If you want to take someone sailing on a boat and you ask them if they can swim, what exactly are you asking? Everyone can float if they have a life jacket right?

My understanding is that someone is being asked if they can take care of themselves and/or tread water until they are rescued and/or if they are a strong swimmer, but I could be wrong.

I've recently learnt to sail but when I'm on the water, all of my theory goes out of my head. Can someone please explain the steps of sailing or confirm what I've written below?

1. check the wind direction
2. think of where I want to navigate to and point the boat relative to the wind.
3. think of the points of sail. For the boat's position relative to the wind, change the main sail to the respective point of sail and the wind will catch the sail.
4. use the main sheet to keep the sail in the "point of sail" direction that the wind should be in.
5. make very small movements to keep the boat going straight towards my target
6. once i'm going straight, check the sail if it's luffing periodically and trim the sail if necessary

when tacking,

1. use the tiller to turn the boat around, either pull it fully towards or away from me
2. once the boat is turned around, pull the tiller so that it's now straight and you can let the tiller handle lay on the side of the boat
3. switch sides as usual

thank you!

The season will be opening up here in Upstate NY soon. It can't come soon enough.