Learning to sail on Thames

[ImmatureCheddar]

Hi all,

I want to learn to sail, aiming to do some coastal cruising in the UK and Europe eventually. I am 29 and just looking for a new pastime really. Picking up a course in a club seems like a way to go – the question is which track to pick and where. I did a tryout session on a Wayfarer at Datchet SC the other day and definitely loved it. Laid back place too but seems a little too far from where I live which is Putney, London.

It seems like general consensus is that dinghy sailing is a great way to develop basic sailing technique, which will come handy on bigger boats either way.

Questions follow:

- Is starting by learning to sail a dinghy a good idea? Thinking RYA level1-2 for starters in a place like lcsc.org.uk (only a walk from me)

- Do you see any problem in learning to sail on Thames?

any input welcome

 

[DJE]

There are some big dinghy sailing clubs on the reservoirs in SW London. You could probably do a course at one of those. More room than on the river and no tides to worry about.

http://www.dwsc.co.uk/training-new/

https://www.queenmary.org.uk/courses/adult/

Edit:-

Also NW London

http://www.welshharpsailingclub.org/training.html

 

[lw395]

Getting involved in a club local to you is a good move I think.
LCSC is a good club.
But sailing has many facets, it's good to try other sorts of sailing, like bigger boats on the sea.

The really big clubs like QMSC can be a bit commercial, easy to go there and not know anyone.

 

[Concerto]

If you want to learn to sail on a yacht rather than a dinghy, then Elite Sailing at Chatham are worth considering.
http://www.elitesailing.co.uk/

 

[glynd]

There are some big dinghy sailing clubs on the reservoirs in SW London. You could probably do a course at one of those. More room than on the river and no tides to worry about.

http://www.dwsc.co.uk/training-new/

https://www.queenmary.org.uk/courses/adult/

Edit:-

Also NW London

http://www.welshharpsailingclub.org/training.html

Can thoroughly endorse DSWC, a good little sailing centre with a small but ‘interesting’ place to sail

You’ll definitely pick up some wind awareness, as with wind dirction / reflections you can end up doing 360s on one tack

 

[VicS]

Hi all,

I want to learn to sail,

- Do you see any problem in learning to sail on Thames?

any input welcome

I did a dinghy sailing course on the tidal Thames some years ago

For some reason we used my boat for all the capsize drills which meant that I went out with all the other course participants in turn and capsized quite a few times.


I was pretty ill the following day!

 

[oldgit]

just suggestion but jumping in and learning to sail on tidal waters with all its challenges would be best preparation for the real world ?
On my recent trip back down from Teddington to Medway we encountered small sailing club craft boats during just about every step of the journey , except right out in the esturary.
Down here on Medway real delight in watching some real young-uns fight it out in some tiny little sailing boats on tidal water ....if they can do it ?

 

[solent clown]

just suggestion but jumping in and learning to sail on tidal waters with all its challenges would be best preparation for the real world ?
On my recent trip back down from Teddington to Medway we encountered small sailing club craft boats during just about every step of the journey , except right out in the esturary.
Down here on Medway real delight in watching some real young-uns fight it out in some tiny little sailing boats on tidal water ....if they can do it ?

There are many sailing schools in Southampton, one based at the end of the Itchen in particular that is very active, they get a couple of dozen tiny boats out with screeching laughing kids, firstly in the river, then right out in the estuary off Weston shore, great fun to watch their thrills and spills out on the open water. Occasionally if time and tide are less than favourable they all get towed back like a gaggle of ducklings behind the ribs.

 

[Boathook]

A few clubs at Kingston upon Thames. No problems with learning on the Thames imho.

http://www.minimayc.co.uk/home and https://www.thamessailingclub.co.uk/

 

[KellysEye]

Dinghy sailing is good way to learn to sail before moving to a yacht, that's what I did.

 

[KINGFISHER 9]

Friend of mine learned to sail an Enterprise out of a little club at Thames Ditton, up by Hampton Court. Tacking every 10 seconds or so. Came sailing with me when I kept a Folkboat at Mylor and couldn't get his head round being able to sail for miles and miles on the same tack!

 

[solent clown]

as a couple a bit further along the journey you are about to take, go for it, it is great fun. All the skills you will learn in a dinghy transfer directly to a bigger boat. Ssssh, dont tell anyone, but we find sailing a bigger boat easier than a dinghy so do not worry about stepping up to a bigger boat. While you are learning the handling skills in the dinghy, take time to read up on other stuff for the bigger boats, navigation, radio, knots, using winches etc. That way you will have a head start if you do the next course. Or you can take my very bad advice and just get a dinghy and go for it. The Ladybird book of sailing and boating will get you started, it is what we learned with! However we had lots of experience on the water with other types of boats so the learning curve was not so steep.

I would add as a caveat, I am ex millitary and an adventurer, the risk of finding things out for myself and the potential for failure or doom fill a gap in my life nothing else can. (it occasionally causes rows as we have yet to reef!)

