Getting back into dinghy racing..!
Discussion
Having not raced a dinghy in 25 years, I’ve gone and bought myself a Blaze single handed and will be joining Burghfield SC!!!
In my youth, I was pretty handy on the Laser circuit and moved on to big boat round the cans and offshore racing through my 20’s and 30’s until I stopped pretty much completely about 5 years ago (work / family travel etc)
I’ve found myself really hankering to get back out on the water and with the SC only about 10 minutes from my office, I thought “sod it” and have jumped in!
God knows how I’m going to get on. I’m 45, “cuddly” and not very agile!!!! I think the rest of this season is going to be a case of making sure I can sail the thing to a half decent level before getting into racing next season.
Here goes...!
In my youth, I was pretty handy on the Laser circuit and moved on to big boat round the cans and offshore racing through my 20’s and 30’s until I stopped pretty much completely about 5 years ago (work / family travel etc)
I’ve found myself really hankering to get back out on the water and with the SC only about 10 minutes from my office, I thought “sod it” and have jumped in!
God knows how I’m going to get on. I’m 45, “cuddly” and not very agile!!!! I think the rest of this season is going to be a case of making sure I can sail the thing to a half decent level before getting into racing next season.
Here goes...!
So hows it going?
I used to do a reasonable amount with school, toppers to start with, Gp14/Ent, parents bought a topaz race x, then mainly sailing my uncles RS200, love it but am on about 2-3days every other year at the moment! Now 32 so while the boat is a hoot still my knees feel it if I am crouched down in it for long.
Daniel
I used to do a reasonable amount with school, toppers to start with, Gp14/Ent, parents bought a topaz race x, then mainly sailing my uncles RS200, love it but am on about 2-3days every other year at the moment! Now 32 so while the boat is a hoot still my knees feel it if I am crouched down in it for long.
Daniel
schmalex said:
It's brilliant!!!! I'm not sure what works least - my knees or abdominals!!!! Either way, I'm not coming first but also not coming last.
I wish I'd got back into it 20 years ago to be honest. It's very hard work but very rewarding!
Sound good. I have looked at local clubs before I moved, and might have to look again. Concentrating on getting some mountain biking slotted in but I do like a sail.I wish I'd got back into it 20 years ago to be honest. It's very hard work but very rewarding!
Current partner got of to a bad start with Salcombe (my family have being going for 40 years, but it had become a bit rahhh) but I am still hopeful of a couple of 'beach and sailing' type holidays. I would be very happy never leaving the UK but might have to look at a week in Spain sometime!
Daniel
well done OP - i have done lots of offshore this year - fastnet etc - and i have not sailed my own keelboat much. i have come to the conclusion that sailing on bigger boats with logistics/expense - dealing with arranging people etc is a PITA. I wistfully look at people who same age as you/me - get down to the club - quickly rig a singlehander and go sailing/racing with minimum of hassle....tempted by getting something like a laser myself - my gut would certainly benefit from the exercise
There is something very nice about sailing on your own. I’ve been lucky enough to have done all the big boat stuff with Fastnets / Commodores Cups / Admirals cups etc but I’m enjoying my dinghy way more than any of that!
The club I’ve joined is 8 minutes drive from my office, so I can be rigged, changed and launching within 30 minutes of finishing work. It’s so cathartic. It’s going to take me a while to get to the sharp end of the fleet and I won’t get too much time on the boat for the rest of the year, but I just love it.
The club I’ve joined is 8 minutes drive from my office, so I can be rigged, changed and launching within 30 minutes of finishing work. It’s so cathartic. It’s going to take me a while to get to the sharp end of the fleet and I won’t get too much time on the boat for the rest of the year, but I just love it.
Edited by schmalex on Sunday 18th August 04:44
Strange I should find this thread. I learnt to sail 22 years ago at Galloway Sailing Centre. Me and a mate he just joined the RAF and were on a forced weeks leave. We planned to do some hill walking up in Scotland. Got there and saw a flyer for the sailing school in reception at the camp site. It was only 10 mins down the road.
We went and did a weeks course got RYA level 1+2 and because we had a day free did the RYA powerboat level 1 and 2 course as well.
Then never sailed a dinghy again(went offshore).
Well last week I went and did a taster session at my local club, had a blast and have signed up again. Biggest thing I noticed at 44, I am very inflexible to say the least. Ultimately I think my plan will be to go dinghy cruising, never really enjoyed racing (even offshore) I just don’t see the point but each to there own. Would love a wayfarer or maybe a wonderer, then I read Robert Burns Dinghy cruising book and I’m now wondering if a simple sturdy working boat might be the way forward. Never sailed a lug sail before.
Anyway pic from the taster day. Jibs to hard on amazing how obvious when your not helming and you see it from outside the boat.
We went and did a weeks course got RYA level 1+2 and because we had a day free did the RYA powerboat level 1 and 2 course as well.
Then never sailed a dinghy again(went offshore).
Well last week I went and did a taster session at my local club, had a blast and have signed up again. Biggest thing I noticed at 44, I am very inflexible to say the least. Ultimately I think my plan will be to go dinghy cruising, never really enjoyed racing (even offshore) I just don’t see the point but each to there own. Would love a wayfarer or maybe a wonderer, then I read Robert Burns Dinghy cruising book and I’m now wondering if a simple sturdy working boat might be the way forward. Never sailed a lug sail before.
