I must agree with Rick, women indeed 'feel' the boat better.

In order to better feel the boat, there's this one thing regularly do. Okay, it's on a monohull, going considerably slower and surely with lots of the boat IN instead of on the water.

Here's what I do, set a course, keep her steady, trim the sails so they're just perfect and then close my eyes. The trick is of course to be able to sense all the little changes without using your eyes. Listening very carefully to know which ropes tick against what and when you can expect the next wave.

I feel I have gotten a better relationship with my boat, so as to say I understand her better. It may sound weird to some, but I honestly feel I can listen better to her ... perhaps even knowing instantly which rope needs just another nodge even before my the conclusion from my other senses reaches my brains .... phew! hope you know what I mean.

'Sailing blind', I regularly do this for just a few minutes. Again, I can do this cause I'm on a slower monohull and IN not ON the water. Of course, trying to do so on a cat will probably get you in 'hot' water ... just one slip, one split-second and some wave'll tumble you over.

Nevertheless, I feel I have gained a better relationship with my boat, cause of the "blind sailing" exercise. I listen more carefully and she can tell me with just a sigh, a moan or the smallest peep which sail to trim, which rope needs just another nodge.

Now to get to the point of all of this. Of course, if I were a woman, I needn't have to train myself like this. I'd already be able to 'feel' her better.