What Makes a Good Practice Sail

How to have a good Practice Sail

Skippers:

• Be sure that the student does all the sailing and rigging. You act as a resource for the student. Be a coach. Watch what they do and offer encouragement and positive suggestions.e sure that the student does all the sailing and rigging. You act as a resource for the student. Be a coach. Watch what they do and offer encouragement and positive suggestions.
• Find something positive about any maneuver that the student executes, and then shape their behavior toward the goal.
• Be aware of the skills on the water test. Push the student to try everything, but ask them what skills they want to work on that day.
• Don’t forget to practice docking. It may be that on an evening practice sail docking needs to be practiced early, while the wind is still up.
• Have Fun!

Students:

• Take charge of your experience. Tell your skipper what you want to work on and then do it.
• Remember that all rated members skipper practice sails. Their skills may vary. If you need instruction (not just practice), request a practice sail with an instructor.
• Take criticism with a grain of salt. We try for consistency, but everyone has his/her own idiosyncratic ways of doing things. Take what you need from the experience. You will find that there is something to learn from everyone with whom you sail.
• Be sure that you learn something every time that you sail. Each time is a new experience. We all learn something every time we go out on the water. You should too.
• Have Fun!