how??

[pegasus]

im 14 and in the summer hols i did my dinghy level 1. I enjoyed it so much and my x mas list is full of wetsuits and all the other gear.I was just wondering how to go about learning,i live in shetland and theres one boating club near were i live do i go there or get a private lesson??? how did everyone else start??
much in need of advice please help!!!

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[BrendanS]

Pegasus,
In the past many of us just jumped into boats while young, and learnt the hard way, often with parental approval. If you want to see what kids got away with in the past just read any of the books on sailing written in the 1920's to 1950's, including the wonderul Arthur Ransome series 'Swallows and Amazons'

Not what every kid got up to, but an idea of what life was like before adults became worried about where their kids were everyday.

These days, adults and parents are terrified of the trouble they would get into if they let young adults loose on their own without supervision.

In this day and age you really need to be supervised whilst learning, so a sailing club is the way to go. The club will give you the advise and training required for you to gain some freedom if you can convince them you have the necessary qualities, though if you can afford one to one tuition, then you may learn a little faster.

The Shetlands are an area exposed to fairly extreme conditions at times, so the tales written by Arthur Ransome don't really apply to you.

The usual advice is to fill in your profile, as this gives the regulars here some idea of your experience, and how to answer your questions based on location and experience. The regulars will often tease people who ask elementary questions, as there are some adults who pretend to be something other than what they are


To avoid being hassled, fill in your profile with what you have done, and your experience, and your age,. but make sure you don't give away any personal details such as name, address, telephone number or email address

Good sailing!
Brendan

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[circumnavigation]

Hi! I am now in my mid 50s, but started at the age of 8. At school we had many teachers who loved sailing (South Coast) and in the woodwork sessions we built a boat and put it to the test. At 12 I was sailing clinker built dinghys and when military service beckoned, as a cadet, I was sailing single handed in 32ft sailing and rowing cutters, while improvising different sail plans.

I have been able to sail in different parts of the world, in different conditions, but, alas, today, with more people taking to the water, it is only the fortunate that can get the opportunity without having to pay out commercially vast sums of money to do it.

You are at the age that there must be someone out there, even in the Shetlands, that would encourage you and teach you the skills to love the type of sailing or watersport (sport, pastime, profession, retirement) that you will end up settling down to without having to pay out too much money.

Keep the pecker up, because there will be someone out there to take your enthusiasm to the level that you desire. I am sure your parents are very supportive, as mine were.

Keep the Forum informed how you get on.

Martin

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[hlb]

Go to the club. Besides helping you to learn to sail. Theres usually alot of friendship's, partys and all sorts of other benifits to be gained.

<hr width=100% size=1> <font color=blue>No one can force me to come here.<font color=red> I'm a volunteer!!.<font color=blue>

Haydn

 

[snowleopard]

join your local sailing club and offer to crew for anyone who needs it. if you ask the officers of the club i'm sure they will know who needs help. almost every club is keen to bring in new blood.

if you are there to help with the rigging and clearing up afterwards, keen to learn and reliable it won't be long before you have all the sailing you want.

you may also be able to borrow an old topper or laser to practice helming (but stay in sight of other people).

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[john_morris_uk]

It might not apply in your club - but sometimes its useful to ask why some people are always short of crew! Having said that - there are lot of very very fine people with boats with and without qualifications who are always happy to take enthusastic crew sailing with them.

I remember sailing with the father of one of my friends for all my teenage years because the said friend couldn't stand sailing and I loved it. It probably helped my cause that I was always ready to clean, wash the deck down, whip frayed ends of lines and other useful things. I also remember getting shouted at when I put us aground on a mudflat half way down the Milford Haven. Never heard such langauge before from a consultant eye surgeon!

If you are keen and enthusaistic, you will invariably find a boat to go sailing on!

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[davidwf]

Had a look on www.rya.org.uk and found the following link to the Shetlands Inter Island sailing club

http://www.rya.org.uk/Regions/Scotland/clubs.asp?clubId=579879

Suggest you gve the chap a call and I'm sure he can poiint you in the right direction.

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