Getting into sailing, good comp crew courses in the uk?

[laika]

Not sure what point your making here. Ellen MacArthur started sailing in dinghies. In fact, I don't know of any successful professional sailor who didn't

Two entirely separate points. Humerous reference to the OP’s lament about living in Derbyshire, independent of the second point.

Most professional racing drivers start as kids in karts. Most successful racing sailors started as kids in dinghies. If you’re an adult you’re unlikely to become a top flight racer starting from scratch and the OP has not stated that as an ambition. It wasn’t what I was after when I learned to sail. If you want to learn vanlife, drive a camper van. If you want to learn to safely navigate and skipper a cruising yacht, sail a cruising yacht.

 

[Gsailor]

Hi folks

I’m Wanting to get into sailing, was looking at taking 5 days on a boat and then thought I may as well take the RYA competent crew course for a bit more structured learning and something to show for it at the end. My ultimate goal would be owning a small yacht (longer term) and would be great if I could pick up some work on boats as I’ve a bit of a career break coming up.

Sailboatproject.org offered a competent crew course over a long weekend, which would be ideal for me but unfortunately they seem to have stopped doing it. Does anyone know anyone that does similar ?
I would do Monday - Fri if there are some solid recommendations but I’m self employed so there’s an extra cost attached.

I also noted previous advice to get on a dinghy and learn water/wind from the ground up . Also going to be looking into that if I enjoy my time on the boat.

I’m in Derbyshire/Peak District , so I guess any location is as bad as any other - everywhere will be a hard slog to get to so I’m open to all uk recommendations (unless I’m mistaken there!)

All I can say is choose a school with a good reputation.

I learned the hard way many years ago doing yacht master practical; chose a nearby school who were negligent and rude (to say the least) - the RYA asked me to report them, but I did not... they were near on criminal.

 

[MAGTRAD]

Hi folks

I’m Wanting to get into sailing, was looking at taking 5 days on a boat and then thought I may as well take the RYA competent crew course for a bit more structured learning and something to show for it at the end. My ultimate goal would be owning a small yacht (longer term) and would be great if I could pick up some work on boats as I’ve a bit of a career break coming up.

Sailboatproject.org offered a competent crew course over a long weekend, which would be ideal for me but unfortunately they seem to have stopped doing it. Does anyone know anyone that does similar ?
I would do Monday - Fri if there are some solid recommendations but I’m self employed so there’s an extra cost attached.

I also noted previous advice to get on a dinghy and learn water/wind from the ground up . Also going to be looking into that if I enjoy my time on the boat.

I’m in Derbyshire/Peak District , so I guess any location is as bad as any other - everywhere will be a hard slog to get to so I’m open to all uk recommendations (unless I’m mistaken there!)

If you're still looking for a Sailing School I can recommend Broadreach Sailing in Gosport. If you're self employed their course tend to run from Wednesday to Sunday so means only three days off work. Hope that helps and good luck too!

 

[Martin&Rene]

There is another way that I think would suit the OP perfectly. There are a couple of sailing schools on Lake Windermere who run the RYA level 1 Start Sailing and Level 2 Basic Skills in small yachts eg First 21. When teaching sailing in dinghies, (which I do) a lot of time of the pupils is spent learning the physical activities of tacking and gybing, skills that are not really the same as you do on a yacht. So the learning is much more yachting orientated. I think there is even a choice of doing it on a tiller or wheel steered yacht.

 

[Halo]

Try Black Diamond of Durham operating out of Hartlepool. Great people and boat and probably easier travel by rail or car