting, repairing all those nicks and dings in the fiberglass topsides, and installing a new piece of electronic gear. None of us were born with this knowledge. It had to be learned. In one form or another, sailors are Renaissance people.

Even though I no longer cruise to distant destinations—my current boat has not been out of the Chesapeake—when I raise the sails, and the boat heels a bit as it picks up speed, it is always a rush for me. Always.

Whether I’m out for a daysail alone or off to St. Michaels or Solomons for a cruise with family or friends, I get the same sense of satisfaction from being at the helm of a moving sailboat. The wind, the water, the boat, and the captain become a single unit all working toward a common goal. There is just no other feeling quite like it.

Guiding the boat through waves and feeling the boat rise and rush down through the troughs bring a smile to my face. Turning my head this way and that, to feel the direction of the wind passing over my ears, and feeling the warmth of the sun, make me know it’s all worthwhile.

Now you know why I sail.


Connecting to Sailing... for Free

When you don’t live on the water, it’s hard to imagine that there are sailboats on the Chesapeake Bay

every day of the week during sailing season, which runs from April through Halloween for most sailors. A great way to start sailing is to get into the mood by watching and making your way to places (some virtual!) where you might meet a few sailors to chat with.

From north of Baltimore to Norfolk, there are weeknight races, many of them visible from land for spectators. After work in Annapolis, it’s a tradition for spectators to line the seawall of the U.S. Naval Academy and the Eastport Bridge (right before sunset) where as many as 130 boats of various sizes

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cross the finish line of Annapolis Yacht Club’s Wednesday Night Races, which take place every Wednesday from May through September. If seeing more than 100 sailboats sail by at sunset doesn’t make you want to get out on the water, you might want to choose another hobby.

In every sailing town, there is at least one sailing pub. If pubs suit your fancy, ask a local where “the” sailing pub is; you’ll find it. After sunset on racing night, you will find some sailors who want to talk about sailing. You might also find a few who regularly look for crew.

The SpinSheet Club Directory at spinsheet.com has 170 listings, and those are just the active clubs that have contacted us—there are more. There are clubs for cruising sailors, racing sailors, small boat sailors, beginners, single sailors, and others. Contacting a few clubs will lead to a few invitations to new member parties and crab feasts. Before you know it, you will be invited to sail and join the club.

Spinsheet.com also hosts online Crew Listings, where new sailors can register. Interested crew sign on by plugging in their experience (if any) and descriptions of the type of sailing they are interested in doing—casual daysailing, weekend cruising, or big and small boat racing. Hundreds of skippers and crew of all levels have found crew and boats to sail on through this effective, popular, free service. Registered new sailors are all welcome to attend SpinSheet’s “real time” crew listing party in Annapolis in April each year to meet sailors of all levels, listen to live music, and drink free rum, beer, and soft drinks. A free Start Sailing Now panel discussion and Q&A for beginners starts an hour before the party, and then it’s time to mingle.

Once you have an invitation to go sailing with a skipper, make sure to offer to bring lunch or snacks. Wear non-scuffing shoes (see p. 10). Be a courteous guest. Listen more than you talk. Enjoy yourself. And remember, the skipper who invited you needs crew. One good sailing day leads to many more invitations!

Easy Ways to Try Sailing… (No Experience Required)

• Annapolis Community Boating offers Free Sails in spring.

annapolisboating.org• Baltimore’s Downtown Sailing Center

offers open houses with free sails. downtownsailing.org

• Many of the sailing schools in this guide offer open houses and demonstration sails. Give them a call!

• Chesapeake Region Accessible Boating (CRAB) offers sail free days. crab-sailing.org

• Clubs such as Singles on Sailboats (singlesonsailboats.org) offer monthly hap-py hours for meeting new sailing friends. Find 170 more clubs in the SpinSheet Club Directory at spinsheet.com

• New sailors may race in Annapolis Harbor on Wednesday nights from April through September on the Schooner Woodwind. schoonerwoodwind.com


• A skipper asks you to bring lunch. Fuel is expensive, as is boat maintenance. Just like bringing an offering to a dinner party host, it is standard for crew to pitch in for snacks or beverages. Cans and plastic bottles are always better than glass on boats.

