Trafford Water Sports Centre

[tomcle19]

I live in sale, literally just across the M60 from the trafford water sports centre so I am planning on erolling on one of their courses, probably in october, to learn to sale a dinghy - my firsts steps into sailing.

Just wanted to know if anybody has sailed here and what it is like, and what the training is like??

Also, in the north west area, once I have some experience under my belt, wheres the best competitive racing held that I could enter??

Cheers!

 

[Malcb]

If you go to RYA Club Page
You should be able to find a club/centre near you.

 

[claymore]

I think it would be worth going to Leigh and Lowton sailing club or perhaps Elton - both of which you could get to quite quickly - I think they both run sailing courses and you would probably be able to get a crewing job as well as possibly a reduction on first year membership if you did a sailing course with them.

 

[tomcle19]

When you say get a crewing job, do you mean as a full time job or would this be at weekend etc? And do you mean on a yacht? Sorry for the ignorance and nievety to the sport, but you have to learn somewhere dont you? /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Would leigh and lowton be a better place to train and start racing dinghies and in the future maybe yachts than Trafford?

How easy is it, with some training and experience, to get a job crewing on a racing yacht for cowes week or similar??

Cheers! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Malcb]

Apart from my previous reply, I learnt to sail a windsurfer at Trafford. It is very good to learn the basics, IMO, as it's only drawback is the size of the water available (or maybe that could be to do with the fact that I prefer to sail on the sea and/or my memory is at fault).

There are numerous inland sailing clubs, I would think, that are in reach of South Manchester, some in Cheshire, wher you could get more experience in sailing dinghies. Check the RYA links in my previous post.

If you want to get into sailing, then my advice is start in dinghies, and learn the rudiments first, then if you want to go into larger craft, and not all want to, then perhaps join a coastal yacht club that may give you the option of crewing on a yacht before joining the 'ever broke brigade' on here who own a yacht (or does the yacht own us? I've always wondered) /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[raven]

I think Malcb covers it nicely. I too did RYA windsurf course at Trafford and it was good tuition but the lake is small, narrow, dirty and uninspiring. Within reasonable distance you have Pennington Flash (nr Wigan) Redesmere (nr Congleton) and Errwood Reservior (nr Whaley Bridge) all of which have well established Sailing Clubs that offer friendly tuition, guidance and use of club facilities (to members.)

Good luck - I started with windsurfing and have since enjoyed, motorboating, dinghy sailing and yachting and have thoroughly enjoyed all of it - I would advise joining a good club and getting decent (RYA) tuition and I'm sure that you will build a good knowledge base as well as add immeasurably to your social life! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[chrisbashforth]

I've been to trafford quite a few times and had a great time. AS its very local its the best place to learn the basics. Its prone to light and flukey winds being in the lee of the m'way and the woods. I usually go to Hollingworth lake as its much bigger, open to the wind and VERY cheap. Carsington water is the biggest lake within striking distance so worth a visit once you are into high-speed cats/spinnakers.

 

[tomcle19]

Okay, well trafford has no courses on dates which fit in with my schedule, so I think I will have a look at leigh and lowton on the Flash - anyone been sailing here at all?? I just want the best tuition possible, is this a good place to start??