Sticky Fingers
Well-known member
.deleted
How hard is it to learn how to sail a 10 metre boat
- Thread starter Adetheheat
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Sticky Fingers
Well-known member
That’s the essence in a nutshell.Assuming you're used to a planing mobo, the biggest difference is the time it takes to get anywhere. You may love it or you may hate it, which is why I reckon Refeuler's suggestion to get out crewing for other yacht owners a few times is a good one. If you still want to do it, get a suitable boat and get an instructor to take you out on her a few times. You'll get plenty of contradictory advice on what you need right here, but it's really horses for courses; you want a nice safe plodder if you don't want to scare the crew, and a thoroughbred to win races. There are very few really bad boats out there.
This sail handling malarkey is supposed to be complicated but, in essence the sail is either pulling you along (wind on the beam or forward of the beam, or it's pushing you (wind aft of the beam). If it's pushing you, let the sails out as far as they want to go to keep full of the wind. If it's pulling you, pull the sails in until they look happy, nicely full , and not flapping. That'll get you moving. Now add 20 years of experience, and you'll understand why that's not quite all there is to it and you'll start to win races.
Tranona
Well-known member
The wind is exactly the same in a cruiser as in a dinghy, but the boat reacts in a different way. You don't have to jump from side to side avoiding getting smashed by the boom, or use your weight to help balance the boat. You don't need to learn how to right the boat when you capsize it and perhaps just as important you can learn without getting cold and wet. I have had experienced dinghy racers with me terrified of the power of a big boat that they felt they could not control.
Why learn things you don't need to know. If you are buying a cruiser learn on a cruiser. Learn how to get the best out of the type of boat you are sailing.
Sticky Fingers
Well-known member
We can certainly disagree. I’m an ex dinghy sailor, GP14 is where I started. Enterprises, Fireball, Int14, Nat12. IMHO dinghies are not remotely like sailing and handling a 10m plus yacht.
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Sticky Fingers
Well-known member
Yup. That. You are more eloquent than I, but I think we are in the same place with this.
chris-s
Well-known member
It depends on the person, some just don’t get it, it is completely different to a mobo, it is not just a case of pulling up the sails. Not only is the act of sailing different, the whole experience is different (good and bad) not forgetting the potential for additional maintenance over a mobo (sails, rigging).
Before committing, it might be a good idea to spend some time or a few trips sailing with all those involved so expectations can be managed.
Before committing, it might be a good idea to spend some time or a few trips sailing with all those involved so expectations can be managed.
awol
Well-known member
A sail boat may not guzzle fuel but it certainly will guzzle money. Sails, ropes, covers, antifoul, the list goes on and there is always a new toy to add. Learning to sail can be a fun journey but it ain't cheap.
B27
Well-known member
There's a lot of people saying the best sailors started in dinghies etc etc, but among dinghy racers, we see a lot of the best dinghy sailors having done some wndsurfing.
It's immaterial, there is no need to be the best, you just need to be safe and good enough for what you want to do.
There are a lot of yacht owners who would be frankly rubbish if they were racing, but it doesn't matter, you don't have to be an athlete to enjoy a walk in the countryside.
I think people learn quicker in smaller boats, but learning the actual 'sailing' is only part of it, learning to handle a sailing yacht at close quarters is not some thing you'll learn in a dinghy.
As awol said, sailing boats can eat money, the bigger the boat, the bigger the bills, but the difference is there is no direct cost per mile.
I'm planing a few days away, the biggest costs will be mooring fees and any eating ashore we do.
Having said that, I have a mate with a 35ft fast motorboat, he gets a lot of use out of that fairly cheaply, because he can go to a port 10 or 20 miles down the coast in an hour, which means his fixed costs are divided among a lot of short outings, whereas with a sailing boat I only go out for at least overnight, so my annual costs are divided by a lesser number of outings.
Even with a fair sized mobo, if you're using enough fuel for it to hurt, that's good, it means you're getting use out of your boat and value out of the mooring fees, depreciation and all that.
What I don't rate is e.g going to France in a Mobo, it costs a lot and is bouncy and noisy, whereas on a sailing yacht, it takes all day and all night, but it's time living on a boat underway.