• A skipper asks you to wear a lifejacket. This doesn’t mean he or she questions your swimming abilities. Trust your skipper’s hunches. Lifejackets aren’t as silly looking as they used to be, and the vest styles can keep you warm on rough days.

• A skipper asks you to be quiet. Leaving and returning to a dock and certain on-the-water maneuvers require concentration and can be stressful. A quiet crew, who are ready to listen and jump into action, keep the tension level down on a boat. Crew members with open ears, open eyes, and open minds who keep their mouths shut get many more sailing offers than chatty ones.

• A skipper asks you to go down below for awhile. Especially during a gybe (see p. 5) or during rough weather, it is smart to have

newcomers go down below rather than be on deck unsure of what to do. It is for your safety and that of the other crew members. Even if the skipper doesn’t have time to explain why, just listen, and trust his or her hunches.

• A skipper asks you to wear different shoes. Dark-soled shoes have always been a no-no on boats. Certain shoes such as Keens have dark, but non-scuffing soles (see p. 10).

• A skipper yells repeatedly at his or her crew. Despite the stereotype, this is not cool or acceptable behavior. It is often the sign of a skipper who lacks confidence, skill, and manners. Reconsider his or her next sailing offer for your own safety and sanity.

• Α skipper is offensive. Unfortunately, such people show up on land and in boats. We’ve told you a few times here to trust your skipper’s hunches. Make sure to trust your own, too. If you have found your skipper through SpinSheet’s online Crew Listings, and you find him or her to be offensive or dangerous as a skipper, please let us know at [email protected]. We will be happy to rescind his or her invitation to the dance.

Don’t Be Offended If...

Be Offended If...


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Choices, Choices, Finding theRight Sailing School for YouWithout any guidance about how to find a sailing school, many modern prospective students may start with the least effective method: a Google search. Let us share more targeted methods for sifting through the multiple options of sailing schools on the Bay. Many prospective students make decisions based on cost, location, and timing and length of the courses. Here are other important factors to consider:

Credentials, Please

American Sailing Association (ASA) or U.S. Sailing schools offer internationally recognized certification programs, and each organization promotes outstanding schools and instructors. You may want to ask yourself how “far” you’d like to go in your sailing. Would you eventually like to charter a boat on your own? If so, you should choose a school that offers the full gamut of sailing certifications. Don’t choose the sailing equivalent of a junior college if you’re after a master’s degree.

Do the Boats Float?

Does the school have boats appropriate for the level of certification you’d like to have? Many schools start initial training on keelboats, allowing you to get a feel for basic sailing skills and building confidence. For more advanced courses, progressively larger and more complex boats should be used. Will the school offer rentals and charters so that you can

practice your newly learned skills on your own? Many schools do.

On the Docks

Dockside resources; availability of meals and lodging; size, type, and condition of boats; and safety and maintenance of boats. These items may be addressed by a personal visit to the school to include a tour of the facility and boats, if not a demonstration sail.

The Peeps

Good schools post instructor biographies on their websites and gladly introduce you to them when you tour the facility in person. Are the instructors ASA and/or U.S. Sailing certified instructors? If teaching charter certification, do they have U.S. Coast Guard Captain’s licenses? Are they friendly and good listeners as well as “experts?” Would you enjoy spending a weekend with these instructors?

Do Your Homework

Ask for former student references. Sailing is an exciting and inspiring sport, and newcomers tend to have strong feelings about how they learned. If a school hesitates to provide happy customers’ contact information, there may be a reason for it. If a school does not have references for you, we recommend not writing the check.

by Captain Lisa Batchelor Frailey/

Sail Solomons, edited by Molly Winans

The Sailing School Scene


Three Helpful Links with Lists of Sailing Schools:

American Sailing Association: asa.comDiscover Sailing: discoversailing.comU.S. Sailing: ussailing.org

Singles on Sailboats (SOS) is an organization of single adults who share a love of sailing. The club has over 700 members and 100 boats ranging in size from 27’ to 50’. For a nominal fee, twenty-five weekend cruises and day sails are offered during the sailing season.

www.singlesonsailboats.org

Want to Meet Singles WhoHave a Passion For Sailing?

