Advice to a complete newbie to sailing

[PunterJim]

A friend's invited me on a flotilla trip this autumn. I'd been thinking about learning to sail for a while, and am keen to make the most of this trip.
What should I do to prepare for the trip, so I do make the most of it?

All advice welcomed. Thanks

 

[Robin2]

Read Sailing for Dummies and The Complete Yachtmaster

 

[PunterJim]

Thanks: I'll look at those. I'm also thinking of doing a course, possibly the RYA Competent crew training. Any advice on a good course, or company to go with, or place to do a course? I live in London but was thinking of Largs.

 

[Noddy]

Don't get involved!

Its Cold, wet, and occasionally terrifying.
Its expensive
Your wife / partner will not like it - no matter what she says now.
Its addictive: Once your hooked your in! There is no getting away from it!

Good luck dear PunterJim. Don't worry about us; We're doomed - Save Yourself!

 

[graham]

Competent crew course will teach you how to make yourself usefull on a cruising boat. In my opinion a weekend course sailing dinghys will teach you more about actually sailing a boat .

The other option is to offer yourself as a novice crew looking for some weekends before you go.

PS ignore my advice,Noddys right cancel now before its too late.... /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[CPD]

Hear Hear Noddy !!!! /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[PunterJim]

Cheers(!) but I've had some experience of being "cold, wet and occasionally terrified" as an occasional winter climber: it hasn't put me off, so far...
http://www.psychovertical.com/images/fallout.asp (not me by the way but I know how he feels)

Any other tips?

 

[PunterJim]

[ QUOTE ]
In my opinion a weekend course sailing dinghys will teach you more about actually sailing a boat .

[/ QUOTE ]

Thanks for that. Any tips on courses near London?

 

[Skyva_2]

Possibly Datchet Watersports?

http://www.datchetwsports.force9.co.uk/contact.html

(No connection, etc)

 

[CalmSkipper]

Jim

First I'd like to second (haha) the recommendation to do RYA1/2dinghy sailing so you really get the feel of the wind and points of sailing first.

Second, if you have the time and money, think about comp crew as well, so you get to experience a bigger boat, but you'll get more from it if you do dinghy's first, and a chance to crew as well would be even better. Not sure why you're thinking of LARGS- may depend on time of year of course - Will be fine in the summer (whatever that is). If you're doing it off season somewhere like The Hamble (I'm biased so this may be contentious!) offers so much opportunity to get out in the shelter of souhampton water and the solent that you can near onexpect to get out in most states of weather and tide - even on training course.

Most of all - GO FOR IT. Yes, a floatilla is a great way to start. I dived in the deep end having ben a fair weather dinghy sailor for 10 years I bought a boat this year. I studied DS theory over the winter and did some own boat tuition so it was all part of a plan..Its fantasic and you'll love it!

 

[jimi]

I'd go against the general advice here, you don't need to sail and trim to perfection to enjoy a flotilla holiday. However you do need to know how to manage sheets, ,winches, anchors, handle a boat under power, know how to use the bog etc etc to ejoy a flotilla holiday. So get yourself booked on a competent crew (or dayskipper if you know a little nav theory) and you'll get a lot out of it.

 

[Searush]

Listen & watch what is going on around you on the boat. Ask questions when unsure & listen to the answers. Beware of assuming things, ask & check first - it is far safer in the long run. If things don't look right - again, ASK!

Pop round to your local sailing club & see if anyone needs a crew - you may be lucky & will learn a lot.

As a crew member, you will not be REQUIRED to know anything, but it will help if you do.

 

[tcm]

Advice for newbie

Does he need to know anything at all? Whenever I've ever been invited along on a boaty trip I have always found it best to behave as a complete numpty know-nowt. Otherwise one might make the skipper look incompetent, which would surely constitute very bad manners, no?

 

[bilbobaggins]

I'm echoing much of the above - especially that re getting some dinghy experience. That'll stand you in good stead.

However, I'd encourage you to avoid the high-performance ultralight dinghies, and ask for instruction in something like a Drascombe, as the experience will be much closer to what you'll find flotilla sailing. Similarly, while you may have a sound reason to consider Largs, schools on the English East Coast are much closer and will do the job just fine.

While there are lots who sail on the Solent, you'd get a lot more from a Day Skipper course out of Plymouth or Falmouth. Lots more...... IMHO

Don't go daft on buying lots of expensive sailing clothes, either, at this stage. Visit your local Aldi stores for some rather good and hugely inexpensive stuff - and do get: a drybag, a cheap headtorch, some wicking non-cotton innerwear, and a cheap wide-brim hat to protect your face from glare.

All the rest - there's miles of it - will fall into place in its own good time.

Enjoi!

/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[TonyD]

Where are you planning to go flotilla sailing? If it's somewhere in the Med, then think seriously about a weekend flotilla training course such as one of these:

http://www.hamble.co.uk/html/flotilla_training.html
http://www.neilson.co.uk/uksailing/PreFlotillaTrainingCourses.asp

They will be much more use that a dinghy course, competant crew course or day skipper, because they will teach you just what you need to know. Sailing is generally the easy bit. They will tell you about mooring bows/stern to, about how to live on a boat for a couple of weeks and what to expect, how to deal with the heads (toilet) on a boat and how to manage a holding tank. They should tell you about the limited amount of navigation you will need to know without the complications of tides, and about basic daytime colregs without the complications of lights and sound signals.

Its great fun and don't get put off by what you don't know. Learn just what you need for the flotilla. When you're hooked, there's plenty of time to learn the rest!

But bear in mind, it may change your life and future holiday plans for ever!

TonyD

 

[l'escargot]

[ QUOTE ]
I'd go against the general advice here, you don't need to sail and trim to perfection to enjoy a flotilla holiday. However you do need to know how to manage sheets, ,winches, anchors, handle a boat under power, know how to use the bog etc etc to ejoy a flotilla holiday. So get yourself booked on a competent crew (or dayskipper if you know a little nav theory) and you'll get a lot out of it.

[/ QUOTE ]
I'd second that. If you enjoy the flot and want to learn more about sailing, look at a dinghy course when you come back. Very little of sailing a dinghy will translate directly into the practicalities of a flotilla holiday.

 

[Erre]

I totally agree with Lescargot etc above. Any more is overkill at this stage.

You are clearly interested enough to have sought out this forum and asked the question in the first place. I am sure, given that inquiring and responsible attitude, that you would have a ball on a comp crew course and also on your holiday. After that experience you can re-evaluate and decide if you wish to commit more money and time in developing your knowledge.

Huge congratulations on a very sensible approach and best wishes for the future. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

 

[nigelhudson]

Neilson do weekend courses at Brighton for first-time flotilla sailors. I can't comment on quality but, judging by the number of people taking them, they are popular.

Taking a Comp Crew course in the Solent is not a bad idea - if it's blowing a hoolie there's generally some sheltered water so it's not a wash-out. If the weather's OK then trips to Poole or Weymouth are real possibilities. This should (apart from the temperature) replicate the knid of sailing that you'll encounter on a flotilla. If you go somewhere more exposed you'll have fewer options in the event of bad weather (or "Summer" as we are learning to call it this year).

 

[sailorman]

Look-up
"Les Rant" he has a web-site sails out of Levington ( Suffolk Yacht Hbr ) hes the best on the East Coast. actually "Does Sailing"

 

[VicS]

If you are being invited as a complete novice to join an experienced crew just go and enjoy it and learn from them as you go.

If you are going to be expected to act as a crew member without much instruction then a Comp crew or similar course would be a good idea but might be difficult now to find a vacancy on such a course in time.