Often, we sail with someone else. There are times, however, when we find ourselves in situations in which we hear ourselves thinking, " I don't like what's going on now, but I don't know what to do to improve things!". The purpose of this discussion is to explore together what each of us can do, as individuals and as sailing partners, to increase our enjoyment of sailing. Sometimes all it takes is listening to what your partner has to say:

1. What do you and your partner get out of sailing?
What are your partner's likes and dislikes about sailing?

2. What aspects of sailing do you enjoy?

3. What makes you uncomfortable or fearful of sailing?

4. What jobs or tasks are you in charge of on your boat?
How did you end up with those tasks?

5. If you solo sail, which jobs do you delay or avoid doing?

6. How do you manage the undesirable tasks?

7. What tasks which you do now would you like to share with your sailing partner?

8. Which of your partner's tasks would you like to share with him/her?

9. Which are the tasks in which you have absolutely no interest, and why?

10. Which jobs or responsibilities would you like to know more about?

11. Tell why you agree or disagree with the following statement: Learning about jobs on the boat which you currently don't perform would increase your confidence and decrease your anxiety, fear or discomfort.

12. How would you like to learn more?
From your partner,
professional teacher,
or another sailing friend?
From reading
or classes,
or videos?
From experience and practical application?

12A (from editor) What would you like to learn more about?

13. How do you and your partner communicate when:
Anchoring
Mooring
Docking
Rigging/derigging
Trimming the boat while sailing
Navigating
Applying the "rules of the road"

14. When sailing conditions, i.e. the weather, becomes challenging
Who decides when to reef?
Who actually reefs?

15. What is your man-over-board plan? Have you practiced it, or at least discussed it with your sailing partner?

16. What is your plan if the captain of the boat becomes incapacitated?

17. Does everyone on the boat know how to use the radio?

18. How do you decide to where and for how long to sail?
Where to anchor, moor, or dock?

19. What do you do when you strongly disagree with your partner's decision about an action to take while sailing?

20. What one thing would you most like to change about your sailing experience?