where did you learn to sail.
Discussion
My dad showed myself and brother how to sail. We started with Optimists and then Lasers.
We were members of a small sailing club in Derbyshire and they put us all through our RYA qualifications up to dinghy sailing instructor. To repay, we used to teach at the RYA school.
My dad still sails 505's (5.5m long) but I moved to slightly bigger boats
We were members of a small sailing club in Derbyshire and they put us all through our RYA qualifications up to dinghy sailing instructor. To repay, we used to teach at the RYA school.
My dad still sails 505's (5.5m long) but I moved to slightly bigger boats
tonycordon said:
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.
Completely agree that it's best to learn on dinghies first.
I spent a week on a school trip on Lake Biscarrosse age 11 learning on a topper, then a week on Derwentwater every year until I was 14. Then many many weeks in Seaview.
Yachts: Ionian as a kid, then all over the Med since then.
I spent a week on a school trip on Lake Biscarrosse age 11 learning on a topper, then a week on Derwentwater every year until I was 14. Then many many weeks in Seaview.
Yachts: Ionian as a kid, then all over the Med since then.
Brother D said:
I would love to carry on doing dingy sailing but am way too old. (Well past 30 with a bad back).
At mid 40's I'm one of the younger dart helms at my club, even the musto skiff guys seem to be in their 30'3 & 40's.As for the bad back, as long as you stay away from Lasers you will be fine.
Back to topic - learnt to sail in a mirror dingy my dad built in his garage. Moved onto Toppers then a Laser 2. Raced 420's at school.
I learned on Cadets when I was about 10. Moved to Toppers and then Lasers where I competed internationally for a couple of years. I then moved to 470's in a bid to go to the '92 Olympics, but came 4th in the trials in the summer of '91
At the same time, I moved into keelboats and found I was rather fast offshore and ended up winning JOG Junior Champion in 1991, RORC class 3 and Fastnet (IMS2 and CHS2) in 1992. We were also lucky enough to win RORC class 3 in 1993 & 1994.
After that, I kind of focused on inshore stuff and worked a few campaigns through the '90's whilst I was at University and starting work. Nowadays, I do a bit of 2 handed and fully crewed round the cans stuff, but am nowhere near as quick as I used to be and don't get out anywhere near as often as I would like.
At the same time, I moved into keelboats and found I was rather fast offshore and ended up winning JOG Junior Champion in 1991, RORC class 3 and Fastnet (IMS2 and CHS2) in 1992. We were also lucky enough to win RORC class 3 in 1993 & 1994.
After that, I kind of focused on inshore stuff and worked a few campaigns through the '90's whilst I was at University and starting work. Nowadays, I do a bit of 2 handed and fully crewed round the cans stuff, but am nowhere near as quick as I used to be and don't get out anywhere near as often as I would like.
Almost the usual, although I learnt in a Waveney (#2) with my Grandfather. It was a one design keel boat built in the early 1920's, I think there's a sizeable fleet still racing to this day.
I 'think' it may have been 86 I was bought Optimist K3322 (See below, my old man in his Merlin chasing me down!)
Did a lot, won a lot, managed to get my name on most things Then some little chap called Nick Asher came on the scene and stole my thunder (he's a two time world champion now so fair play.)
I sailed a Mirror as crew with a couple of mates if it didn't interfere with my racing, then I got too big and sailed the Merlin with Dad, did the Silver Tiller, also with my old Physics teacher. Then I found girls and miss boats a lot.
I would often scrounge crewing jobs on all sorts, but gave up completely, and haven't set foot in sailing boat since 2000.
Never mind.
I 'think' it may have been 86 I was bought Optimist K3322 (See below, my old man in his Merlin chasing me down!)
Did a lot, won a lot, managed to get my name on most things Then some little chap called Nick Asher came on the scene and stole my thunder (he's a two time world champion now so fair play.)
I sailed a Mirror as crew with a couple of mates if it didn't interfere with my racing, then I got too big and sailed the Merlin with Dad, did the Silver Tiller, also with my old Physics teacher. Then I found girls and miss boats a lot.
I would often scrounge crewing jobs on all sorts, but gave up completely, and haven't set foot in sailing boat since 2000.
Never mind.
MBBlat said:
Brother D said:
I would love to carry on doing dingy sailing but am way too old. (Well past 30 with a bad back).
At mid 40's I'm one of the younger dart helms at my club, even the musto skiff guys seem to be in their 30'3 & 40's.As for the bad back, as long as you stay away from Lasers you will be fine.
Back to topic - learnt to sail in a mirror dingy my dad built in his garage. Moved onto Toppers then a Laser 2. Raced 420's at school.
"Green Coffin"
I learnt in Oppies and then crewed in GP14's for while before moving on to crewing in Mirror's before helming one, raced the Mirror's all over the country and competed in a number of National and Inland Championships along with regional competitions.
