And all of these things are sensory information that helps you figure out what to do. The noise of the sail tells you if it is luffing, if it is not properly trimmed. The way the water moves predicts an impending wind shift.
This is what makes sailing special: the connection you create with nature is a consequence of how you move the boat. Sometimes when everything is perfect everything becomes quiet and all you can hear is the hull cutting through the water and the breeze pushing you past. It’s primordial.
Spiritual too. Right there with the waves, mate. FINDING A PLACE TO LEARN Between the American Sailing Association and the U.Sailing, the two main certification bodies, there are a few hundred sailing schools across the country, even in unexpected places like Oklahoma and Arizona.
Introductory courses often last two days, so you can find weekend packages. Plan to pay around $500 per person. At the higher levels, U.Sailing favors regattas and ASA yachting, but the initiation classes are more or less the same.