Hi all,
My first time, so please be gentle with me. My hubby and I recently purchased an Islander 36 as part of the plans to do some bluewater cruising in retirement. Hubby has done some sailing in past and is currently doing his RYA yachtmasters. At present we are just doing some occassional day sailing on Moreton Bay; to become familiar with the boat, gain experience etc.

I would like to learn to sail but would prefer to learn from a woman. The reason I would prefer a woman is because of my lack of self-confidence and would feel more comfortable around a woman. My hubby is a great teacher, but he's also learning himself, so thinks it would be good for me to get another view.

I can't find anywhere in Brisbane that offers teaching with female instructors - can anyone out there help me with this

Hey Pweedas, My take on this is that the lady wants to learn to sail a yacht, not a windsurfer, but I think your advice is still relevant, I'm sure there are sensitive new age yacht instructors out there.
Gina just make sure you don't get a chauvinistic pig.

she found her way straight into the side of a ship to!! haha

I own myself, and do a bit of sailboat teaching - have done for 20+ years.

I often hear that - women don't want to learn with or from hubby. Sometimes it's an ego thing, sometimes it's a control thing, or (very seldom) she doesn't like his skills level.

Invariably for the first 2 reasons, a phony reason is given, as the real reason is not admitted to. Usually, the phony reason given is: "I don't trust his skills level". Donno which is your case, however... that you want to get lessons from a woman specifically gives us a clue.

You have to know that at sailing, there is no single way of doing things, and we learn and can improve forever. You'd get lessons from 25 women (or men) and get 25 different set of advice. That's why you look at same brand boats in clubs, and every single one has different line arrangements, for instance.

My point is: why don't you just go and learn with him? You'll grow together. Take more lessons together, go more advanced. Read books together. If that can't be done, then the problem is not about sailing.

Else there's gonna be collisions when you come back from lessons.
It always goes like this: "she told me that you should do it that way".

Happy retirement !