Canadian Yachting October 2016 - 43

Ailments) that have not been Stable and Controlled for a period of three (3) months before the Departure Date for an Insured Person aged 3 months to 55 years and for a period of six (6) months before Departure Date for an Insured Person aged 56 and over, unless specified otherwise in writing by the Insurer. Part of Mary's self-classification as a 'reluctant sailor' is her aversion to risk - and travelling without adequate insurance is a risk. As in our original trip in 2009 we were willing to accept some risk - including an additional $10 - 15,000 in unexpected expenses - but not the risk of a major medical emergency requiring US hospitalization and / or transport back to Canada. It was a change in medication that made us medically un-stable until December - leading us to postpone our departure. That said, the preparation continues. CONFIDENCE DOES NOT EQUAL COMPETENCE In the 90s, I worked for a marketing firm as VP of Training and Development. One of the divisions conducted extensive research on the ability of people to apply training to their job. The research looked at two factors of performance - confidence and competence. Competence is defined as the knowledge, skills and experience to do a particular task. Confidence is defined by having the 'trust' in yourself to perform that task. They found approximately 20% of people being trained (across a large array of skills) had the competence (ability) and the confidence (trust in self) to do the job. They found that roughly 60% of trainees had the competence, but not the confidence to act. The final 20% of people had the confidence to do something but lacked the ability. As a certified SailCanada Intermediate Instructor, I have trained many people to sail and handle a sailboat under power and sail. At the Basic level, after 18 hours of on-the-water training we send our students out on their own from the dock that they know and in waters they are familiar with. I watch from shore as they struggle through things they know and have experience with until their confidence catches up with their competence - and then they go sailing. SailCanada (Sailing.ca) recommends 10 daysails for practice and experience before taking the next level - Intermediate (Bareboat Skipper) level. What does this have to do with this article? When you learn something, you are in the middle 60%. Only time and practice will get you the competent/confident stage. At the intermediate level, we spend at least five days living aboard a 35 to 40 foot sailboat - about the size you would charter. We teach all of the skills necessary to handle this sized sailboat, anchoring for two or three nights, docking for one or two and handling on a mooring if we can find one. Each student prepares a meal, getting used to smaller galleys and propane grills. Everyone takes their turn completing engine checks, maintaining and otherwise treating the boat as if they chartered it. By the end of the week, all of the requisite knowledge and skills have been covered. Would I say my students are competent? No - not until they actually take a boat out on their own and go through the same week. Intermediate Standard: To be able to cruise safely in familiar waters as both skipper and crew of a sailing yacht of 9 to 12 meters, sloop rigged with an inboard engine, in moderate wind and sea conditions by day. The standard emphasizes on-the-water skills at a level acceptable for bare boat chartering for extended cruises in coastal waters. Power boat docking lessons in progress. Practice builds confidence and teamwork. www.canadianyachting.ca 43 http://www.Sailing.ca http://www.canadianyachting.ca

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Canadian Yachting October 2016