Is this over the top?

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Boogaloo

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I have booked 2 weeks off in August for holiday, my plan is to sail round a bit of coast on Boogaloo.

I know diddly squit so far on sailing, and as soon as It hits spring im going to have lessons sailing Boogaloo. Is it possible? Or shall I just book some flights out of here now? haha.

Also does anyone have any recommendations for someone thats local that can teach me?
 
Boogaloo said:
I know diddly squit so far on sailing, and as soon as It hits spring im going to have lessons sailing Boogaloo.
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Well done for being honest, some of us try and hide our lack of ability. Most important thing I would suggest is stay within your capabilities which will grow weekend by weekend as you learn by doing! If it is blowing a bit use small sails (you can practice reefing on a mooring) and stay on the Orwell or Stour. Use the tide to your advantage etc. Learn some basic navigation over the winter so you can 'read' buoyage, know where it is going to be shallow etc. Don't be put off by the 'experienced old hands' you only ever see propping up the Sailing Club bar!!

Might be at Pin Mill myself next season.

Have a look at this website http://www.skysailtraining.co.uk/index.htm Lots of useful stuff

Cant suggest anyone to give sailing lessons.
 
Ah thank you. shall have a browse around the site.
I plan on getting some books that I had recommended to me on here n previous post, to have a read of before I get in the boat.
 
There are several sailing schools near Ipswich - look on the RYA website for details.. The courses are not cheap, expect to pay c £400 per week for theory and c £500 per week for practical.
If cost is an issue, try visiting/joining a local club (such as Fox'e Marina Yacht Club) and asking for skippers seeking crew - a few trips with a variety of skippers would teacg you a lot and get you started.
A PM to Sailorman (respected member of this parish and Commodore of FMYC) might reap rewards.
 
stuey_two said:
There are several sailing schools near Ipswich - look on the RYA website for details.. The courses are not cheap, expect to pay c £400 per week for theory and c £500 per week for practical.
If cost is an issue, try visiting/joining a local club (such as Fox'e Marina Yacht Club) and asking for skippers seeking crew - a few trips with a variety of skippers would teacg you a lot and get you started.
A PM to Sailorman (respected member of this parish and Commodore of FMYC) might reap rewards.
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I was looking for someone to come out and teach me on my own little boat really.
 
Ask one of the sailing schools to give you a couple of days of own-boat tuition. That will be a lot more use than a generalised course, unless you need the certificate. I would recommend Colin Stracey at First Class sailing East. It, and he, are at Fambridge (colin(at)firstclasssailing.com where (at) is @)
 
AliM said:
Ask one of the sailing schools to give you a couple of days of own-boat tuition. That will be a lot more use than a generalised course, unless you need the certificate. I would recommend Colin Stracey at First Class sailing East. It, and he, are at Fambridge (colin(at)firstclasssailing.com where (at) is @)
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Thank you i shall ping him over. An email :)
 
stuey_two said:
There are several sailing schools near Ipswich - look on the RYA website for details.. The courses are not cheap, expect to pay c £400 per week for theory and c £500 per week for practical.
If cost is an issue, try visiting/joining a local club (such as Fox'e Marina Yacht Club) and asking for skippers seeking crew - a few trips with a variety of skippers would teacg you a lot and get you started.
A PM to Sailorman (respected member of this parish and Commodore of FMYC) might reap rewards.
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I think the problem with sailing schools is that there are several people being taught at once and things happen that might not be fully explained/and or understood. I am with Stuey's suggestion of joining a local club and crewing for someone a few times, and also that way you may meet somebody who sail with you and will teach you further in your own boat. In the Summer there are usually lots of competent students that are looking for a sail. Like swimming, you can't learn sailing from books
 
Get thee down to Levington... and find someone who is racing over the winter months... And simply blag your way on board as part of the crew... Turn up every weekend and be reliable and you will find yourself a seat and be a wanted back.

You will do sea miles and start to learn something of how a sail boat works. If you have time for it, do the N.Sea Race in early May. Harwich to Holland via Smiths Knoll... 200 miles. Night watches, navigating, working the boat all the time, and a very good party at the other end, then a cruise home.

You will learn a hell of a lot in a short time.

I am not trying to imply that you should race your boat, or indeed even that racing is all there is to sailing, but offshore and inshore racing does teach you so much.

To-wit... on a collection trip from the Solent to Kent in my then brand new to me Toledo30 with just two up in late November. We were getting close to Dover having been on the water for most of 14 hours. Cold and tired, the wind picked up when we were about a mile from the harbour. We had to reef in a hurry as we were hit by a rain squall. The sea was starting to heave and it was dark. It could have been very frightening.

I was standing at the mast putting in a reef thinking .... I am so glad I learned now to do this when racing. Otherwise I would be very scared now.
 
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Have to respectfully disagree with Tomahawk. To me the best way to learn is in a sailing dinghy / small boat. Go and crew for some one at Alton Water - feel the wind on your face / neck and the boat move as you get it right / wrong. Trim the sails and feel some acceleration etc. Get it really wrong and you get wet as the boat tips over. IMO and experience people who learn to sail in 'yachts' are less likely to be able to feel the wind and react to it instinctively.

There again I may be talking jibberish - it has been know once in a while.

I certainly don't disagree that you need to know your own boat so when in a pickle you know where everything is and how it works.
 
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I spent a couple of seasons on the EAORA circuit and would have to say that for a complete novice (no disrespect meant) to be thrown in at the deep end is more likely to put them off sailing , yes racing does give confidence but they have a no retreat no surrender attitude to sailing , as Peter says start off gently and enjoy it , sailing /cruising is supposed to be fun .

Just my thoughts anyway .
 
On reflection I agree with Niglem and Karousie..

There is no substitute for getting wet bits as an incentive to learning how to balance the boat.. And the instant feedback on a small boat when you trim it properly is a great buzz...
 
Boogaloo
What do you need to learn?

How to handle a boat?
How to sail?
How to read a chart and navigate?

The coast round here requires all three if you're to be safe - good teaching available at a number of locations that are RYA training centres - you can also get own-boat tuition from some of the sailing schools. There's one based at Shotley - can't remember the name and one in Chatham i think...
 
AliM said:
I would recommend Colin Stracey at First Class sailing East. It, and he, are at Fambridge (colin(at)firstclasssailing.com where (at) is @)
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+100
You will be hard pushed to find a better instructor (and nicer person on the planet) than Colin, I am reliably informed. Also an astonishingly skilled sailor
Get in touch with him for sure. He may drive up to you and tutor on your boat.

The chap that runs this is also good.
http://www.yachtwise.org/practical-tuition.html
 
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