Breaking Out!

[adamlaithwaite]

Hi all,
Bought my house, dumped the city job, commuting and the bird, now want to join the yacht race and leave the rat race. Crewed around the whitsundays last year on a 'package' type affair and was instantly hooked. Wanted advice on how to follow the dream! Looked at Flying Fishs' Basic Yachtmaster course over 18 weeks, is this a good idea? Any other suggestions?

Cheers

 

[Sans Bateau]

You have seen the light! Mind you the Solent is not as warm as Whitsundays, my suggestion:

There is no short cut. There are people on this forum who have been sailing for years. Me, only 14 years, and I still have not done my YM practical. Save your money that a fast track will cost, buy a small cheap cruiser (20 to 25ft) and learn the basics, spend time crewing on big boats with 'old salts'. Time and experiences are the best teacher.

In a couple of years you will have a clearer idea of what you want in a boat, lots of miles and first hand experiance of your own. Its all well and good a sailing school simulating an incident, but when it comes to the time and you are on your own, with your own crew and the weather has turned for the worse, or some gear has failed, its an experience that cannot be taught.

 

[Viking]

Re: Breaking Out - to what??

'Yacht race' seems right! there will be more people on the water soon then on the M25. Another one to fill a berth and push up berthing prices. Read YM acticle '2020 a sail odyssey'? (nice one David). its closer then you think!!!!
"We're doomed, DOOMED do you hear!!!" /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[chuns]

You don't say if you want a career in yachting, or to take it up as a recreation.

From a recreational point of view, there is a certain amount of misgiving about the "zero-to-hero" fast-track courses. This is based on the feeling that a competent person would normally have gained his experience over a period of time whilst putting what he has learned into practice along the way.

But that shouldn't stop you - just be aware that walking away with a YM cert doesn't make you experienced, it just makes you qualified! Many people who have been sailing for a very long time and with huge mileage do their YM 'retrospectively'.

Most sensible people starting sailing quickly recognise how much there is to learn on top of a course, and if that is you, then you will treat your course as a stepping stone to allow you to follow your dream. Certainly you will have a head start, and have the confidence and a good level of skill to allow you to progress without frightening yourself too much, or putting yourself and others into danger.

The other side of this particular coin is that if you are the "cocky" sort, then you will think you know it all and that will generate a false level of confidence that is inappropriate! I'm sure that is not you!

Getting training is the first step to safety, and you are considering the right path. Talk to the RYA, there are several Sailing Scools that do YM fastrack, Flying Fish seems to be more biased towards training for a professional qualification. London Boat Show is on next week - all the schools will be there, or just look in the back of any yottie mag.

From a professional point of view the qulification will get you into the industry, but, unsurprisingly. on the first rung only. As in recreational yotting the passage of time is a great qualifier.

Good luck, whatever you do.

ps Read Ellen MacArthur's book, she did it!

 

[cameronke]

Hi Chuns

Just reading Ellens book right now an I am even more impressed with that young ladies grit!!!

Regards
Cameron

 

[chuns]

Ellen\'s grit

It is astonishing where she pulls it all from, isn't it?

 

[adamlaithwaite]

Hi,

Thanks for your thoughts. With more and more disgruntled workers having a mid life crisis and heading off (30% of 30 to 38yr olds apparently!!) I think Flying Fish are on to a winner! It'll be interesting to see how Yachting Worlds Flying Fish 'guinea pig' will fare when she's assessed by seasoned sailors.

I'm looking at it as a career move and hopefully buying my own yacht to run charters. Thats a whole new future situation though.

Can you suggest a good south coast sailing club to get down to for a few beers and more knowledge gathering?

Cheers

 

[BlueSkyNick]

[ QUOTE ]

Can you suggest a good south coast sailing club to get down to for a few beers and more knowledge gathering?

Cheers

[/ QUOTE ]

There are several, as suggested above you can find them in the back of the yachting mags. I can recommend BOSS at Hamble Point, from personal experience. I have no links with them, in fact haven't even been there for over 2 years, but was suitably satisfied when I did.