where did you learn to sail.
Discussion
Those who sail where did you learn, did you learn on toppers or just go for it or offer as a deckhand on other yachts.
I'm tempted to get a dinghy, can keep it at the yacht club in cardiff my brother already has a motorboat there so spend a lot of time there.
Seems a few yacht owners on here but not sure how many into smaller sail boats and dinghys.
I'm tempted to get a dinghy, can keep it at the yacht club in cardiff my brother already has a motorboat there so spend a lot of time there.
Seems a few yacht owners on here but not sure how many into smaller sail boats and dinghys.
General consensus seems to be that learning on a dinghy teaches the basics better, but people learn in all sorts of ways. Even the folk who buy a 40 footer, go on a couple of day's course and then set off around the world seem to get on OK - or do people no longer do that these days?
I started off messing about on small dinghies with my parents (who had limited experience of sailing, albeit my Dad had spent a lot of time on cobles as a youngster), did a couple of dinghy one to one training sessions, odd bit at school, but mostly through reading and applying in family dayboats we increased in size every few years.
When a student, I did a Dayskipper course on my first "proper yacht", which gave me enough to cope with 30 footers the family had for several years.
I started off messing about on small dinghies with my parents (who had limited experience of sailing, albeit my Dad had spent a lot of time on cobles as a youngster), did a couple of dinghy one to one training sessions, odd bit at school, but mostly through reading and applying in family dayboats we increased in size every few years.
When a student, I did a Dayskipper course on my first "proper yacht", which gave me enough to cope with 30 footers the family had for several years.
I was taught the very basics by a friend on a charter holiday, then threw myself into it after that by doing an Atlantic crossing as crew (found via crewseekers). After that, loads of cruising via crewseekers, before joining Uni sailing club and sailing dinghies for years. During that time I bought my own skiff and started racing that, through that scene ended up doing ok, now I race yachts again.
Never taken a course in my life... but mine was an unusual journey I suppose.
Never taken a course in my life... but mine was an unusual journey I suppose.
'Sailing', by which I assume you mean setting the sails in a way that propels one across the water is quite simple. Obviously if you want to win a race or learn how to hove to in a F10, then it can get more complex.
Many people claim, and I'm sure they're correct, that it's good to learn in a dinghy as any mistake can put you in a drink. By contrast a keel boat is very forgiving.
I learnt in the Navy, then, many years later I bought a 21ft sail boat and just 'messed about'.
Many people claim, and I'm sure they're correct, that it's good to learn in a dinghy as any mistake can put you in a drink. By contrast a keel boat is very forgiving.
I learnt in the Navy, then, many years later I bought a 21ft sail boat and just 'messed about'.
I learned on Cadets at a school sailing centre at Chasewater in Staffordshire when I was about 12.
Converted to yachts a few years ago, just bought a share in a Bavaria 34 in Greece
I do think dinghies are the best way to learn the basics of sailing, but it's easier on a yacht as everything happens so much more slowly.
Converted to yachts a few years ago, just bought a share in a Bavaria 34 in Greece
I do think dinghies are the best way to learn the basics of sailing, but it's easier on a yacht as everything happens so much more slowly.
I learnt on a Victoria 34 on the solent. my first time stepping on a yacht was a competent crew 5 day course, a year later after getting 2/3 weeks of sailing in I was back for the day skipper week course and a shore based VHF course. really wanted to get my coastal skipper, but work got in the way and havent stepped on a yacht in a couple of years was meant to go away at the beginning of the year, did all the planning and ended up working instead!
dirkgently said:
Riff Raff said:
Sometimes it happens a bit quick on a keel boat.....
Famous photo of Silk II taken by Beken of Cowes.
I still love that shot.Famous photo of Silk II taken by Beken of Cowes.
On topic - I do think learning to sail a dinghy is the best start, it does teach you about the real effect of wind/sail trim/rudder position!
Gravel pit here too! At about age 12 on the most unsuitable racing dingy one could imagine bar a prototype Moth. I was sent to Poole harbor most summers to mess about at Rockley Point - which was great fun. Became a qualified dingy instructor at 20.
I would love to carry on doing dingy sailing but am way too old. (Well past 30 with a bad back).
However it's the best way to learn and more importantly understand how to sail. I've been on yachts were the skipper has asked 'how do you know how to set the sails'? and basically would be screwed with out an engine to get them home...
I would love to carry on doing dingy sailing but am way too old. (Well past 30 with a bad back).
However it's the best way to learn and more importantly understand how to sail. I've been on yachts were the skipper has asked 'how do you know how to set the sails'? and basically would be screwed with out an engine to get them home...
telford_mike said:
I learned on Cadets at a school sailing centre at Chasewater in Staffordshire when I was about 12.
Converted to yachts a few years ago, just bought a share in a Bavaria 34 in Greece
I do think dinghies are the best way to learn the basics of sailing, but it's easier on a yacht as everything happens so much more slowly.
So did I!( Chasewater that is) I don't know which era you enjoyed, but mine was early 60's I do remember 'My name's Simpkins...Call me sir' as the guy who ran the school.Converted to yachts a few years ago, just bought a share in a Bavaria 34 in Greece
I do think dinghies are the best way to learn the basics of sailing, but it's easier on a yacht as everything happens so much more slowly.
We had a great time, but I didn't really follow up on a good start.
I learned in dinghies in the late 80's whilst I was at school in otters and then toppers, then crewed in various stuff before getting a Mirror then moving up to an ancient Laser.
I also frequented Chasewater in the late 80's ( think they used to do a Friday night summer series ? ) but in the early 90's as soon as I could drive all my cash was diverted elsewhere.
I took it up again at blithfield in 2007 with another ancient Laser which was fun for a couple of seasons but was much harder work than I remembered it and my wanting to do it just fizzled out sadly. I love boats but have no real inclination to take it up again.
It is a great hobby if you have a group of mates who are into it though
I also frequented Chasewater in the late 80's ( think they used to do a Friday night summer series ? ) but in the early 90's as soon as I could drive all my cash was diverted elsewhere.
I took it up again at blithfield in 2007 with another ancient Laser which was fun for a couple of seasons but was much harder work than I remembered it and my wanting to do it just fizzled out sadly. I love boats but have no real inclination to take it up again.
It is a great hobby if you have a group of mates who are into it though
I learnt on a small lake in merseyside - crewing an enterprise, eventually I bought my own boat (actually I have bought many over the years) Had a few dry years whilst the kids were small, as going away for weekend regattas every week wasn't very family friendly
for the last couple of years I have been sailing with the kids, and fallen back into racing - so there goes all my disposable income again!
I have even become an RYA instructor. These days most clubs run courses for beginners, which is a good starting point, and a bit of an income generator for the clubs, which helps to keep them running
for the last couple of years I have been sailing with the kids, and fallen back into racing - so there goes all my disposable income again!
I have even become an RYA instructor. These days most clubs run courses for beginners, which is a good starting point, and a bit of an income generator for the clubs, which helps to keep them running
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