 

[bdh198]

I live in SW London and two clubs that are well worth a look are:

Island Barn Reservoir Sailing Club - https://www.islandbarn.org.uk/

Over the summer they run a "Trysail course" every Tuesday for people looking to get into sailing. They have lots of experienced instructors and plenty of club boats to learn on. You don't need to be a member to attend the course, and it's free (of course, they hope you will enjoy the sailing so much that you join the club!). If you become a member then the club boats are also free to use (club boats include Toppers, Lasers, Solos, RS Fevas, RS Visions). It's a friendly place and there are always members happy to help.

The other place I have experience of is Hampton Sailing Club on the river - http://www.hamptonsailingclub.com/

This is a really friendly club. They have loads of experienced members who are always looking for people to crew and they are always keen to pass on their experiences. I believe they also allow new members to sail at the club up to six times before joining to see if it is the right place for them.

However, if you're just looking for some training at first (RYA 1 & 2) then somewhere like Queen Mary Sailing Club will have everything you need, although as others have said this place is a bit commercial, some very competitive sailing goes on there and it's a bit more expensive, but nevertheless probably a good place to do the RYA training. https://www.queenmary.org.uk/


Of course, there is also somewhere like South Bank Sailing Club in Putney which is on your doorstep. I've never been a member, but know a few people who are members and who enjoy it there.

In regards to river sailing Vs reservoir sailing, my person preference is for reservoir sailing. The reservoirs in West London are generally on higher ground and have less obstructions around the water than the river (i.e. trees, houses etc) and therefore you get a more consistent and reliable breeze. Also, when you are learning to sail, on a reservoir if you get into difficulty you will always eventually be blown to the bank, but on the river there is a risk (particularly in light winds) of getting swept away down river. The reservoir water is also warmer at this time of year. Although river sailing is a skill in itself and you will develop some develop some valuable skills in that environment.

 

[RichardS]

I first went dinghy sailing on the Thames at Teddington with a friend who worked for the BBC. The BBC had a sailing section based on the non-tidal stretch of the Thames above Teddington lock. It was a very long time ago now but I think that the BBC club was part of the Tamesis Sailing Club.

Richar

 

[Tomahawk]

Echo what Kellys Eye said.. Learn on a dingy first..

When you get it wrong, it doesn't hurt and is not very expensive.
Nowt wrong with tides. Indeed they encourage you t sail better... esecially if you want to get to the bar before they shout last orders.

If you are interested in the East Coast... visit the East Coast forum.. We are a friendly bunch.

 

[Jungle Jim]

There are many sailing schools in Southampton, one based at the end of the Itchen in particular that is very active, they get a couple of dozen tiny boats out with screeching laughing kids, firstly in the river, then right out in the estuary off Weston shore, great fun to watch their thrills and spills out on the open water. Occasionally if time and tide are less than favourable they all get towed back like a gaggle of ducklings behind the ribs.

Ah, the Alma Mater, they taught me everything I know. It is slightly galling when their 7year olds can run rings round me on the water though

To the OP, do dinghy sailing on tidal water if you can, it teaches you so much that is invaluable when you get onto the bigger boats.

 

[UK-WOOZY]

the club im with has an active dinghy side too. lots of dinghy club boats to use (laser keel/omegas/toppers) and yacht owners always looking for crew. possibly a bit far from you but were on the Thames. I sailed many dinghys (mirror,wayfarer,toppers) in my youth at a lake but i did RYA dinghy courses at current club before upgrading from a Pacer dinghy to yachts: Seawych then an Intro 22(in my avatar) now a Jeanneau Sundream. Club is: Erith Yacht Club, by Dartford bridge(ish).

 

[Greenheart]

Twenty years ago I lived in Putney, and used to see the dinghies sailing on the river by the Star and Garter. Fireflies and Enterprises and National 12s, if I remember rightly.

Although I had sailed my own dinghy across the Solent long before that, I used to think the prospect of navigating an unballasted, un-engined boat on the rapid-flowing and fairly filthy Thames, amid bridges and barges and unseen underwater wreckage, very daunting.

I wouldn't bother with lake or reservoir sailing unless you're especially keen about racing in a class which is popular at a particular lake club. If as you say, you liked the Wayfarer, it's possible you'll mainly be interested in the diverse challenges and fulfilment available to cruising sailors, rather than in sailing boats merely as a form of competition.

Having said that, I'm told that racing can be a good way to learn vital skills - but I know I would never have begun sailing at all, if it had included fussing about rules, or the repellent urgency of school sports. If the Putney sailors are determined racers, I'd be ready to look elsewhere rather than spoil what you find attractive about sailing...unless of course their activities appeal to you.

It may depend on how long you expect to be in London. I left 15 years ago, and now live on the Solent. Sailing my own dinghy close to home here, I know nothing would ever persuade me to return to the capital and its restricted sailing opportunities.

 

[JumbleDuck]

... the repellent urgency of school sports ...

That's a lovely phrase. I am deafened by the ringing of bells.

 

[ImmatureCheddar]

Thank you all for valuable advice, seems like I'm thinking in the right direction.

Moving outside London is not an option for me for at least another few years.

I think I will do RYA l1-l2 on Thames and see where it takes me and if I develop any taste for it.
Filthy water is my concern too. I hope it'll make me more careful

Will let you know how it goes in about a month.