Question 2: Sail Training Suggestions

[BarryH]

I was thrown in at the deep end by my parents "Theres the boat, go sail it". Ok it was under supervision with my parents on another boat. If I remember rightly, it took me exactly 4 days to suss it all out and be able to get to where I wanted to go. As they say you learn from your mistakes. I learnt that the mud in Poole harbour tastes rank! I think you cant ask all the questions and watch as many people as you want, but I still think the best way is to do it for yourself.

The school route will make more sense to start with. Most say that they can get you sailing the boat within a couple of days. I've not been in a sailing boat for at least 10 years now, but its like riding a bike, I don't think you ever forget how to do it. Your just a bit shakey when you get back on.

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[windandwave]

Dinghy is the only way to go. I'd start with the RYA level 1 in a doublehander like the Wayfarer. Stable, comfortable, room for an instructor beside you. Repeat for level 2. As for buying your own boat: don't buy it until you've completed the level 3 (now called Dinghy Seamanship Skills) or equivalent, unless you'll be sailing with rescue cover. The skills covered in that course are really the absolute minimum required to take out a dinghy safely. If you are lucky enough to have rescue cover: I'd recommend a Mirror / GP14 or equivalent after you've completed the level 2 (assuming of course that you've got a willing crew!). Slightly tippier than the Wayfarer, but more responsive and in some ways more manageable (easier to right after a capsize, for example).

Do you need to do levels 1 & 2 on a keel boat? I come across many people who learn to sail from the start on keelboats. Unfortunately, they tend not to have learned as much as their counterparts on dinghies. If you can sail a dinghy well, you'll have absolutely making the (relatively small) transition to a keelboat. The reverse is not true. Many of the sailing skills involved in sailing well are difficult to learn on a keelboat but immediately obvious on a dinghy. Having said that, some people do learn the basics better on a small keelboat (particularly if there's any fear of capsizing, etc.), and then transfer across to dinghies with more confidence.

Hope this helps.

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[Gunfleet]

Good advice but make sure the friends don't turn into Captain Bligh the minute the last line is cast off, otherwise you will be put off the whole affair. You can easily establish this by asking a lot of dopey questions while still on a pontoon. If they go growly or keep pointing you at deck brushes, I should find urgent business elsewhere.

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[Magic_Sailor]

Where to go and what to do

hOO

I do believe it's worthwhile going to a good sailing school.

I have literally just returned from a course with Southern Sailing as I write.

The instructor I had was very professional as were all the staff. The accent for the 5 days was on the fun of sailing to a high standard (not just going into pubs etc although we did go if time allowed!) so we spent a lot of time on the boat indeed and consequently learnt a hell of a lot. My other two instructees were of the same opinion.

The boats are good and strong (Rival, Westerley, Yamaha), giving a lot of confidence. They are work boats. They are not spanking new (and none the worse for that).

I'd thoroughly recommend them. Start at comp crew and go from there.

Magic

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[Cornishman]

I am not too sure about learning aboard friends' boats if you have done no sailing before. You can learn some bad habits, which will cause a delay in your training if you later decide to do more formal courses.
Try the RYA's Competent Crew course which is designed for complete beginners and will teach you the basics to a recognised standard.
Buy a copy of RYA publication G15/03 for fuller details of each and every course within the syllabus and it will also serve as your personal log book.
It will do no harm to do a keelboat course, but it is not absolutely necessary.

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[kesey]

hOO, I would very much recommend Southern Sailing in Southampton. You can do a search on them on this forum and you will get a general feel for what they are about. My younger son and myself did Coastal Skipper Practical and my older son did Day Skipper (diff. boat for the older lad) in June. We all had a great time, and learnt a lot. Accomodation on the boats is realistic (basic but very acceptable). Food is edible and you will have done enough work to have an appetite. The boats are sailing boats, well able to take whatever you or the sea throw at them.

Southern Sailing take the view that they are there to teach you sailing. They do it, and you will enjoy the experience while learning all the good stuff like plenty of man overboards, mooring and anchoring all under sail.

You'll gather we were impressed

Adrian Power

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[Bejasus]

Thanks for that. I am also thinking that as I live not too far from Ipswich, perhaps it isn't necesarry to stay aboard as it would only be an hour each way travelling, or is this not a good idea? I view time at home as very precious as I already spend 6 months a year away. Unless of course, SWMBO and I do it together.

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[kesey]

Do the course together if at all possible.

Also, staying on board is a lot of the fun. Unless somebody snores too blooming loud. In this case, a boat hook will work wonders.

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[DeeGee]

I recommend doing it together, with SWMBO

The advantage of a bit of crewing with cruising friends first, is that you will learn some simple basics without conscious effort, but, more importantly, it will sharpen your focus for going on to do the DS course. Regard the 'with friends' bit as substitute for the CC. Many people (inc me) find times in the year when extra crew would be handy, esp for crossings to 'tother side, you should have no difficulty in getting plenty of rides for both of you.

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