learning to sail

[thomas1]

Hi can any one point me in the right direction,I have reached that point in my life when I would like a new hobbie, and I thought sailing! so I went out and bought the books and surfed the web, now I am confussed! novice to yachtmaster seemed the right thing to do,so I sent some messages to the sailing schools that seemed good,they all must have the same princible learn with us deliver afew boats in your spare time even think about taking instuctors course and get paid to teach others,go on is someone pulling my leg is it that easy,I only wanted to buy a little sailing yacht and be safe on the water, o! what should I do competant crew, day skipper, can anyone please help

 

[Talbot]

the best you can start with is by getting afloat in somebody else's boat until you are certain that this is the hobby for you. I would recommend that you start with a competent crew course to give you the right flavour of yachting, then follow this with dinghy instruction (cause its a lot cheaper, and more akin to a very small yacht). Get along to your local adult education classes this winter and do a day skipper course, and you will then be in a good position to start this sport. Perhaps a yacht charter with others will then provide the right springboard for this way of life (not really a hobby)

 

[DeeGee]

[ QUOTE ]
the best you can start with is by getting afloat in somebody else's boat until you are certain that this is the hobby for you. I would recommend that you start with a competent crew course to give you the right flavour of yachting, then follow this with dinghy instruction (cause its a lot cheaper, and more akin to a very small yacht). Get along to your local adult education classes this winter and do a day skipper course, and you will then be in a good position to start this sport. Perhaps a yacht charter with others will then provide the right springboard for this way of life (not really a hobby)

[/ QUOTE ]The only thing I would add is that you might consider going down to your nearest yacht club and put your name on the board as novice crew for cruising. I suggest cruising, or otherwise you will end up sittting looking at scenery and not much else. Most clubs have skippers needing extra crew from time to time. That way, you won't pay a penny other than for beer and food. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[thomas1]

Thanks for that any input is helpful, when i said small yacht I should of said I have been looking at bruce roberts sprays about 30feet steal bilge keels

 

[Guest]

Re: learning to sail ... I second - Local Yacht Club ...

Introduce yourself to the local club and explain your circumstances ... that you are wanting to get into sailing ....

Don't be put of by dinghy's / cruisers / mobo's ..... get out on ANYTHING you can get a space on ....

Get a feel for it .... tieing up / letting go etc. is similar whether mobo / sailboat under engine etc. ..... you learn on evry boat there is.

AND you NEVER stop learning ... there is no-one that knows it all ....

Above all else don't spend time worrying about bits of paper like RYA / School courses etc. - that can come later after you have taken a bite at it and decide its what you want to do. REmember there are many out there that started same as you, did not take courses - but ended up good yachties ....

You are the deciding factor NOT a piece of paper .....

ENJOY ....

 

[Stemar]

Re: learning to sail ... I second - Local Yacht Club ...

What Nigel says is good advice, but you can start with the course if that's the way it works out for you. I did.

Be warned, though - I, and many other 'butters will confess to this as well if they're honest, don't have a boating hobby, I have a boating habit. It's a bit like a cocaine habit - it takes over your life, causes intense highs and lows - only it's more expensive.

YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Colin_S]

Hi Thomas and welcome to the forum.

I was in your shoes a year ago and posting on this forum is the way to go.

This time last year I had never set foot on a yacht. My first sail was on a yacht club's open day and only lasted about 30 mins. Soon after I hitched a ride on another forum member's yacht over to Cherbourg on last year's annual forum 'outing'. I've also had a few outings with other forum members. My best 'result' to date has been a notice on the board in a local yacht club offering to crew. This resulted in a regular slot on a cruiser / racer and recently included a week's racing / partying in Holland.

In a couple of weeks time I should be off to Majorca to crew on a delivery trip to the Canaries, again, in a roundabout way, thanks to this forum.
I've even had to, reluctanly, decline an offer of a weekend trip to France (thanks for the offer **** BTW, I was truely gutted).

In addition to the above, big boat sailing, I took lessons in dinghy sailing whilst on holiday in Spain and found this a very useful fast track way to learn about points of sail, trim, etc.

So, good advice above, don't rush out and buy your own boat. Find out if it's what you really want to do before taking the plunge, there's plenty of opportunity to do so before parting with serious money.