What do I need before I can set sail (cruising)

Hi,

Welcome to the forum.

Where are you? Consider filling in your profile as it will enable others to help you with more specific information.

RYA training is a good start...
 
Hi. Altho they seem separate forums, t'management ask you only post the same question once.

To answer your question, there are no legl qualifications needed to own and drive a privately owned brit-registered boat.

However, you should sensibly be competent. A good idea is to do a week or so instrction on a boat similar to that whioh you intend to buy. Or, buy the boat and hire a professional to teach you until you agree with the instructor that you are competent. Ask around at a boatyard. The brokers will defiitely know a likely teacher.
 
A good sharp knife has saved me and the boat twice..... first crew got trapped in anchor warp in big swell and second was a knot stopping the boat going down in the lock (14m!)
 
Just take your time and look at the boats that fit your budget,
as you will no doubt soon find out everything is a compromise with owning a boat.

As mentioned already have a look at RYA course's avaliable, some practical experience will help you decide which vessel could suite your personal needs .
 
What do you mean by novice?

never sailed but like the idea?
sailed a bit with friends?
dinghy or larger?

before buying a boat you really need to know that you like/love it. You also need to experience several different boats and different types of sailing to get an idea which element of the hobby/sport you like. If you dont do this, you will definitely buy the wrong boat.

Another consideration is how much you will use it.. I sailed for 30 years, almost whenever I wanted, before I bought a boat. Couldnt see the sense in spending a fortune on something which would be hardly used, (relatively).
 
The RNLI handbook and Reed's Almanac both have a wealth of very detailed information and will continue to be handy once you are a salty old sea dog, but of course no book can compete with experience; and the safest way to get that is in wise company.
 
Laptop?

If he's a novice as he says, I think that advising a laptop and navigation software may be a little premature? /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Best advice is already posted. Learn to sail in a small boat by yourself, after appropriate reading, or under supervision by somebody who can teach sailing, as opposed to somebody who knows how to sail. Then get into it gently with a boat that you can handle and that doesn't cost so much that you fear to take it out. The worst thing you can do is order a new 42 footer from LIBS, much though the salesman will try to convince you. Maybe something about 25 - 30 foot at first, unless you have a family of 10, in which case you may have to think differently.
 
In your position I would get myself aboard someone else's boat for a couple of exploratory weekends afloat; if a friend will oblige, good, otherwise pay for it as I did. Your learning curve will be very steep, and you will ask lots of questions. Buy only some good wet weather clothing at this stage.

You should sign up for a RYA theoretical course at your local club - suggest Competent Crew then skip to Yachtmaster: a few evenings at the bar asking questions will give you lots of extra pointers.

Your eventual first boat purchase will be the wrong one - but that's how we all learn how to fine tune our requirements, which vary enormously from creek crawling to cross ocean, however your tastes evolve. You will be wise to keep your cash in your pocket for a while and buy when certain.

For most of us ( I have 25 years before my own helms) it takes perhaps 3-5 seasons to come to grips with the essentials, learn how to sail, deal with the near misses and calamities, and how what boat will work for us. And then we learn more every season!

Read a good magazine to learn the parameters of ownership -they all have their strengths, so I don't push one over another.

Good luck and welcome to the fraternity!

PWG
 
Why does your link produce the following respone?
[ QUOTE ]
We were unable to find the account to verify. If this account was registered over 24 hours ago then you will need to re-register as it has been deleted. Otherwise, please check your confirmation email and make sure you followed the link correctly.


[/ QUOTE ]
 
[ QUOTE ]
Why does your link produce the following respone?

YADA YADA

[/ QUOTE ]

Perhaps this guy is new to lots things /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif Even if the original poster never reads the reply, the question is a common one and the answers of interest to many.
 
Welcome to the forum.
My advice to you would be to get on an RYA competant crew course, which is very basicand teaches the things one needs to know while out in a boat, and teaches hands on.
Forget the yacht master course for about a couple of years at least. Yoy would be better tacking the RYA day skipper course first, either practical or theory, that is after the competant crew.
I only started sailing for the first time this year on my own 30ft boat. but had my brother-in-law to tuter me, which was a big help. but I did have a few years of power boating behind me, which can be a help.
You must give great consideration to what type of boat you need, (not just want), ie, where you are going to sail, type of keel, etc, length, for cost of berthing/mooring etc. sleeping space, facilities.
I would suggest reading some sailing books as well, like, Illustrated guide to Sailing, by Peter Kemp. ISBN 1 856050 05x, or SET SAIL, A practical handbook forcruiser and dingy sailing, ISBN 1 85501 033X.
I can recommend these two books to be very good as I hadent a clue before I read them, but felt I knew nearly all the basic things on a boat when done.
But I would strongly recommend getting out with someone who has been sailing for a while and ask all the questions, no matter how trivial the might sound, and dont be afraid to give some input of your own too as it shows that you are thinking about what you are doing.
And remember this forum is a great place for help.
Good lock.
 
Join a club and crew - make sure it is what you want. Choice of boat depends on proposed cruising ground and probable itineries. Crewing for others will enable you to try the different options - and boats.

Try a one week training course - ideally leading to a basic RYA qualification. Go to your local college and find a basic Navigational course (again leading to an RYA cert) This will allow you to meet other sailors - chat to them & learn from them! Good luck, sailing will cost you an arm & a leg, but most of us seem to think it's worth it in the end!
 
Loads of stuff above on what you should do but I didn't see anything on what you legally have to do.

In a nutshell - nothing. There arer no legal requirements in the UK before you buy a boat and take it out. Lots of people think this is crazy and lots of people think regulation is also crazy. Make your own mind up on that one. Bear in mind though that this is not the same in other places across the world and even in Europe. Once you get an RYA Day Skipper (known as dazed kipper around here) you can get an ICC (International Certificate of (In)Competancy). This may help abroad.

Take it slow before you take the plunge & work out exactly what you want to do. My version of a good day on the boat is pootling along at 4-5kts getting from A-B. Other people's is totally different. Some get on board and say "where are we going today?" Others get on board and say "I'm here already". You'll never really know until you've tried it.

Get some training and take it slow when you do get on the water. No-one knows eveything and most of us learn something every time we go afloat.

Lastly, whatever you do, enjoy it.
 
Is this a big fat hairy post which should be sat under a bridge frightening billy goats?

Basically don't buy a crusing boat until you have been sailing and preferably taken some courses.

Imagine never having driven a car, being given 25ft camper van with your kids strapped in the back and think about the potential for disaster as you went the wrong way up the m1 in the dark without you lights on. Treat sailing as if you were a complete learner driver and you probably won't go far wrong. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif
 
To fully experience the pleasure of boat owning I recommend the following pre-purchase procedure.
1.Visit bank to obtain fifty £20 notes.
2.make sure you are fully dressed and enter bathroom
3.Switch on shower to cold
4.Arrange for partner to bring you hot drinks and snacks.
5.Stand in shower stream tearing up the twenty pound notes one at a time with one hand whilst trying to drink a cup of tea with the other.
If the above has not put you off sign up with a sailing school in your area and start with a competent crew course then join a sailing club and get some crewing experience before you graduate to higher level courses and charter trips.
It really is fun
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top