learning to sail?

[dignity]

Over the past few months my wife and I have been discussing trying sailing, we've had motor-cruisers longer than I can remember. After visiting SBS we've seen the ideal boat for us, all we need now is to learn the basics of sailing. After studying it seems that the ideal course would be the RYA Competent Crew course. Has anyone done this course if so would it be useful for the purposes of learning how to sail, I already have good knowledge of Navigation.

I don't want to pay £600 for the both of us if it isn't the right course.

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[tome]

In view of your experience I'd go for the Day Skipper as the CC is pretty basic. My wife did the DS theory followed by the practical and learned a lot about sailing. I would also recommend a dinghy sailing course, but others might disagree with this. I reckon if you can sail a dinghy you'll be a much better helm on a bigger boat with an intuitive feel for wind direction and sail trim.

Good luck, hope you enjoy it!



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[Twister_Ken]

S*ns*il.

If you fancy it, one great way to start is going on a club/flotilla holiday.

Spend the first week in a small group, learning to sail on one of the shagged out old cruisers they keep at the club, and week two on a hand-holding flotilla cruise around a bunch of restaurants - usually no more than 10-15 miles a day. Go with the right company and you'll get an RYA certificate at the end of it as well.

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[jimi]

Re: S*ns*il.

Seconded! Plus you get to play with the dingies as well!

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[Steve_R]

Re: S*ns*il.

All sounds like good advice, I met someone on a flotilla a few years ago who had done the same, they thoroughly enjoyed it and had picked up most of the basics.

Just a couple of extra points, I suggest you keep your options open about which boat you want, as when you know a little more it may well affect your decision.

Finally, I assume you have already been out sailing and decided you both like it, if not try to arrange a sample trip with someone, I'm hooked but it's not for everyone!

Good Luck


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[Magic_Sailor]

Sailing Courses

See the PM I sent.

Magic

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[snowleopard]

ideal boat?

you don't say what the ideal boat is but i bet you'll want to change it after a season or two! try a variety before you commit yourself- sailing schools, friends etc.

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[Tantalus]

Have to agree about sailing little boats....it's one he** of a lot of fun and forces you to really learn how to handle a sailly boat properly. Big boat will feel tame, in comparison.

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[Twister_Ken]

Hang on

Just dawned on me this is a wind-up. There can't be anybody owning a motor cruiser who uses the handle 'Dignity', now, can there? Well, not since T.Blair scuppered the royal yacht, anyway.

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[nicho]

Sounds like you are in the position I was 12 months ago. Having had various motor cruisers over the years, the last being a 37 footer that we used for Channel crossings, trips to the West Country and so on, we sold up and bought a 36 foot sailing boat. Like you, I therefore had gathered reasonable navigation skills, but apart from some dinghy sailing in the distant past (which at least tought me the basic principles of sailing), no experience of sailing a larger boat. I opted for the Day Skipper course with Southern Sailing, and it was very good (apart from learning on a really knackered old Sadler 34) This level of course will, in my opinion suit you better that competant crew, which I believe deals more in the basics of boat owning.

By the way, we've never regretted making the change to sail, having got used now to the fact that it takes much longer to get anywhere. When we had the motor cruiser, it was a case of "right, where shall we go today" - now, we're just happy to potter about in the Solent

Good luck, and happy sailing.

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[Jeremy_W]

Like tome I'd recommend that you learn the essentials of sailing on something lighter and more responsive than a yacht. Unless you relish regular dunkings, I'd recommend learning on an open keelboat like the brilliant Squib. It's several times heavier than a big dinghy and a fraction of the weight of a yacht. You'll learn far more about how sails work in a weekend in a Squib than in a whole week on a Competent Crew course.

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[dignity]

Re: Hang on

Not a wind up I assure you. I'm just an avid Deacon Blue fan, built my boat and called it Dignity, I know Dignity was a sailing boat but hey we can't get it right everytime!

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[dignity]

Re: ideal boat?

I know I'm going to get shunned for this but I'm thinking of the Odin 820, I know everybody says they not good sailing boats, but we all know life's a compromise.

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[jhr]

Re: Hang on

Deacon Blue have a lot to answer for; there must be a ship named Dignity in virtually every harbour in the UK.

Mind you, our Sea Ray is named after a Nick Drake song (Bryter Layter) so who am I to talk? )

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