Winter sailing experience, Scotland

[MikeSutherland1956]

Hello all. I am a first time boat owner out of Inverness.

I have never sailed before and would like to practice. I am short on money, is
there any way I can learn to sail over the winter ?

Any advice is appreciated.

 

[Daydream believer]

No

 

[nevis768]

Hello all. I am a first time boat owner out of Inverness.

I have never sailed before and would like to practice. I am short on money, is
there any way I can learn to sail over the winter ?

Any advice is appreciated.

You can sail in the winter, easier in a motor sailer, or yacht with protected helm, you could try one of the FB groups for somebody to take you out. I'm on the Clyde otherwise I would have offered.

 

[NormanS]

It's quite a leap to become a boat owner, if you have never sailed before! There may be some dinghy sailing locally in sheltered water. It would be worthwhile to contact some of the local sailing clubs. You don't give any indication about the type of boat that you have, and without that knowledge, it's impossible to give relevant advice.

 

[Ian_Edwards]

I think you need to teel us a little more about the boat and if you are keeping it in Inverness Marina, before you get any meaning full replies.
I sailed out of Inverness Marina and Stonehaven Harbour for many years before retiring and moving the boat to the West Coast.
The area between the Kessock Brigde and Chanory Point is generally sheltered, but shallow and has very strong tides, under the bridge and around Chanory Point.
It's not a bad place to practice in the winter.
You'd need to be sure that you have a reliable auxiliary engine, to get you back under the bridge.
If the boat has a reasonably shallow draft most of the area is available.
It's sufficiently shallow that you can anchor almost anywhere.
Be very careful about the weather forecast. There are many beautiful sailing day to be had.
But equally many days when you'd be better advised to stay at home. Be cautious and very selective.
You could get a good few hours sailing in on many winter days.
Keep warm! Your ability to make good decisions is severely impaired when you are cold.
I'd say, choose your day carefully and get sailing, even if only for a few hours.

 

[wallacebob]

Sailing boat? Very best plan is join a local club; where is boat moored? Make a “friend” who is patient and knowledgeably to take you under their wing. Beer and/or tea is usual way to pay . OR just go out and chance it! Not really recommended as drowning can be fatal. To build up your confidence you need, like car driving, guidance and time. There is a daunting amount of stuff to learn, most of it irrelevant to starting to sail. You want to enjoy sailing, and not be scared sh*tless first time out. Tell us more about your boat and location.

 

[Wansworth]

To draw you out to tell us some useable facts in order that we can offer our pearls of wisdom…….what made you buy a boatfurther reading will enlighten you as to the nature of yachting…..boats love money……all the best

 

[MikeSutherland1956]

You can sail in the winter, easier in a motor sailer, or yacht with protected helm, you could try one of the FB groups for somebody to take you out. I'm on the Clyde otherwise I would have offered.

That sounds promising, mine is a 28ft Miller Fifer. Will check out FB.

Thank you.

 

[Wansworth]

That sounds promising, mine is a 28ft Miller Fifer. Will check out FB.

Thank you.

Sounds the perfect boat and great heritage

 

[dunedin]

That sounds promising, mine is a 28ft Miller Fifer. Will check out FB.

Thank you.

Where is your boat berthed ? Is it Inverness Marina or nearby?
One thing if new to the area is to be VERY careful about not being swept by the strong tides over the shallow bank off Carnarc Point - the North Cardinal buoy sometimes seems to motoring at six knots towards you!
But yes if you choose your weather should be able to get some sailing in over the winter.

 

[Daydream believer]

Where is your boat berthed ? Is it Inverness Marina or nearby?
One thing if new to the area is to be VERY careful about not being swept by the strong tides over the shallow bank of Carnarc Point - the North Cardinal buoy sometimes seems to motoring at six knots towards you!
But yes if you choose your weather should be able to get some sailing in over the winter.

