255grizzly
New member
I was wondering, has anyone given thought to how to overcome the significant learning obstacles that single handers face, especially for racing? It’s been said that you need 10K hours doing something to master it (per Malcolm Gladwell’s book Outliers.) The odds are stacked against most of us in the SSS. Think about it:
Obviously, more time on the water is the most important thing. However, contemporary learning theories (read Make it Stick if you’re interested, great book) point out that to truly learn, one needs to adopt a variety of learning techniques. I’m wondering, what could/does the SSS do beyond its current programs — short of taking on the liability of teaching people to sail single handed — to help overcome some of these obstacles? Mastery for the average Joe or Jane may be too high of a goal in this sport, but I do think it’s worthwhile to consider ways in which we might accelerate the learning curve. Some ideas:
1. Create practice regimens. Could members of SSS get together and create a variety of practice regimens for singlehanders? I’m thinking like an annual list that includes 10-20 things that everyone should practice (e.g., MOB, anchoring) and then perhaps others things that are more advanced (e.g., jibing spinnaker, night sailing, etc.)
2. Promote crewing on other boats (esp. other single handers). Could the SSS set up a rotation for crewing 2H (or otherwise) on other SSS members’ boats? Perhaps making it mandatory (e.g., 1x year)?
3. Set-up informal / more frequent races - could the SSS set up a weekly race? Realize we’re all over the bay — maybe rotate it? Maybe a rotated “pick-up race” of some sort?
4. Offer Coaching. Could SSS somehow create a coaching program? E.g., identify coaches for single handing (whether SSS members or not) and somehow facilitate? E.g., find the coaches, tell them they will be promoted to SSS members for free if, in return, they offer the first hour of coaching free (or some such).
5. Create DIY sailing challenges / SSS club records - could the SSS set up a dozen or so challenges for SSS sailers to do on their own time? These could give something for sailors to practice on their own and try to get bragging rights. For example, what’s the fastest an SSS member has ever sailed from Berkeley to Alcatraz and back? (Jackie, I’m looking at you!)
6. Set-up online webinars. It's hard to get out to a club to hear someone speak. But there are tons of ways to do live online classes/presentations now. Why not do that to increase the frequency and breadth of SSS talks?
7. Invite a top-notch single handed sailing school or teacher to conduct a weekend seminar? Artemis SF. Why not? If planned with enough time, I’d totally do that.
8. Set up a few dinghy races each year. Would give the fleet one-design experience.
9. Sign up for a sailing video games. Find an online video game where we can create our own fleet. I think these exist, right?
Anyhoo, realize all of the above may be far-fetched given times/resource of the SSS. But I thought worth throwing out there. I'd be willing to help implement if any of the ideas stick.
Tom
Rock-On
- You probably sail once a week if you’re lucky, averaging say 4 hours each sail. It will take you 48 years to reach mastery at that rate (if my math is right.) I work and have two young kids, so I definitely feel this. Some of you may be retired, so you may have a big advantage here, but I suspect that there are many like me as well.
- You’re sailing in a phrf fleet over long distance courses in just about a dozen races a year
- You’re all by yourself on the boat and never have someone else advising/diagnosing what you’re doing
- You have to remember and apply what you’ve learned from reading these forums, books, etc. under highly stressful situations
- You can’t take any classes in single handing unless you live France or England or have lots of time on your hands to travel there specifically for said purpose!
Obviously, more time on the water is the most important thing. However, contemporary learning theories (read Make it Stick if you’re interested, great book) point out that to truly learn, one needs to adopt a variety of learning techniques. I’m wondering, what could/does the SSS do beyond its current programs — short of taking on the liability of teaching people to sail single handed — to help overcome some of these obstacles? Mastery for the average Joe or Jane may be too high of a goal in this sport, but I do think it’s worthwhile to consider ways in which we might accelerate the learning curve. Some ideas:
1. Create practice regimens. Could members of SSS get together and create a variety of practice regimens for singlehanders? I’m thinking like an annual list that includes 10-20 things that everyone should practice (e.g., MOB, anchoring) and then perhaps others things that are more advanced (e.g., jibing spinnaker, night sailing, etc.)
2. Promote crewing on other boats (esp. other single handers). Could the SSS set up a rotation for crewing 2H (or otherwise) on other SSS members’ boats? Perhaps making it mandatory (e.g., 1x year)?
3. Set-up informal / more frequent races - could the SSS set up a weekly race? Realize we’re all over the bay — maybe rotate it? Maybe a rotated “pick-up race” of some sort?
4. Offer Coaching. Could SSS somehow create a coaching program? E.g., identify coaches for single handing (whether SSS members or not) and somehow facilitate? E.g., find the coaches, tell them they will be promoted to SSS members for free if, in return, they offer the first hour of coaching free (or some such).
5. Create DIY sailing challenges / SSS club records - could the SSS set up a dozen or so challenges for SSS sailers to do on their own time? These could give something for sailors to practice on their own and try to get bragging rights. For example, what’s the fastest an SSS member has ever sailed from Berkeley to Alcatraz and back? (Jackie, I’m looking at you!)
6. Set-up online webinars. It's hard to get out to a club to hear someone speak. But there are tons of ways to do live online classes/presentations now. Why not do that to increase the frequency and breadth of SSS talks?
7. Invite a top-notch single handed sailing school or teacher to conduct a weekend seminar? Artemis SF. Why not? If planned with enough time, I’d totally do that.
8. Set up a few dinghy races each year. Would give the fleet one-design experience.
9. Sign up for a sailing video games. Find an online video game where we can create our own fleet. I think these exist, right?
Anyhoo, realize all of the above may be far-fetched given times/resource of the SSS. But I thought worth throwing out there. I'd be willing to help implement if any of the ideas stick.
Tom
Rock-On
I wanted to make the e-steering clinic but couldn't, enjoyed reading the posts about it, though.