As in many things, you need the innate talent for something. Then you still have to learn the CRAFT that may take years. Only once you've learned the craft, can you soar with your talent IMHO.

I mean, look at Da Vinci or Mozart, for example. Both are recognized as genii in their respective arts. Undoubtedly they had great innate talent and genius. But both had to learn their art by starting to learn the technical aspects of painting, drawing, or music. DaVinci was an apprentice for several years from an early age--painstakingly mixing paints for his masters, or drawing folds of cloth, etc. before he outdid his masters a few years later.

Mozart for many years "copied" the styles of his father's, Bach's or Haydn's music before he took flight with his own creativity and style.

I think a similar concept would apply to sailing. I know a particular sailor who is strong, fearless, and who knows his tech stuff. But he has little talent as a sailor. Instead of working with the force of nature, he fights it constantly. He doesn't even have fun doing it - he always looks like it's a terrible chore. He is not "at one" with his boat, constantly forces things, breaks stuff, capsizes, and so on. Consequently, he will probably never be a really
"great" sailor.

Is that making sense?