I lost my rudder on the sandbank to the east of Kessok bridge. Unlike our east coast banks it is covered in boulders & they do the damage. A couple of times I have left the Cally canal & been surprised at the strength of the cross tide that suddenly hit me. I had to do a big loop to get to the marina at Inverness.
Bearing in mind that this winter could be a cold one- This week could see a lot of artic snow dumped on Scotland- I would suggest that untrained sailing in that area is not good. The OP admits to being strapped for cash, so paid instruction is off the cards. I think that he needs to wait until the season gets going again. Make friends with others & try his hand when warmer & a few others are also out on the water. Possibly in a position to see when he needs help. It might save a call to the delightfull people from the RNLI who helped me.
In the meantime there are lots of books plus the internet to keep him happy. Just sitting on the boat making himself aware of how things work, VHF, engine, water etc would be a sensible starter. Check the oil, antifreeze , batteries, stern gland, deck leaks Will all be time consuming but useful to understand how the boat works.

 

[Ian_Edwards]

A 28ft Miller Fifer is very much a motor sailer.
I'd be surprised if it sailed to windward very well. It only has a draft of 0.8m, according to the advertisement. So you should have no problem with draft.
The big diesel engine will help with curents, but you may struggle to make headway against a 6knot ebb under the bridge.
My boat has a draft of 3.3m with the keel fully down, so I normally use the deep water channel on the north side. However, the area just to the East of the bridge seems to be very shallow with shifting banks. I try to time it so that I'm at the bridge at high water slack.
I'd make sure that you have good charts, electronic or paper, and studdy them carefully. Then get out and practice reaching backwards and forwards tacking and gybing, to get a feel for what the boat can do.

 

[wingcommander]

Hi Mike .
I noticed your post was at 02.23. . Please confirm that the boat purchase was an ebay bargain ,alcohol induced at a similar hour.
Welcome to the world of boat ownership.
It only gets better.....

 

[boomerangben]

My uncle had a baby Miller (21’ - not sure it wasn’t a one off). Sailing performance…… was somewhat improved by a Perkins tractor engine. I’m not sure she ever tacked and had to wear round. Not an easy boat to learn to sail and a frustrating one to sail if you knew how. On the plus side though very pleasant and sedate off the wind and plenty of oomph to get home upwind/tide. Built like a trawler, designed for the east coast of Scotland. The 28’ will I am sure, sail better and give you lots of fun. And I guess (I’ve only briefly sailed there but cross the bridge often enough to know how important a good engine is) will be ideal given that I would think most people motor the last few miles to Inverness anyway

I assume that a Miller Fifer was built by Miller’s of Fife (which my uncle’s boats was). Might be that I’ve made a school boy error and misidentified the boat in question here

 

[capnsensible]

Hello all. I am a first time boat owner out of Inverness.

I have never sailed before and would like to practice. I am short on money, is
there any way I can learn to sail over the winter ?

Any advice is appreciated.

If you want to learn from a professional, how about this?

Compass Sea School Ltd

 

[RunAgroundHard]

... Welcome to the world of boat ownership.
It only gets better.....

I am still waiting (-;

 

[Aja]

My uncle had a baby Miller (21’ - not sure it wasn’t a one off). Sailing performance…… was somewhat improved by a Perkins tractor engine. I’m not sure she ever tacked and had to wear round. Not an easy boat to learn to sail and a frustrating one to sail if you knew how. On the plus side though very pleasant and sedate off the wind and plenty of oomph to get home upwind/tide. Built like a trawler, designed for the east coast of Scotland. The 28’ will I am sure, sail better and give you lots of fun. And I guess (I’ve only briefly sailed there but cross the bridge often enough to know how important a good engine is) will be ideal given that I would think most people motor the last few miles to Inverness anyway

I assume that a Miller Fifer was built by Miller’s of Fife (which my uncle’s boats was). Might be that I’ve made a school boy error and misidentified the boat in question here

James Miller & Sons
St Monance
Fife.

 

[NormanS]

James Miller & Sons
St Monance
Fife.

Long gone, unfortunately.

 

[Daydream believer]

Long gone, unfortunately.

Says something, does it not?

 

[steveeasy]

Perhaps hes out on the water, or got a life. Either way just go with the flow. pick a nice calm sunny day and of you bob. make sure you have a handheld and consider the navigation points other members have raised. the sailing bit is the easy bit.

Happy Days
steveeasy