The bug got slightly confused!

[camartins77]

Ok
Thank you all for the valuable replies to my message yesterday. I've learnt a lot from it and from the research that followed it. But some questions appeared:

First: I got some advice about going straight into the Day Skipper course and bypass the CCrew one! That sounds great, but they ask for 100nm and 4 night hours as minimum experience (and for the shore based course of course). That's exactly what the CCrew course provides isn't it?

Second: There appear to be other ways to build up miles other than taking the practical courses or buying a boat. Joining a yatch club and/or making part of a crew was suggested. But how easy is it, really, to get to know someone that takes you along and is willing to teach you something? Because as far as I know sailing is either a leisure activity or a commercial one. People either do it for the fun and pleasure of it (with the family) or to make money! Some schools charge you £220 for a weekend in the Solent or £500 to cross the Channel, what might not excessive, but if you love sailing and want to do it every weekend you might as well buy a boat! There's also the sports side of it but I can't see myself getting into that.
So, how do I get into sailing? Are there any places with ads from people in need of help with their boat? Apart from Crewseekers, that asks for £75 to get any contact! And what are really the advantages of joining a yatch/sailing club, not being a boat owner, and will that really get me sailing experience? If yes, cool. How much are the memberships, roughly???

As far as boats are concerned I now have a much clearer view of what’s around.
The ones I'm going to have a look at are:
Hurley 22
Newbridge Corribee 22
Swift 18
Hunter Sonata
And maybe the Achilles 24.

Any opinions/experiences on/with any of them?
I would love a Invicta 26! Maybe in some years time. It looks lovely!
Thank you very much and sorry for all this questions! I'm really new to all this but want to get in with the right foot!
Cheers

C A Martins




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[MUS]

Don't forget the Limbo 6.6! Similar to the Sonata but better looking and larger sail area.

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://groups.msn.com/Limboyachts>http://groups.msn.com/Limboyachts</A>

 

[Windfall]

Invicta 26's are lovely...we had one for 15yrs and loved her very much. I learnt most of my sailing on her...she is fun to sail but very forgiving of mistakes...and probably is selling for less than some of your other nominees.

pm me if you want any more info. re this truly wonderful boat....& no I'm not trying to sell....the first to see ours bought her back in Feb. & I'm still feeling nostalgic.



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[Mirelle]

Buy one and see?

Perfectly good way to start. I did, so did lots of us in the days before all these courses. You learn mighty fast, scare yourself silly and in my humble opinion come out a much better seaman than someone who has been RYA-ified from start to finish.

But buy a small, cheap, boat. Sonatas and Limbos are too big and too high performance to learn from cold in. Corribee would be OK maybe.

I started in a wooden 18ft dayboat and cruised with an ex army goundsheet over the boom for a tent. Got me everywhere between Aldeburgh and Burnham, quite safely.

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[Guest]

good advice on courses given as far as boats are concern consider a Leisure 17--20--22---23 all very good boats with an excelent owners association lots of support, in particular on the east coast. want further info sent a PM
best of luck

<hr width=100% size=1><P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by piper on 17/06/2003 22:03 (server time).</FONT></P>

 

[Gunfleet]

Re: Buy one and see?

Agreed. You could get a good 16ft cruising Wayfarer for under £2k, hire the tent from the association and cruise it all over the place. You'll learn a lot quickly, then you can sell the Wayfarer for the same money. The whole experience will cost you very little via this route.

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[Peppermint]

Re: Why not do a dinghy course

That will get you sailing every bit as good as a Comp Crew course, in fact very much better. When all is said and done RYA cruiser training isn't a great way to learn how to sail.

You could then read up on a bit of pilotage and nav. Maybe go on a theory course. Buy your little ship and learn by doing. You'll be amazed how quick you'll learn by applying theory to short passages and gradualy extending your horizons. You'll meet people who will teach you little tricks and you'll make mistakes which will teach you more than any course.

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[AndrewB]

Joining a yacht club.

I recommended this as a good way in, but I appreciate it may seem intimidating if you don't have the contacts. Also it's not cheap. But in all but the snobbiest of Royal clubs, you can try before you buy.

All clubs welcome visiting yachtsmen, so just walking in is fine. Go on a busy evening (Friday is good - not Saturday lunchtime as that's mainly the dinghy crowd). The posters and small ads pinned up should confirm that this is a yacht, not purely a dinghy club. Tell the barman/woman that you are interested in joining and is there anyone around you can talk to. That bait guarantees instant popularity with the treasurer and the membership secretary for starters, and pretty well everyone else on the committee. And they'll refer you on to other members just as soon as its clear what your sailing interests are.

If that seems OK, try to attend the first social event they have going, to give you a chance to meet more members. Something informal for preference. You still needn't join at this stage.

If you fancy gaining crewing experience - and that is an excellent way to get those RYA hours - it shouldn't be hard. Every yacht club with racing is desperate for crew, at the bottom end of the fleet, anyway. Enthusiasm is the only qualification needed. If you express interest, it should be easy. In any case, the person responsible for the sailing programme will, if he's worth his salt, help you find a berth on a race or day cruise, even if its on his own boat.

If this strategy doesn't work, you've chosen the wrong club.