Once I outgrew the Mirror we got a RS200 and campaigned that for a while competing in a couple of Nationals again before I went to Uni. Kept it for a couple of years and recently sold it as it's just not being used enough.
Hoping once we buy a house (looks like early next year) I'll be able to save up to buy another boat.
Once I outgrew the Mirror we got a RS200 and campaigned that for a while competing in a couple of Nationals again before I went to Uni. Kept it for a couple of years and recently sold it as it's just not being used enough.
Hoping once we buy a house (looks like early next year) I'll be able to save up to buy another boat.
Learnt when I was 8 when my Dad negotiated a ride for us in a mirror dinghy with a chap he met while camping on the edge of Coniston Water. Proper swallows and amazons. We were hooked. Dad bought a mirror to sail on the local river when we got home and it kind of snowballed from there really.
For various reasons over the last few years from being very involved in my club, my interest has waned somewhat though I occasionally get out for a blast as I still have both my boats.
For various reasons over the last few years from being very involved in my club, my interest has waned somewhat though I occasionally get out for a blast as I still have both my boats.
From my father, was on the water from a very young age learning "the ropes" on his yachts, had a few dingys over the years, 440, lasers, topper, enterprise, to name a few. I had a half share in a yacht around 4 years ago, sold out now have a little bayliner as its quick and easy for our needs.
I do fancy a wet deck dingy again.
I do fancy a wet deck dingy again.
Edited by scotty_d on Friday 7th November 04:31
Riff Raff said:
telford_mike said:
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.
Sometimes it happens a bit quick on a keel boat.....Famous photo of Silk II taken by Beken of Cowes.
I started by mucking about as a kid because my dad was into boats, but he never raced. I got bored of that so started crewing on dinghy's .... then started asking (pestering) the owners of the keelboats that raced. Stuck on the bow first, then became a lanky late teens so moved to the mast (long arms means the spin goes up fast), then moved on to Nav/ tactician and helm. Now the proud owner of a racing wreak!!
edit - as to that picture, fantastic shot of how to make an X Yacht stop fast .... as i remember there was a squall warning that went out on the radio from Race Com to say that it was going to get breezy at calshot ... 2 minutes later and Silk's skipper thought he was a U Boat commander!!!
Edited by XJSJohn on Friday 7th November 05:22
XJSJohn said:
Riff Raff said:
telford_mike said:
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.
Sometimes it happens a bit quick on a keel boat.....Famous photo of Silk II taken by Beken of Cowes.
I started by mucking about as a kid because my dad was into boats, but he never raced. I got bored of that so started crewing on dinghy's .... then started asking (pestering) the owners of the keelboats that raced. Stuck on the bow first, then became a lanky late teens so moved to the mast (long arms means the spin goes up fast), then moved on to Nav/ tactician and helm. Now the proud owner of a racing wreak!!
edit - as to that picture, fantastic shot of how to make an X Yacht stop fast .... as i remember there was a squall warning that went out on the radio from Race Com to say that it was going to get breezy at calshot ... 2 minutes later and Silk's skipper thought he was a U Boat commander!!!
Edited by XJSJohn on Friday 7th November 05:22
The bowman was on the bow at the time that they pitchpoled, as they had literally just popped the kite before the squall came through, so he was busy gathering the #3 on to the foredeck.
I was racing an Mumm 36 that day and it was bloody windy generally, averaging around 30kts TWS across the race course if I remember correctly. The squall came through at around 45 - 50kts TWS and caused a lot of carnage.
It is a great photo, though. A big to Beken!
I was racing an Mumm 36 that day and it was bloody windy generally, averaging around 30kts TWS across the race course if I remember correctly. The squall came through at around 45 - 50kts TWS and caused a lot of carnage.
It is a great photo, though. A big to Beken!
Toppers on Ardingly reservoir as a kid, plus driving motorboats and tenders. Dropped it until my twenties, then one each of Neilson, Mark Warner and Sunsail holidays with dinghy sailing and windsurfing included, then bought an old shed of a dinghy. Since done bareboat charter, day skipper, and more dinghies in the Med. Now sprogged up, boatless and missing it.
Plenty of unfashionable bargains out there (our 2-hander was £800) but I wouldn't fancy going through the early falling-in stages somewhere as cold as Cardiff. Med'd be much better, and you can always sit on the beach if you hate it. Single-handers will teach sail and boat trim the fastest, then 2-handers will teach multiple sails and teamwork.
Plenty of people do go straight to keelboats, but the ones I know never seem to fill me with confidence in their abilities.
Plenty of unfashionable bargains out there (our 2-hander was £800) but I wouldn't fancy going through the early falling-in stages somewhere as cold as Cardiff. Med'd be much better, and you can always sit on the beach if you hate it. Single-handers will teach sail and boat trim the fastest, then 2-handers will teach multiple sails and teamwork.
Plenty of people do go straight to keelboats, but the ones I know never seem to fill me with confidence in their abilities.
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