Stokes Bay SC - anyone know it? And a supplementary - which dinghy to buy?

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Nerissa

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Moving to Gosport this summer. Just signed on the line for a house in Alverstoke literally two minutes walk from Stokes Bay sailing club so my plan is to get a dinghy and get out on the water as soon as. I learned to sail in a Wayfarer as a teenager and then bought a Mirror which I sailed for a few years on the Irish west coast, and then after a 20-year gap came back to sailing via flots in the Med and some training/milebuilding weeks here in the UK. So what I am saying is I'm not up for a little tippy thing like a Pico but something a bit more sedate. Any recommendations? I'd quite like a Wayfarer again, but it would be fun to have something I could learn to race in (two up ideally if I can persuade a family member to join me). Budget probably under 1K. All thoughts welcome, the smallest thing I've sailed for the past 20 years is a Beneteau First. And I'm not as svelte as I used to be either!
 
Nerissa said:
Moving to Gosport this summer. Just signed on the line for a house in Alverstoke literally two minutes walk from Stokes Bay sailing club so my plan is to get a dinghy and get out on the water as soon as. I learned to sail in a Wayfarer as a teenager and then bought a Mirror which I sailed for a few years on the Irish west coast, and then after a 20-year gap came back to sailing via flots in the Med and some training/milebuilding weeks here in the UK. So what I am saying is I'm not up for a little tippy thing like a Pico but something a bit more sedate. Any recommendations? I'd quite like a Wayfarer again, but it would be fun to have something I could learn to race in (two up ideally if I can persuade a family member to join me). Budget probably under 1K. All thoughts welcome, the smallest thing I've sailed for the past 20 years is a Beneteau First. And I'm not as svelte as I used to be either!
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As indicated you will need a class of boat which the club races.

Not going to be a Mirror or a Wayfarer again. It's going to be something that flys like sh*t off a chromed shovel
 
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But those are scary things! They tip you in the drink. You probably have to wear a wetsuit and all. And I'm old and unfit. Are there any sailing clubs in Gosport that cater for the middle-aged potterer?
 
Nerissa said:
But those are scary things! They tip you in the drink. You probably have to wear a wetsuit and all. And I'm old and unfit. Are there any sailing clubs in Gosport that cater for the middle-aged potterer?
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Hardway Sailing Club. Full of old & V old potterers :D
 
Nerissa said:
Thanks. Any info about it - it seems to have misplaced its website. :)
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Its a really friendly club...................not to many wearing cravats lol

Come down the A32 til you get to Brockhurst Fort. Take a left follow road round through Elson til you reach crossroads with traffic lights,
(road used to be old ammo railway line) straight over then turn left into Priory Road. HSC is about 200yds on your left just past the Chandliers.
 
Stokes Bay is a good club.
It has all tide launching which is not that common around here.
The downside is you launch down a slip on the beach which is prone to getting shingle on it, so heavy boats can be very hard work.
Victories stay afloat, have reasonably priced berths in Haslar marina or swinging moorings.
Not as cheap as a dinghy, but racing in the week tues and thurs evenings is very good.
A lot of potential for owning a share or just crewing for people.
The new GRP ones are quite pricey, the older wooden ones can be high maintenance.
Other clubs include Fleetlands, Lee on Solent, Seafarers and Hill Head.
Best thing is to go and look at the clubs, meet people and decide where you fit in.
 
My son Owen sails at Weston SC. they seem to sail a variety of classes, one of which might suit. Don't buy a boat until you have decided on a club, then buy a class boat or a handicap one that is well represented. It is very difficult to progress without input from more experienced people sailing the same class.
 
Sandyman said:
Hardway Sailing Club. Full of old & V old potterers :D
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lenseman said:
Yea!! £500 joining fee and a waiting list for those rich farts who can afford it !! :(

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Well I dont know what the membership charges are but over the years I have known quite a few members of Hardway.
I cant say I'd regard any as "rich farts" although the majority I know now fall into the "old & V old potterers" category.

I visit the club from time to time and it is obvious that there are also a lot of enthusiastic youngsters, presumably the dinghy sailors.
 
Nerissa said:
But those are scary things! They tip you in the drink. You probably have to wear a wetsuit and all. And I'm old and unfit. Are there any sailing clubs in Gosport that cater for the middle-aged potterer?
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Aaaah, Stokes Bay, the first time I went there was behind a Gosport and Fareham inshore rescue rib after my antique N12 capsized in the Solent, and the bouyancy bags ripped out, well it was 33 years ago and my first boat.
Certainly learnt a lot from that experience and used to sail all over the Solent in it.
 
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