Learning to Sail

G

Goody

Well-Known Member
Joined
18 Jun 2018
Messages
116
Location
Kent, England
Visit site
Hi all

My wife and I have just got into Sailing. I have dodgy knees (osteo-arthritis) and have struggled learning in a Dinghy due to agility reasons (constant bending whilst ducking under the boom). We'd like to get some informal lessons in a small (less than 22 foot) yacht, whereby you can sit in the cockpit and helm, tack and then move across to the other side of the cockpit after the boom has moved across. Does anyone know anywhere in Kent or the south east that does this type of informal training (no certification required)
Thanks
 
A training course could be costly and time-consuming, though it will be the choice of many. There really isn't much to the business of sailing. You either have it or you haven't. Some people hardly need to be taught and others never manage it after years. It occurs to me that you might get yourself a day-boat, something like a Hawk, which would give you most of the ease of use you want without the hassle of owning a cruiser. If you find some sheltered water nearby, with a bit of common sense you could mess around happily without coming to much harm. I learned much about handling larger sailing boats on the Broads where if you make a mistake you hit something but it's someone else's problem. I reckon you would learn more in a week than on a year's formal course.
 
johnalison said:
A training course could be costly and time-consuming, though it will be the choice of many. There really isn't much to the business of sailing. You either have it or you haven't. Some people hardly need to be taught and others never manage it after years. It occurs to me that you might get yourself a day-boat, something like a Hawk, which would give you most of the ease of use you want without the hassle of owning a cruiser. If you find some sheltered water nearby, with a bit of common sense you could mess around happily without coming to much harm. I learned much about handling larger sailing boats on the Broads where if you make a mistake you hit something but it's someone else's problem. I reckon you would learn more in a week than on a year's formal course.
Click to expand...

thanks........something to consider
 
Becoming self taught is an option, but if you do want a course, (and I know it's no where near Kent), the J World sailing schools in the US are excellent and use the J80 keelboat.

Key West in winter would make a wonderful warm weather break, and the winds are reliable and strong enough to make you learn.
 
Join the nearest sailing club, there are always members who will be pleased to either go out with you on your boat or invite you to crew. Either way will give you some good basic instruction. Also don’t overlook the old fashioned idea of reading books on the subject, lots of useful background knowledge can be gained this way.
 
Last edited:
Praxinoscope said:
Join the nearest sailing club, there are always members who will be pleased to either go out with you on your boat or invite you to crew. Either way will give you some good basic instruction. Also don’t overlook the old fashioned idea of reading books on the subject, lots of useful background knowledge can be gained this way.
Click to expand...

the Ladybird book of sailing and boating is superb. That is how we started!
 
ISTR there was a sailing school in Brighton with some small open keelboats?
There will probably be others, a look at the RYA website should help, or even give the RYA a call.
 
I not sailed that way for some years but there use to be quite a lot of sailing clubs , as said join one or most will have a notice board , put a card saying what you interested in
 
20 odd years ago I bought my first yacht, an Atlanta 25 (Hurley 24/70 in a new dress). The first time we went out on her was the first time I’d hoisted sails. All went ok (LOTS of reading before hand), plenty of sea room and away from too many watchful eyes. A couple of ‘doughnuts’ the first times we tried tacking but, as has been said, not rocket science if you take your time and think about what you’re doing.
 
Goody said:
Hi all

My wife and I have just got into Sailing. I have dodgy knees (osteo-arthritis) and have struggled learning in a Dinghy due to agility reasons (constant bending whilst ducking under the boom). We'd like to get some informal lessons in a small (less than 22 foot) yacht, whereby you can sit in the cockpit and helm, tack and then move across to the other side of the cockpit after the boom has moved across. Does anyone know anywhere in Kent or the south east that does this type of informal training (no certification required)
Thanks
Click to expand...

I don’t think you’ll be better off (given mobility issues) in a 22 footer or thereabouts much more than in a dinghy to be honest. You may still find yourself dodging a fast moving, low boom. What the 22 footer will have that a dinghy doesn’t is yacht-sized sail handling (clutches, winches etc) that you will not have seen before.

I’d advise you to look at a comfortable entry to sailing by learning on a full-sized yacht (here come the flames) ie a proper cruiser say 26 foot and up, ideally something more like 36 foot. Sail actions on these will be slower, there will be more room to move and be comfortable. It will lead (if interest and budget allows) into bigger boat sailing which, if you have ownership aspirations, would probably suit you better than thrashing around in daysailers or dinghies. All IMHO

Enquire at a yacht club, make sure it has an active cruising fleet (some may do nothing but dinghies or maniacal cruiser racing which would not suit) join it and ask at the bar for a skipper. Most will be only too pleased to teach you the ropes.
 
Last edited:
I doubt you'll find paid-for training (whether leading to a certificate or not) in very small yachts because they tend to be difficult to get through the "coding" process (mostly safety rules) legally required for commercial work.

Pete
 
Motor_Sailor said:
Becoming self taught is an option, but if you do want a course, (and I know it's no where near Kent), the J World sailing schools in the US are excellent and use the J80 keelboat.

Key West in winter would make a wonderful warm weather break, and the winds are reliable and strong enough to make you learn.
Click to expand...

It's a nice idea...........but probably out of budget
 
Praxinoscope said:
Join the nearest sailing club, there are always members who will be pleased to either go out with you on your boat or invite you to crew. Either way will give you some good basic instruction. Also don’t overlook the old fashioned idea of reading books on the subject, lots of useful background knowledge can be gained this way.
Click to expand...

thanks :encouragement:
 
lw395 said:
ISTR there was a sailing school in Brighton with some small open keelboats?
There will probably be others, a look at the RYA website should help, or even give the RYA a call.
Click to expand...

Thanks, I'll look up ISTR but RYA only teach Dinghy sailing to the best of my knowledge
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top