Learning a new sport...

I have now had three lessons learning how to sail on Lake Geneva and I'm really enjoying trying to get to grips with a new sport. The wind has been very gentle for a lot of the time, but when it does pick up.....wow, what a buzz!

With my 'ski teacher hat' on, learning to sail has given me a valuable insight into the world of a 'beginner'. Brain overload, clumsy maneuvering and poor coordination - these are just some of things I experience with my ski and board clients. But there I was, showing all the classic signs!

How many times would I push or pull the tiller (the bit that connects to the rudder) the wrong way - a relatively simple choice to change course to port or starboard, but how long does it take the body to perform a skill semi-automatically, or completely autonomously?

Trying to perfect a 'tack' (changing direction by about 90 degrees whilst sailing upwind) was amazingly tricky even in gentle winds. Whilst the initial idea was straightforward, trying to make it all happen without letting go of either the tiller or the mainsheet (rope) - or heaven forbid both - was like threading the eye of a needle with a telegraph post.

I'm looking forward to getting loads more practise and I can't wait to try hanging off the side of a catamaran in a harness. You never know, I might even be able to navigate across to the Swiss side of the lake and back.

I have really enjoyed 'learning how to learn' again and I will make sure I give all my clients this winter plenty of time to PRACTICE before trying to teach them something else........you can hold me to that, or your money back!