It's immaterial, there is no need to be the best, you just need to be safe and good enough for what you want to do.
There are a lot of yacht owners who would be frankly rubbish if they were racing, but it doesn't matter, you don't have to be an athlete to enjoy a walk in the countryside.
I think people learn quicker in smaller boats, but learning the actual 'sailing' is only part of it, learning to handle a sailing yacht at close quarters is not some thing you'll learn in a dinghy.
As awol said, sailing boats can eat money, the bigger the boat, the bigger the bills, but the difference is there is no direct cost per mile.
I'm planing a few days away, the biggest costs will be mooring fees and any eating ashore we do.
Having said that, I have a mate with a 35ft fast motorboat, he gets a lot of use out of that fairly cheaply, because he can go to a port 10 or 20 miles down the coast in an hour, which means his fixed costs are divided among a lot of short outings, whereas with a sailing boat I only go out for at least overnight, so my annual costs are divided by a lesser number of outings.
Even with a fair sized mobo, if you're using enough fuel for it to hurt, that's good, it means you're getting use out of your boat and value out of the mooring fees, depreciation and all that.
What I don't rate is e.g going to France in a Mobo, it costs a lot and is bouncy and noisy, whereas on a sailing yacht, it takes all day and all night, but it's time living on a boat underway.
Slowtack
Well-known member
First the dinghy... Then somebody else's cruiser...apart from the tuition it's definitely cheaper that way!
Kelpie
Well-known member
Agree that it's a very different activity, and different mindset required to enjoy it.
I've met a few people who moved from power to sail and not all of them seemed entirely satisfied. If you're just trying to save fuel and therefore money, it's unlikely to work out.
I've met a few people who moved from power to sail and not all of them seemed entirely satisfied. If you're just trying to save fuel and therefore money, it's unlikely to work out.
capnsensible
Well-known member
It's not difficult and it doesn't take long to learn to be confident and safe. Some would have you believe its some mystic ancient craft with magic chanting, casting spells or something.
It's not. Try it.
Chiara’s slave
Well-known member
Anyone who really dislikes being wet should probably avoid sailing, if we’re honest.
capnsensible
Well-known member
You can get wet on motorboats too.
Chiara’s slave
Well-known member
Not quite as regularly, or as thoroughly, in my admittedly limited experience. We rarely got proper wet even on our RIB.
capnsensible
Well-known member
Mrs S has sailed oceans with me. But if she gets the teensiest bit wet on motorboats, which I managed yesterday and today, you would think it was a tsunami.
Chiara’s slave
Well-known member
Must admit I’m a bit fed up with getting completely soaked every sail on the XOD. Only a drysuit would keep it out, it's so windy all the time.
capnsensible
Well-known member
Yeah, I've long put that kind of stuff behind me. Last time I raced anything like that was a Victory in Gib. There and Pompey I believe are where the class is based.
saxonpirate
Active member
How right you are.. I used to have a devil of a job mixing my G&T's on an Enterprise.. especially after I'd had a few..
William_H
Well-known member
If cost is only concern to OP then stick to what he has and just go slower to use less fuel. Sail boats are not cheap to maintain. You can learnn to sail a 10m boat in a few lessons but take a life time to really learn. As said take lessons if only to get a feel for what you want. ol'will
Laser310
Well-known member
Dinghys are a great way to learn to sail - actually, they are the best way...
But if yo are not inclined that way, don't worry.., you can learn on a keel boat too.
I agree with those who say the first thing is to get out on a sailboat - sailors often want crew, or at least some company, and if you find the right person, you will learn a lot.
Certainly, you will get a sense of whether you might like sailing.
my only caution would be: get on a good boat with a good sailor.
racing is fun; i mostly race.., but a competitive race is maybe not the best for a first sail.., find someone just out for a daysail.
But if yo are not inclined that way, don't worry.., you can learn on a keel boat too.
I agree with those who say the first thing is to get out on a sailboat - sailors often want crew, or at least some company, and if you find the right person, you will learn a lot.
Certainly, you will get a sense of whether you might like sailing.
my only caution would be: get on a good boat with a good sailor.
racing is fun; i mostly race.., but a competitive race is maybe not the best for a first sail.., find someone just out for a daysail.