‘Own boat’ training in Dartmouth

[TJ1982]

Hi All,

Following the recent purchase of our 36-ft sailing yacht, SWIMBO and I have been considering our preferred modus operandi for mooring, close quarters handling (with matrimonial wellbeing an important factor).

Adopting an approach proposed by others in an archived thread, we’ve agreed that, though I’m the more experienced sailor, it’d be best for SWIMBO to helm while I look after the lines, roving fenders, etc. SWIMBO, who’s already DS qualified, and is keen to take some focused, ‘own boat’ tuition from an instructor, to help build skills & experience.

We’re based at Dartmouth and a Google search has revealed a couple of potential training providers, though the £200/day price tag is a little higher than we’d hoped for. Any suggestions/recommendations welcome.

Many thanks, T.

 

[Hacker]

Compare that £200 per day to how much you earn. It really isn’t that much for a skilled professional.

 

[Daydream believer]

Is it really necessary to bother with tuition? Just practice motoring up to a buoy ( no need to actually tie on every time) from different angles. For an hour or so in different tidal conditions. Pick one with lots of room round it.
Then when you feel that you have that sussed stick the sails up & practice nudging the buoy & dropping away with the sails for power. Do that with different sail configurations from different approach angles. Once you have done that find a pontoon somewhere & practice plonking the boat alongside & coming away without actually tying on. Forget all the silly stuff you read about lines for swinging off etc - not needed, certainly untill you get used to berthing as it just makes things confusing .
With all this you will soon work out what works for you and your boat. It is really all about confidence & knowing the boat.

 

[Wansworth]

In a full day your get pleanty of useful advice as long as your wife doesn’t go off chatting about world politics or knitting,..........

 

[peteK]

When I started boating you went off in a 17ft boat and just picked things up as you went along cant remember people doing training unless it was for commercial reasons.Most information was picked up from books or from pbo magazine.These days it seems people have to go on courses just to go for a sail.

 

[Biggles Wader]

Is it really necessary to bother with tuition? Just practice motoring up to a buoy ( no need to actually tie on every time) from different angles. For an hour or so in different tidal conditions. Pick one with lots of room round it.
Then when you feel that you have that sussed stick the sails up & practice nudging the buoy & dropping away with the sails for power. Do that with different sail configurations from different approach angles. Once you have done that find a pontoon somewhere & practice plonking the boat alongside & coming away without actually tying on. Forget all the silly stuff you read about lines for swinging off etc - not needed, certainly untill you get used to berthing as it just makes things confusing .
With all this you will soon work out what works for you and your boat. It is really all about confidence & knowing the boat.

Agree. You and your crew have done the theory, just practice needed for now

 

[Wansworth]

Part of the “sailing “ experience is making errors,just getting by,and successes in taking a risk,but then I learn in small 22 footers till I had a “big” boat

 

[scotty123]

Hi All,

Following the recent purchase of our 36-ft sailing yacht, SWIMBO and I have been considering our preferred modus operandi for mooring, close quarters handling (with matrimonial wellbeing an important factor).

Adopting an approach proposed by others in an archived thread, we’ve agreed that, though I’m the more experienced sailor, it’d be best for SWIMBO to helm while I look after the lines, roving fenders, etc. SWIMBO, who’s already DS qualified, and is keen to take some focused, ‘own boat’ tuition from an instructor, to help build skills & experience.

We’re based at Dartmouth and a Google search has revealed a couple of potential training providers, though the £200/day price tag is a little higher than we’d hoped for. Any suggestions/recommendations welcome.

Many thanks, T.

Just get some lessons at a sailing school, bash their boat, then practice on yours.

 

[Daydream believer]

Just get some lessons at a sailing school, bash their boat, then practice on yours.

Would that not be dearer as Op would be paying for 2 places on another boat rather than for just an instructor. Plus OP would not get experience on OP'sr own boat. As for "bashing" - they are not sailing a dodgem car. why would they need to bash it?

 

[Sticky Fingers]

£200 for the whole day of a professional training is a bargain. I'm a fan of own boat, key is to find an instructor you both like and respect.

 

[KompetentKrew]

I bet Dartmouth's visitor pontoons are great for practicing on, and empty for 6 months a year.

 

[KompetentKrew]

As for "bashing" - they are not sailing a dodgem car. why would they need to bash it?

"Pontoon bashing" is just slang, in my club, for the kind of practicing OP wants to do.

 

[RupertW]

I think the idea of training is great but not sure you should both be on the boat as you may unintentionally change the way she learns. Ideal to have instructor, her and a crew member - or maybe she takes a week practical course.

Having said that, after thirty years sailing together and 10 years with this boat we are half considering a days parking tuition together because we seem to be getting stale . We will see how it goes next week (now we’ve admitted to each other that parking isn’t fun any more) and then decide on the remedy.

 

[Skylark]

Forget all the silly stuff you read about lines for swinging off etc - not needed, certainly untill you get used to berthing as it just makes things confusing

Depending upon wind and tide, springing off the bow or stern is often the easiest and safest way to leave a pontoon berth. Not a difficult skill to learn.

 

[Laysula]

Good idea. SWMBO always moors, up whilst I do the jumping off etc or pulling up and securing to a buoy. Try Torbay sea school at Brixham. Half a day may well be sufficient, so if an instructor insists on a full day minimum, make sure you have a back up of something else that that you may want some help on.

 

[Lucy52]

Some sailing schools run boat handling days, such as Solent Boat Training for 125 beer tokens.

Solent, South Coast & Cross Channel Sailing Mile Builders

Duncan Wells, "Stress Free Sailing," would be good if you go it alone the Day Dream Believer way.

 

[Kwik Decision]

If you go to a Sailing school for own boat tuition, the cost is generally a bit over £200 a day, and they often just send a freelance instructor. If you can find the freelancer without going through a school, the daily rate will be £150 ish. Note that the quality of the instruction will obviously be the same, but the freelancer cannot issue RYA certs, only a school can do that.

 

[PhillM]

Must admit that a whole weekend spent pontoon bashing on my own did a lot for my knowledge of my boat and built some confidence.

 

[scotty123]

If you go to a Sailing school for own boat tuition, the cost is generally a bit over £200 a day, and they often just send a freelance instructor. If you can find the freelancer without going through a school, the daily rate will be £150 ish. Note that the quality of the instruction will obviously be the same, but the freelancer cannot issue RYA certs, only a school can do that.

What do you mean, "just" a freelance instructor?
Most sea schools couldn't function without these guys.

 

[Wansworth]

takes a brave man to practice entering a marina berth downtide down wind,coming alongside a hammerhead is doodle,perhaps knowing not to try and berth up might pay off?