Russ,

We're excited to meet and sail with you...however we're able to work that out. We're actually going to get out and sail tomorrow (Saturday), but it sounds like you have other plans. If not, you're of course welcome.

I like the trivia...I had a question there too. We understand that all ropes are lines. However, I didn't know that the difference between sheets and halyards was related to the direction of travel. That's a good one.

We've been working on bowline, clove hitch, and half hitch knots. Can't do them blindfolded yet...and sometimes it takes a while, but we're practicing at home. We also got taught a method of making lines neat that we practice when securing her after a day of sailing.

As for the 4 things to know...1) We're doing alright with the points of sail 2) we watch the windex religiously..even for docking and getting off of the slip 3) we've been practicing trimming the sails by watching telltales, speed, shape of the sail, and use the "when in doubt, let it out" to find the "sweet spot....all with varying degrees of success.4) We're practicing to steer a straight course based on either destination or choosing a point of sail to maintain...mainly so we can practice trimming more effectively. We've also been practicing thinking through our tacks strategically to or around some known course (destination).

I say all of this in the belief that we're doing pretty okay for novices. However, with each of these, I wouldn't necessarily say we have achieved mastery. Honestly, coming from a machinist's point of view, I've come to the conclusion (flexible), that a sailor never stops learning about even the fundamentals that you listed. I'm guessing these are the things that just then become like muscle memory and you don't have to think so much about them...it just happens. Then, I suspect, you can put more mental and physical horsepower into more advanced things. Do I have this concept even close?

Once again, thank you...and all of the others for making us feel so welcomed.

Nate