Sailing newbie; advice sought

7htas

7htas

Well-Known Member
Joined
13 May 2012
Messages
316
Location
Here
dantwothreefour.wordpress.com
I've been a member of this forum for quite a while now. My main interest is the liveaboard sector; as it's been a long term(too long) dream of mine to one day live aboard my own yacht. That's still a number of years down the line though, whilst I get my Certificate of Competency in the British Merchant Navy (Deck officer). Due to circumstances beyond my control (injury) - I now have nothing to do until September when College begins again; so I might as well get out on the water!

I've been thinking of getting myself some sort of sailing craft to learn the ropes on; within a budget though. I'm considering either a Mirror, or a Tinker Traveller. I'm looking at a Tinker Traveller at the moment, but the person selling it mentions that it has been repaired "at the bottom" - but holds air well. Can anyone give advice about buying Tinkers..does the fact that they've been repaired make them less appealing? The thought of buying something "that holds air well" that I'm planning on using off the coast of the wirral is slightly precarious.

I've also been looking at some yachts (west wight potters/snapdragon 600) - but the only issue that I have here is storage. I live not far from Meols, on the wirral, and there's a number of yachts stored there on swing moorings- but I have been unable to find out any information about them- cost, who to speak to about it etc. I have been going down there on my bike quite a bit, in the hope that someone will be there launching- to no avail!

If anyone's got any suggestions about any boats/dinghies similar to the ones I have mentioned; or any ideas, it would be much appreciated.
 
If you are thinking of learning to sail a dinghy then don't start with an inflatable tender. We had an excellent Tinker for quite a few years. My Dad always said they were the Rolls Royce of tenders, its sailing abilities was a good compromise given that it was also rigged as a liferaft, but it is not a boat to learn on. The Mirror, often maligned, is excellent at this as are numerous dinghies that can be found for a couple of hundred pounds.
Do you want to live on a proper sailing boat or a houseboat?
 
Go with a proper hard dinghy rather than the Tinker. It'll handle better and give a more rewarding learning experience.

Find a friendly local club to join and consider sailing whatever the most popular boats are there. That way there will be plenty of people to gauge your progress against and to offer knowledgeable advice, as well as a rescue boat which is invaluable for confidence when learning.

I used to sail on little ponds when I lived in Hertfordshire and the best racing was always in the Comet fleet as there were plenty of them and they suited the light fickle winds of that lake - your local venue may be suited to a certain type of boat and looking at the club dinghy park will tell you what that is. As above, the mirror is not a bad choice if taken for what it is.
 
When I eventually qualify, I want something around 30" - that I can cross seas on, ranging from a Stag 28, up to a Van De Stadt 34. The main thing is size. It's only going to be me living on it; and I'd like to keep marina costs to minimum; and have suitable head room (I'm 6"3). Will be keeping it in Agios Nikolaos and exploring the Eastern Med in my extended time off.
 
josephmoore said:
Go with a proper hard dinghy rather than the Tinker. It'll handle better and give a more rewarding learning experience.

Find a friendly local club to join and consider sailing whatever the most popular boats are there. That way there will be plenty of people to gauge your progress against and to offer knowledgeable advice, as well as a rescue boat which is invaluable for confidence when learning.

I used to sail on little ponds when I lived in Hertfordshire and the best racing was always in the Comet fleet as there were plenty of them and they suited the light fickle winds of that lake - your local venue may be suited to a certain type of boat and looking at the club dinghy park will tell you what that is. As above, the mirror is not a bad choice if taken for what it is.
Click to expand...

My only issue with the club thing, and it's not an issue as such; is they usually want you to sign up; and as of September, I'm not going to be around these parts; I'll be up in Fleetwood nautical college. I guess the logical choice would be to wait until I move up there; and join the sailing club there; but that will defeat the object of me using these weeks off to learn how to sail! My local 'venue' - is the Irish Sea.
 
7htas said:
My only issue with the club thing, and it's not an issue as such; is they usually want you to sign up; and as of September, I'm not going to be around these parts; I'll be up in Fleetwood nautical college. I guess the logical choice would be to wait until I move up there; and join the sailing club there; but that will defeat the object of me using these weeks off to learn how to sail! My local 'venue' - is the Irish Sea.
Click to expand...

That's a valid issue - perhaps in the mean time it's worth asking around them to see if anyone would like some crew on their boat? You'll be around for a couple of months and I'm sure someone will want some company in their summer sailing. This is true for both dinghies and yachts - the smaller clubs tend to be more friendly and personal in my experience. Probably much more likely to accept you as a willing member for the few months you're in the vicinity as well.
 