For more information:

410.798.4098

Photo courtesy ofChesapeake Sailing School

Sailed worldwide and all over the Bay, Lasers are

good daysailors for learning and

competing.


The Boats We Love To Sailby Dave Gendell with reporting from Marine Surveyor Jack Hornor

Day RaceR

Day racers, designed for competition, can be typically towed behind SUVs

or trucks. Such boats may have small cabins, but they lack substantial overnight amenities. Although day racing can be a physical “ride,” it’s often drier sailing than on smaller daysailors.

A Few Day Racer Designs:Laser SB3: A new 20-footer from Europe. Fast and stable.J/22: Typically sailed by three or four people. A popular Bay-racing keelboat.Colgate 26: Used for instruction at the U.S. Naval Academy and dozens of other venues.J/80: An open and sleek design, which is a popular racing and instructional boat.

DaysailoR

A daysailor is a fun boat to sail alone or with just a few people. With boats that

are easy to trailer or strap on the roof of your car, daysailing is a great place to learn the sport, build your skills, become competitive (if you choose to), and meet other sailors.

A Few Popular Daysailors on the Bay:Byte: One sail, one sailor. Good for kids and small sailors. Laser: One sail and one (bigger) sailor. Popular worldwide, sailed in the Olympics.Vanguard 15: Double-handed performance dinghy.Flying Scot: 19-footer can be used as a family boat, a racer, and a fun daysailor.

A J/80 is a popular day racer and instructional boat on the Chesapeake Bay.Photo courtesy of J/World


Racer/cruiser designs like the Tartan 34 are popular on the Bay for families, daysailors, and racers alike.

RaceR/cRuiseR

Racer/cruisers are versatile boats, which can be used for racing,

cruising, or daysailing. These boats have overnight accommodations and typically appeal to a wide spectrum of Bay sailors. Plenty of good used boats on the market.

Some Racer-Cruisers Chesapeake Sailors Love:

Catalina 27: A very popular first-time-buyer boat, moderately sized and priced.Pearson 30: A versatile family cruiser and racer with a roomy interior.Tartan 34: Very popular for its sound construction, moderate price, and pretty look. Beneteau 36.7: Modern racer/cruiser, sleek and stylish, with plenty of room below.

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Havre de Grace, MD: City at the top of the Bay has a unique and fun vibe with sometimes challenging sailing conditions in the stretch where the Susquehanna River empties into the Chesapeake.

Middle River, MD: The creeks and coves are thick with sailboat-packed marinas. Close to the big city and I-95 and featuring a friendly spirit and a real dedication to the sport of sailing.

Baltimore, MD: The waterfront renaissance now comes with sailing options in and near the Inner Harbor. A fun destination for cruisers as well.

Rock Hall, MD: Popular with the Pennsylvania and Delaware crowds and a fun destination for all sailors.

Annapolis, MD: America’s Sailing Capital is centrally located and has something for everyone. Has it all, including big crowds in the summer. October’s U.S. Sailboat Show is a must-see.

St. Michaels, MD: A very popular overnight destination with an active and growing sailing scene. Home to the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum.

Alexandria, VA: The Washington Sailing Marina, on the Potomac River in the shadow of Reagan National Airport, offers competitive and recreational sailing options within sight of DC’s monuments.

Solomons, MD: Home to a large contingent of sailors associated with the massive military presence along the Patuxent River and an increasing number of folks who have fled the heat of DC for the friendly sailing community in Southern Maryland.

Deltaville, VA: The Richmond crowd beelines here for weekend sailing, and it is increasingly a year-round home base for many sailors. Wonderful access to many beautiful stretches of the Bay and its tributaries.

Hampton, VA: Sailing center of Tidewater Virginia. Southern hospitality meets Chesapeake Country.

Other great sailing centers on the Bay:

Chestertown, MD; Galesville, MD; Oxford, MD; Cambridge, MD; Irvington, VA;

Cape Charles, VA.

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