Depends on the size of the boat.

Try not to be a fair weather sailor.
Go out as often as you can. Rain. hail (?) or shine.

Gary

Know when to duck

Learn to tie a...bowline, clovehitch, reef knot, figure of 8 and double sheet bend.

0, 8 and a half around a cleat, another half if it's tying your boat up.

Stay on boat
Keep boat off land
Keep water off boat.
or

If you have to ask the question (should I reef, put on LJ etc) than you already know the answer.

Don't try to sail on to a mooring downwind

Regards Don

Use a nappy pin to attach your sunglass & hat lanyards to your shirt collar and make sure that your wristwatch strap is securely fastened :)

Jode5 said..
Don't scare the pants off the misses

Don't invite the misses

Oh . unless its the only way you can get her pants off

Use a preventer

Great question and answers.............

Rather an attribute listing than one piece of advice, and based on new sailors joining your local average sailing club and being placed in a yacht to make up the crew numbers - please be aware that most clubs are "screaming" out for new crew members to put onto their existing yacht listing, better still yachts to add to their fleet listing, or better still both.

The yearly crew fees your "average" club charges are more than reasonable.....the below attributes are in all successful crews and skippers............most successful club racing skippers serve as crew regularly, and are not araldited to the helm..........for everyone on a boat a certain level of fitness and agility is needed............

1 Become aware of all sheets and halyards and control lines on the boat and their purpose, commit them to memory, be proactive in hauling on them or un-cleating them when needed
2 Know the race course before the start and what sails will probably be hoisted and doused on each leg
3 Keep in mind what you have been tasked to do the whole race but keep aware of what extra you could maybe do in the case of unexpected events...........all races have unexpected events..........but don't do anything which you are not comfortable with as regards safety for yourself or the rest of the crew or the boat
4 If another crew mate is having trouble with a task go in and assist if you can
5 Enjoy the race.

For new skippers - please keep the hull under the rig when sailing on a reach or broad reach with or without kite..................realise this is another topic.......

Take any rings off your fingers.

...my cousin got the same but the cause wasn't wearing a ring but rather by somehow having the sheet for the genoa loop around his finger!

Keep all lines in the boat.

In relation to my previous post, a quote from one of the great designers... "Although a man may take up sailing in order to go cruising, it will be well for him to race for a season early in his sailing career. It will teach him perfection in the handling and sailing of his craft; which will stand him in good stead when he goes cruising.It is frequently the cruising man who has raced who makes his harbor without any trouble; whereas a man who has only cruised goes about things in a much more slovenly manner, for he has not the exactness and the skill found in racing men."Uffa Fox - Handling Sailing Boats, 1960

This was on the Sailing Anarchy page... Sailing Anarchy is well worth checking out, but a thick skin may be required if commenting on the forums;) Lots of wisdom there though.

Hi I am thinking of buying a Hood 20 ,, It is in Port Pirie .. what sort of sail is it from Port Pirie to Adelaide?
thinking of doing it instead of by road.

'

All@Sea said..
In relation to my previous post, a quote from one of the great designers... "Although a man may take up sailing in order to go cruising, it will be well for him to race for a season early in his sailing career. It will teach him perfection in the handling and sailing of his craft; which will stand him in good stead when he goes cruising.It is frequently the cruising man who has raced who makes his harbor without any trouble; whereas a man who has only cruised goes about things in a much more slovenly manner, for he has not the exactness and the skill found in racing men."Uffa Fox - Handling Sailing Boats, 1960

This was on the Sailing Anarchy page... Sailing Anarchy is well worth checking out, but a thick skin may be required if commenting on the forums;) Lots of wisdom there though.

Best post I have read here, well done and could not agree anymore