Newbie advice

[Kiwififer]

Hello everyone, hope you are all safe and well in these strange times.
First post and it’s probably the most common you get as well. I’m thinking about learning to sail, it’s something I’ve been thinking about for quite a while now and seeing I’m turning a landmark birthday this year, now is about the right time. I’m going to join my local yacht club and register for their dinghy course in the next wee bit, mainly to see if it is something I can do and to see if I actually like it but is there anything else I can do to increase my experience after that?

 

[RJJ]

It's a great start.

Then (assuming you actually like it!), consider what sailing you fancy doing. You can do more dinghy sailing, in your boat or crewing for others. Clubs increasingly allow for rentals/fleet access arrangements which, while still costing a few bob, help you get plenty of boat time for probably less than the cost of buying and selling a boat. Many advantages: somebody else is paid to do the maintenance and insurance; you get to try a boat or several before you buy anything.

Or you may wish to do some big boat sailing. There are many routes in, and yacht club membership can help. Racers are always after willing, punctual and hardworking crew who at least know which way the wind is blowing. Don't be too put off by lack of experience - if you're the person that turns up reliably, helps out with some tedious winter maintenance, buys your round, asks sensible questions and learns fast, you'll be welcome in any mid-fleet turnout.

or you can offer yourself as willing to help out with deliveries and build mileage.

Or you can move onto RYA competent crew/day skipper courses, where even a week or two of dinghy sailing gives you a massive advantage.

Or you can do any combination of the above. I strongly recommend, even if you ultimately want to sail big boats, getting to at least intermediate proficiency in dinghies first. You'll bring so much boat-handling and basic sailing knowledge into yachts.

 

[Kiwififer]

Thanks for the reply. I’m up in Edinburgh and my local club and harbour is Fisherrow, I’ve been down a few times speaking to some of the skippers down there. Someone suggested joining the club and then volunteering to help crew some of the older guys, they need the body so to speak, I need the knowledge and experience.
I’m probably a few years from buying a small yacht, I don’t want to rush into a purchase in case I am left with an impulse hobby so this seems a sensible way in. My old man has an inshore fishing/speedboat and I could easily learn from him but the wee problem with that is that he lives down under and it’s a bit far for me to nip down…

 

[Kiwififer]

I should also say, I like your idea of helping out over winter with a bit of repairs and maintenance, mainly to gain a hands on experience of that as well. If I turn out to be a bit rubbish at least I know where the local greasy spoon is for bacon rolls….