Gin Palace ditch crawlers going racing for the first time, help!

[yesCDWplease]

Hi Gents,

A bit of backround to start. Myself and two friends have been renting our way around inland waterways for the last ten years and would like to expand our horizons a little. Sailing seems like the next logical avenue for us to explore.After doing some research we've discovered that it's not all black magic and random zig zagging to assert dominance over us boat renters, so we've decided to give it a go.

Before doing something rash like buying a bloody boat or jumping into dayskipper and competent crew and all that malarkey I decided to ring up a few yacht clubs. The long and the short of it is that our potential to achieve great things as movable ballast has finally been recognised by a few nice chaps who race cruisers.


Wanting to make a good first impression, what are our do's and do not's?

In other words, how can we at least be a tolerable nuisance to these nice chaps?

 

[[3889]]

I hope they are nice chaps. I know a few people who have been put off sailing after volunteering as racing crew where, many, though not all, skippers sprout horns after the starting gun. There is also limited scope for learning the ropes in a race as everyone is busy doing their thing. If you don't fancy the RYA courses, and you'll be more experienced than most comp crew candidates, then maybe try Crewseekers or similar for more relaxed sailing.

 

[duncan99210]

Ask questions! If you’re complete newbies, then it’s far better to pipe up and say you don’t understand than to blunder round doing the wrong thing....

The other thing you and your mates could consider is doing a flotilla holiday in somewhere like Greece, especially on the shoulders of the season when things won’t be too busy and the costs are lower. Great introduction to sailing, nice weather, no tides. They’re designed to cope with complete newcomers and their staff are really good at delivering a good experience. If you find that suits, then the next step could be RYA courses etc.

 

[awol]

Soft shoes and some Tunnock's wafers.

 

[johnalison]

Obey orders, and don't be afraid to ask or indicate when you think something is wrong or hazardous.

 

[michael_w]

Sit on the high side and dangle your legs overboard. Always take a turn round something when line handling, friction is your friend. Concentrate on the task you've been asked to do.

 

[PhillM]

Second the sentiment of choosing your race boat carefully. Even though I love sailing and have my own boat, I ended up with a miserable weekend on a race boat and swore never to do that again! Also second the flotilla idea. Also ask at the club if there is anyone who will take you out for a sail sail. A cruise not a race, is an easier place to learn.

 

[Halo]

If you can turn up for every race in a season then the two of you can have a lot of fun by becoming part of a team and it will be worth the skippers time to show you the ropes. If you just want to turn up once or twice then racing is not a good idea. As others have said see if you can get on a cruise or find a skipper wanting crew for a longer or try it on a flotila. Real sailng , using the wind to get you places, is a delight which everyone should sample

 

[lw395]

1) Be completely honest about your level of knowledge.
2) Don't ask non-essential questions right before the start or at high stress moments like mark roundings or crossing other boats.
3) start by being prepared to be live ballast, work your way up.
4) Bring cake or chocolate.

As skipper I try to get beginners to work with a nominated person, e.g. Kev the trimmer will take responsibility for a grinder or sheet-releaser etc. When we get any practice time, I try to move everyone around every job, within reason.

 

[ryanroberts]

Similar background as an 8 year liveaboard who actually moves their boat. I think one of the Ionian flotillas (Sailing Holidays) will still ...get around the ICC requirements and let you on a smaller yacht without any qualifications. They help you park it, and the sailing is mostly short distanced and relaxed enough to be ok when you have no clue what you are doing. Though on our first ever day on on of their yachts we ended up in a squall gusting 40kt while motoring round and round in circles panicking trying to find jackets and harnesses, stiff drink afterwards and I (at least) was fine. Second time out after day skipper 'qualification' our anchor dragged when another squall blew straight into our anchorage and our jib roller jammed in the evening katabatic and now if I even mention sailing I get The Look.

I however am obsessed and want my own proper boat.

 

[photodog]

Learn to play the bagpipes, everyone loves a good toot as your going along.

 

[[70521]]

After doing some research we've discovered that it's not all black magic and random zig zagging to assert dominance over us boat renters

I strongly suspect you have come to the wrong conclusions.

Before doing something rash like buying a bloody boat or jumping into dayskipper and competent crew and all that malarkey I decided to ring up a few yacht clubs. The long and the short of it is that our potential to achieve great things as movable ballast has finally been recognised by a few nice chaps who race cruisers.

You are brave, very brave.

In other words, how can we at least be a tolerable nuisance to these nice chaps?

Find a boat who does not race. Crew for them, drink lots of tea and buy them a drink in the bar you will learn far more.

I spent one day on a race boat and never again, the skipper managed his crew by shouting at them when clearly he was not in control of the boat.

I've been on crusing boats where the skipper had been a competitive racer. He would not stop tweaking lines all the time and there was a distinct lack of tea, a cardnal sin in my book.

There is a school of thought that says you MUST start in a tiny wee dingy and have a wet bum for weeks on end to learn how to sail; ignore that school. The tea making facilities on dingies are rubbish although I have been impressed with the Dingly Crusing Association and some of their boats.

 

[Resolution]

.....and there was a distinct lack of tea, a cardinal sin in my book.
.

What's with all this tea drinking rubbish? Grow up man, learn to drink your rum, whisky, or, for the occifer class, your gin.ride:

 

[crewman]

Get to the club early. If at all possible try to get a practice sail beforehand to get a feel for what ropes you need to pull. Skippers who struggle for crew often are the shouty ones who blame the crew for their failures. Bring any necessary kit , waterproofs, LJ, boots and gloves. Concentrate and keep quiet, especially at the start and rounding buoys. Offer the skipper and regular crew a drink afterwards. Some clubs run racing classes, if so do them sometimes there are club cruises and newcomers welcome.

 

[ashtead]

Find a really calm day for your first race. I had a great day racing once in. A GK24 in zero wind in Cowes week where the entire fleet drifted forwards and backwards while some enterprising crew brought out a sax and trumpet etc. No one seemed to win but a memorable Cowes week and some fun people on board who just enjoyed being on the water .

 

[[70521]]

What's with all this tea drinking rubbish? Grow up man, learn to drink your rum, whisky, or, for the occifer class, your gin.ride:

As a Highland Scot there is always a good bottle of malt aboard

 

[Tomahawk]

I hope they are nice chaps. I know a few people who have been put off sailing after volunteering as racing crew where, many, though not all, skippers sprout horns after the starting gun. There is also limited scope for learning the ropes in a race as everyone is busy doing their thing. If you don't fancy the RYA courses, and you'll be more experienced than most comp crew candidates, then maybe try Crewseekers or similar for more relaxed sailing.

After the gun?
th etorns are usually being sharpened as soon as you step on board