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What's the big deal about a model sloop?
After all, you're supposed to learn on the water, right? Right -
but only after you've been properly prepared ashore.
"P6:
Proper Prior Preparation Prevents Poor Performance."
| -Paul Elvstrom (a/k/a
The Great Dane), the most successful sailboat racer in history, with
4
Olympic medals (just missed 5th at age 53 with daughter Trina as crew);
at least 13 world championships; numerous Danish and European
championships, all in a variety of one-design and handicap boats ranging
from singlehanded dinghies to large ocean racers. |
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| The big deal about the model sloop we
use in classroom settings is - well, it's big.
A classroom of students can clearly see what the instructor is demonstrating
- and try it out for themselves. It's big enough to equip with real
fittings that closely resemble what you'll use on the water.
Even the sails are real, cut and stitched
from standard Dacron sailcloth with all the accessories. It's on a swiveling
base with wheels, and it pivots and tilts. It's too big to roll out
the door!
Now, back to "on-the-water." That
is where you learn to perform your basic skills. But some classroom
time is needed to introduce concepts and give you a little 3-D preview.*
The better and more efficient your preparation ashore, the better you'll
learn on the water. And the less time you'll have to spend in the
classroom. |
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*That's
why it's preferable to hold the classroom session before the equivalent
sailing session.
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