Looking to gain sailing experience

[Monzu]

Hi all,

I'm new to sailing having completed my RYA Level 1 and 2 in dinghy sailing at the start of the year. I've been sailing doublehanders on a reservoir in London most weekends since but haven't yet had any experience at sea. I've been working through the Day Skipper theory and hope to be in a position to undertake the RYA Day Skipper course towards the end of next year. I'd therefore like to build up as much experience as possible in coastal sailing.

Living in east London, the east coast would be most convenient, but I'm very willing to travel and would obviously pay expenses. I'd like to think I could be of some use as a deckhand, but mostly I'd be there as a very keen learner. I'm generally affable, enjoy good conversation (or none if you'd prefer!) and like to make myself useful.

Thanks,
Zach

 

[Angele]

Welcome to the forum, Zach, and welcome to the wonderful world of sailing.

I'm afraid that this isn't a great time (in the UK) to be looking for sailing opportunities. For many (but by no means all) of us, this is the time of year when we put our boats to bed for the winter, not to be sailed again until the Spring. (Mine is coming out of the water on Monday).

So, if you don't get any immediate replies, don't be too despondent. Just "bump" your thread in (say) April.

Can I also suggest you try the odd crewing website and/or yacht clubs. Sailing Networks is free to join, and it only takes a short while to create a profile. So nothing to lose there. I'm not sure about yacht clubs on the East Coast, but at least two in the Solent have "crew available" listings on their websites. You don't even have to be a member of those clubs to get your details listed, but joining a club isn't a bad idea.

Finally, have you tried Meetup.com? There are a handful of London sailing meetups and some of them seem quite active.

 

[Monzu]

Hi Angele,

Thanks for the helpful response. I assumed that we were heading into the off season, but thought I'd guage the response anyway. I'll certainly follow your advice on the meetups and crewing websites and post back here in a few months.

Zach

 

[philwebb]

Hi Zach, send me a pm (private message) just before Easter re crewing. I have a small boat in Gosport and I'm based in SW London. If you're desperate to sail before next year try London Sailing Club on Meetup (see previous post) they are quite active and do a lot of weekend charters. They meet at the Tattersall Castle by Embankment tube about twice a month on a Tuesday night.

 

[Monzu]

Hi Philwebb, thanks for the information. I look forward to hearing from you next year.