Anyway pic from the taster day. Jibs to hard on amazing how obvious when your not helming and you see it from outside the boat.
Edited by MB140 on Sunday 18th August 06:58
Funny this thread has just popped up, I used to sail on the Mirror and RS200 circuits in my youth then sort of stopped after university and got a land locked job.
Now nearly a decade on my eldest is 3.5y/o and I’d quite like to introduce her to sailing over the next few years, so decided to buy myself something to get back into sailing/racing first.
My fairly cheap old Laser eBay purchase should arrive in the next few days, then the decision of whether to join Northampton SC or Hollowell SC is next up.
I think the ultimate goal is to end up with a hiking singlehander like a Supernova/Phantom/RS100 and maybe back to my Mirror days for the kids.
I can’t wait. My missus doesn’t get my excitement.
Now nearly a decade on my eldest is 3.5y/o and I’d quite like to introduce her to sailing over the next few years, so decided to buy myself something to get back into sailing/racing first.
My fairly cheap old Laser eBay purchase should arrive in the next few days, then the decision of whether to join Northampton SC or Hollowell SC is next up.
I think the ultimate goal is to end up with a hiking singlehander like a Supernova/Phantom/RS100 and maybe back to my Mirror days for the kids.
I can’t wait. My missus doesn’t get my excitement.
Yeah my wife said something similar to me. She said no way is she getting in a wetsuit. So long as we potter about and she can have her flask of coffee and read her book and admire the scenery (I’m assuming she wasn’t talking about me :-( at this point) then she might give it a go. At a push I might get her to sleep in a tent for a night but that’s about it. She’s more a nice restaurant and wine kind of girl.
Anyway off to Apolloduck, FB marketplace and eBay to see what’s about.
Requirements:
1) Something I could sail single handed at a push but big enough for two adults comfortably. 14-16fy
2) Must be very stable (speed doesn’t matter) and dry when close hauled.
3) Mainly lochs and large lakes but sea worthy on a calm day.
4) Not too heavy, we have a 1 series and a mustang to tow with. (Yeah there dead practical aren’t they).
5) Stowage for an overnight trip (I have a few Monroe sail and rope waterproof bags that could be bungees in place and a jetboil system to heat ration packs. Go me I know how to treat the lady right.
Any suggestions other than wayfarer/wonderer.
Lastly apologies op I appear to have hijacked your thread a little. Oh and my knees hurt like hell the day after so I literally feel your pain.
Anyway off to Apolloduck, FB marketplace and eBay to see what’s about.
Requirements:
1) Something I could sail single handed at a push but big enough for two adults comfortably. 14-16fy
2) Must be very stable (speed doesn’t matter) and dry when close hauled.
3) Mainly lochs and large lakes but sea worthy on a calm day.
4) Not too heavy, we have a 1 series and a mustang to tow with. (Yeah there dead practical aren’t they).
5) Stowage for an overnight trip (I have a few Monroe sail and rope waterproof bags that could be bungees in place and a jetboil system to heat ration packs. Go me I know how to treat the lady right.
Any suggestions other than wayfarer/wonderer.
Lastly apologies op I appear to have hijacked your thread a little. Oh and my knees hurt like hell the day after so I literally feel your pain.
schmalex said:
I'd say a foiling Moth meets your requirements perfectly. Apparently, you shouldn't really spendess than £9k to ensure you get one... 
Don't worry about thread hijack. It's great to hear from others in the same boat
Erm she doesn’t like flying in planes I imagine a small dinghy would be a step too far. Drascombe Lugger (probably to big and heavy for single handed. Don't worry about thread hijack. It's great to hear from others in the same boat
Cornish crabber or cobbler is it. A possibility. As much as I like the thrill of speed the first time it gets capsized that would probably be the end of the misses joining me and that then means it becomes a pure solitary endeavour. Not really what I was looking for.
I’d love to get her more in to sailing. She’s moving to Hull on her next contract and I’m hoping to get her out for a five day on a yacht comp crew course. I would like to give the liveaboard lifestyle a go but without MrsMB140 interest it’s a non starter. She’s not said no and likes being on the water when were afforded the opportunities in the past.
schmalex said:
Mine didn't get mine either!!
When my lad (16) first saw me in my wetsuit, he said he felt like harpooning me :/
I dragged mine onto a small Hobie thing in Mexico in August a few years back and within 15 minutes she was cold. It was 38C that day. I fear a lake in the midlands in Autumn could be a step too far.When my lad (16) first saw me in my wetsuit, he said he felt like harpooning me :/
I also fear I’ve become more rotund since I used to sail and I will also be recovered by the RSPCA and chucked in an aquarium.
Cyder said:
My fairly cheap old Laser eBay purchase should arrive in the next few days, then the decision of whether to join Northampton SC or Hollowell SC is next up.:
Neither, go to Draycote, large laser friendly fleet, big water, open 364 days a year, professional safety team on duty all day, several PHrs as members, drop me a pm if you want to come for a trial and meet a few of the guys.Then when your child is old enough awesome kids club!
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