A newbie question, does size matter..

craigbalsillie

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I am reading avidly these posts and am learinng a great deal and even got a maybe form swmbo when I mentioned buying a dinghy that I saw advertised..

so she's softening...

I read the post on the Emma Richards thing and the guy going aloft and wondering about toppling the boat,,,

I am 6'0 and weigh in at 14 and a half stone... Am I too much of a bloater to be thinking about sailing of any kind never mind a dinghy...?


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You're joking I'm over 18 stone & I know people bigger than me who sail. My last boat was an Eventide 24 & current job is a Colvic 26. Does that answer your question.

Martin

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No, you are not too large for dinghy sailing by any means and it is unlikley you will be climbing the mast on a dinghy anyway ! What you may want to think about from a stability /comfort point of view is some kind of keel dayboat like a Squib or a Flying Fifteen (both very popular racing classes in Scotland) or if you don't fancy racing a larger stable dinghy like a Hawk 20 which you can trail to the sea or a loch and has a well for an outboard engine. Where are you planning to sail and who with ?

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Re: that\'ll do for me big fella... NM

If you fancy a dinghy I would recommend a Wayfarer. Good, big, stable & competetive racing with the option for Cruising if you can take the discomfort.

Martin

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I'll sail anywhere anyone will let me..

If I do go the dinghy route then I'll probably start at Strathclyde Country Park..
Maybe with the occassional foray into the Clyde or the Forth..

Money is a major major major constraint, wife (at university) kids etc..

I had hoped to join the cruising club at troon but was supposed to go to a meeting at troon but every time they arranged a meeting I was working or on call or the kids were poorly or the wife had an exam... there always seemed to be something.

Hope to get back in touch with them soon..

I am keen to find a crewing opporchancity anywhere on the clyde or forth for occassional days out at weekends or even week nights,. I work shifts so am quite often at a loose end some afternoons..

sorry for going an a bit..

Whats a Wayfarer like? I have a copy of Sailing Today where a couple of guys do a bit of cruising round Shetland Way.. I kind of like the idea of that ...

As far as who with... kids are 4 and 18 months so they are young enough to be brainwashed.. swmbo, is dead against it,,, an ex-non sea going wren.. could be tough to persuade her... None of my mates are into the sailing lark... so looks like I'm a billy no mates.. or as they call them in these sailing circles... a single hander... thanks for you advice..

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Re: that\'ll do for me big fella... NM

I'm not sure about the racing bit yet,,

I do fancy the cruising lark tho'.. I have read about a couple of blokes cruising round the North of scotland in a Wayfarer with a boom tent and all the gubbins..

that's the sort of sailing I'm after to be honest.. I work in IT so I'd kinda like to get away from technology and computers etc.. just me and my boat against good old mother nature and the sea... probably sounds like a silly romantic notion to most of you old salts.. but I can't wait..


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Re: that\'ll do for me big fella... NM

I've just picked up a Wayfarer with the intention of re-living some of my earlier sailing experiences. I wonder if I'll get the time. If you are careful they can be found really cheap. Mine is a Mk2 Glass job & I paid £250 for it with Launching trolley & sails. It just takes patients to search out the best deals.

Martin

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Re: that\'ll do for me big fella... NM

I asked around, found a Sailing Club that was closing & selling off their club boats.

Check out the Wayfarer Owners Association Website. If your not too bothered how pretty it looks there are often good deals to be found.

Martin


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Ocean Youth Trust - Scotland

You might want to take a look at Ocean Youth Trust (Scotland).This is a voluntary organisation that supports the personal development of young people, aged 12-24, through its programme of voyages aboard an ocean going vessel. OYTS's project voyages enable young people from disadvantaged groups and those from inner cities to participate on the Trusts Training Vessel. OYTS also promotes the importance of learning to its adult volunteers through its training scheme.

OYTS currently maintains a 70' Ketch, specifically designed for working with young people, and takes over 500 young people to sea every year from ports around Scotland. This vessel is crewed by a Professional Skipper who is supported by over 180 voluntary Seastaff who provide over 32,000 voluntary hours of work every year. They are always looking for volunteers to help out particularly bosuns or people with practical skills. I think is costs about £30.00 a year to join. I know several people who started off as volunteer barnacle scrapers who worked their way up to Skipper with all the training paid for by what used to be OYC (Ocean Youth Club). When I had my skippers assesment with OYC years ago, I ran over the bucket on a MOB drill at 10 knots.( I had never driven an 80 ton yacht before!!!) but they still asked me back !



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Re: that\'ll do for me big fella... NM

can reccomend a flying fifteen to get started(i did) there big enough to be comfy and if fitted with sea going keel are hard to tip.....mind you i did... not nice in 2degrees in the middle of Rutland water ..but great fun!!

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Re: wayfarer

Thanks for the web address...

My daughter is 4 and she loves the idea of sailing..
The boy is only 18 months so he doesn't understand really...

The wife is ex navy and had a bad experience on the Fearless..
She was only on there for a few hours but was sick as a dog..

and they were alongside all the time she was on there...

I reckon if the kids enjoy it and get into it I'll get her out there some time...
Will need to find a mill pond somewhere..

And don't worry I'm not one of those SNP voting hoot's mon braveheart jocko types...
"Out" will be fine...
and while we're on the subject, I've been very surprised at some of the grammar used on here.. it's bloody awful sometimes...

but then I have always spoke bettur englandur than what nobody else can't

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Re: wayfarer

Grammer? is that somthing to do with school????/forums/images/icons/smile.gif.

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Re: wayfarer

<<and while we're on the subject, I've been very surprised at some of the grammar used on here.. it's bloody awful sometimes...>>

Bad grammar and spelling is part and parcel of this forum and accepted.

How would this forum be of use to anyone if only Mr Perfect could reply? Some people are good with words but try getting them to fix an engine or tell you what's wrong!!


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