I'll agree, but with one small proviso - a lot of the skill in
gybing-setting-dropping-floating the kite is having the helmsman point the
boat in the right direction at each stage of the manoeuvre, and that can't
be learnt at anchor. Becoming familiar with the tasks involved is a good
start, but getting the procedure down pat requires coordination between
helmsman and crew that is only possible under weigh.

Finding conditions calm enough to actually set the spinnaker while anchored
is difficult. We usually introduce new sailors to spinnakers by going
through the motions with braces, sheets, pole etc, but no sail. You need one
extra person who pretends to be the clew. I have also done this under sail
with mainsail only, which is an interesting exercise for a crew that thinks
it already knows how to handle the spinnaker. We had one crew that decided
this practicing lark was beneath their dignity and weren't taking it
seriously. During the practice drop the person pretending to be the clew
decided to test whether the stopper knot had been tied in the sheet
properly. By timing carefully with the bowman releasing the tack, he
managed to pull the sheet out of its lead so that the virtual spinnaker was
streaming from the masthead with no brace and the sheet trailing in the
water! We refused to move on to the next exercise until they got it down. Of
course, the breeze strengthened at exactly that moment (it always does) and
the helmsman was jumping up and down screaming about the virtual
mudbank/cliff/oil tanker just a few boatlengths to leeward! We stopped them
when they were about to send someone up the mast, but they took the practice
a little more seriously after that.
--

"d parker" wrote in message
...

Using the mooring is a great way to get used to
gybing-setting-dropping-floating the kite. Particularly for noobs. Cos
there
is only one thing happening at one time. They don't have to worry about
the
main, helming, other boats etc.

Then once they understand it they can take that knowledge out on the water
and put it to good use.