Mirrors are great starter boats and you will learn a lot and have fun in one. Many of them are getting on in years now and are not fashionable so are relatively cheap, check the sold prices on ebay. You should be able to pick one up for a reasonable price, use her for as long as you want and re-sell her without losing too much money. In addition they can be repaired easily with a piece of ply and fibreglass. You're not going to keep her for ever are you?
 
josephmoore said:
That's a valid issue - perhaps in the mean time it's worth asking around them to see if anyone would like some crew on their boat? You'll be around for a couple of months and I'm sure someone will want some company in their summer sailing. This is true for both dinghies and yachts - the smaller clubs tend to be more friendly and personal in my experience. Probably much more likely to accept you as a willing member for the few months you're in the vicinity as well.
Click to expand...

Hoylake sailing Club friendly bunch... Probably pleased to get more crew. In fact there are about 8 Sailing clubs all accessible by 1.5 hour's on the train. I doubt any of them will ask for membership if you have just started sailing with them...
 
Tam Lin said:
Mirrors are great starter boats and you will learn a lot and have fun in one. Many of them are getting on in years now and are not fashionable so are relatively cheap, check the sold prices on ebay. You should be able to pick one up for a reasonable price, use her for as long as you want and re-sell her without losing too much money. In addition they can be repaired easily with a piece of ply and fibreglass. You're not going to keep her for ever are you?
Click to expand...

Probably not no.

However, the reason I was looking at the Tinker Traveller, is because I could theoretically keep the thing, until I eventually get something bigger- and use it as a tender. At least that was the logic behind it. This one that's for sale has everything with it, ready to go - but there's the repaired puncture. Are repairs that big of a deal on these, if repaired correctly? He's asking 400 for it....

I will drop Hoylake SC a line, and see what they have to say. The crewing idea was something that I was thinking of- but it's one of them "where do I start?" type things.
 
I have to reluctantly second the suggestion that you start with a course. It isn't meant to damp your enthusiasm, but should you buy a dinghy and launch without any experience, you could soon be finding out about the Tinker's role as a liferaft! They sail better than most would expect, but wind and tide can drive you well offshore whilst you're figuring out how to make it sail!

I remember reading several books on the theory of sailing before going on my first course, it helped but didn't give me any expertise in actually sorting the gear out. It took a couple of days to get the feel of the boat so you can tell when she is sailing efficiently. I've known self-taught skippers who don't accept that a boat heels when going to windward or that the sails are trimmed differently for each heading...

Rob.
 
You guys are probably right. Some of my sailing 'heroes' - like Rebell; set off with no sailing experience; and picked it up as they went along. I have more respect for the sea than that though. I guess in my mind, I thought I'd buy something, and just head down to the slip way, row myself out, and then take it up from there- but the reality of it is; it's a rather silly and dangerous idea. I've been down to my local marina(liverpool); and there's a guy with a 40ft woooden ketch; who's after crew- I spoke with him today and I'm going to just head down there and meet up with him- see if I can help out, in exchange for learning the ropes.

Thanks for the advice guys.
 
Hello, I just joined a local club, within a month in this 'summer' we've been having I had been out in 3 different members boats crewing, 2 months I had been out lots more and on a trapeze, 3months I had crewed in the race series weekly and this being my 4th month I have taken my RYA level 2 and entered my own race single handed.

My local club offers club boats at 2pound a pop, I get discounted membership because I'm a student with a 2/3 saving and all the people with boats have been happy for me to crew as it helps them get out too. This might be an option for you as your going to college the club you could join might be cheap like me working out at 30pounds so you don't begrudge it especially if you make the most of the sessions. My club races two days a week and trains another day so I get 3 opportunities each week.

Not only have I learnt a lot to do with sailing but its been great for playing in boats and getting advice from people who can then demonstrate. It's definatly been one of the best moves I have made in a long time and has taught me much much much more than all the books and forums I scoured before.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Other threads that may be of interest

P
Suggest a Yacht please
2 3 4
Replies
73
Views
2K
Greenheart
Greenheart
A
Newbie question!
Replies
9
Views
487
Jacana139
Jacana139
Sea Change
Rusty trailer- which zinc spray to use?
2
Replies
25
Views
868
ducked
D
Sea Change
Mini sandblaster for rust spots on keel?
2 3 4
Replies
63
Views
2K
Mister E
M

Share this page

Top