Cruising Through the U.S. Sailing Curriculum by Beth Crabtree
I
t might seem crazy that after more than three decades of sailing, I’m making my way through the U.S. Sailing curriculum, but here I am, enjoying it immensely and learning more with each course. Most recently I took the basic cruising course at J/World Annapolis. My interest in the class was driven by a desire to better understand the systems on our 27- foot Cape Dory and a wish to log more hours at the helm of a big boat under various conditions. While I was looking forward to sharpening my onthe-water skills, I was equally interested in learning about fresh and raw water systems, onboard electricity and shore power, engine maintenance, and through-hulls. I’ve found that with most sailing classes, part of the whole “experience” is the people you meet. Adult sailing students tend to be adventurous, multifaceted, and committed to lifelong learning. At lunchtime we’d drop anchor or heaveto and share stories while we ate. Two of
enamored with the concept of throwing in my course mates were scuba enthusiasts, a reef to make things a little more comfortand the third had travelled to all the able as the breeze built. When it came to national parks in the continental U.S. building skills, repetition led to confidence Camaraderie grew each day as we worked and efficiency. Occasionally things didn’t together and watched one another learn go exactly as planned, but that was okay, by doing. In the final hours of the course, even good, because it simulated real-life I finally asked everyone’s profession. Of sailing outside of the class setting. the students, two were doctors, and one was an educator. Our coach, who had taken ##J/World cruising students. up sailing in his 30s and pursued the sport with a vengeance after retiring, had a successful career as an architect before he moved to Annapolis to sail more. Though many of the skills we learned and the maneuvers we practiced were challenging for us, most of the week was just plain fun. After years of crewing in races around the buoys, I was
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