because you invariably break some kind of gear in it.

I learned to sail large boats at Olympic Circle Sailing Club in Berkley CA. Remember a day with 35kt winds bashing around in a J-24. At lunch time probably 1 in 3 boats came in with some kind of failure - most frequently torn (often destroyed) sails.

The equipment guys issued new gear and everybody went out again after lunch. That's a real sailing club.