Sailing club, and which boat?
Discussion
Two questions really.
1st any recommendations of a nice friendly sailing club in Bedfordshire? Been to see the one at Marston Mortain which looks good.
2nd question, is what boat? Need something fun, big enough for myself and two teenage sons. Or more likely myself and just one of the boys. So nothing to small. But needs to be easily manageable, and might be used if we get into it, suitable for a bit of racing. I say racing, maybe following at the back!
Thanks
1st any recommendations of a nice friendly sailing club in Bedfordshire? Been to see the one at Marston Mortain which looks good.
2nd question, is what boat? Need something fun, big enough for myself and two teenage sons. Or more likely myself and just one of the boys. So nothing to small. But needs to be easily manageable, and might be used if we get into it, suitable for a bit of racing. I say racing, maybe following at the back!
Thanks
I can't really answer either question, but it is good to see a fellow dinghy sailor on PH.
I guess as far as the boat is concerned something from RS might be the way to go. Perhaps an RS200 (maybe a bit small) or an RS Vision; could go old school - GP14, Enterprise etc.
Have a look here
https://sailingdinghies.apolloduck.co.uk/
Have Fun!
I guess as far as the boat is concerned something from RS might be the way to go. Perhaps an RS200 (maybe a bit small) or an RS Vision; could go old school - GP14, Enterprise etc.
Have a look here
https://sailingdinghies.apolloduck.co.uk/
Have Fun!
chappj said:
I can’t help with a club recommendation for your area, but would recommend you choose a boat only after deciding on a club. Class sizes vary greatly between clubs and so I’d go with which ever type is most popular at the club you decide works best for you.
Good luck!
That's what I'd do too. Most clubs run training weeks if you need some lessons so that's something to consider as wellGood luck!
See if you can get to crew on a few different types to gain some experience before you choose what to buy, and if you want to race then racing against identical boats always adds an edge you don't always get with assorted fleet all on different handicaps.
The other advantage with buying a one design that's popular in whichever club you join is it will be much easier to sell if you decide sailing isn't for you. If you buy a boat with a road trailer then you've got the option of temporary membership with other sailing clubs and having a go at tidal river or coastal sailing too which opens up a whole new world.
Bedford? The sailing club at Rutland Water is very active all year round and there's a RYA training centre nearby where both my kids learned to sail when they were little.
Graham Water is just up the road. Great club, great sailing area. Lots of active classes.
If you are big enough, RS400 would be my pick. Not too difficult to sail at first if you and one of the lads together are heavy enough, but lots of learning curve if you want to start going faster, kite, tweaker pole etc.
If you are big enough, RS400 would be my pick. Not too difficult to sail at first if you and one of the lads together are heavy enough, but lots of learning curve if you want to start going faster, kite, tweaker pole etc.
Agree with selecting a club before the boat, especially if your just beginning. If your chosen club allows it don’t discount a catamaran, they aren’t the big scary beasts most mono sailors think they are. A dart 18 is more than big enough to hold 3 or more when not racing, but has the advantage that if your sons decide they don’t like sailing that you can also race them singlehanded.
From Bedford I’d have thought you head to either Rutland or Draycote.
My opinion of Rutland;
One of the Great Lakes clubs, always seems friendly when I’ve been there as a visitor, open all year, good variety of boats, decent sized water, RYA centre, possible downside is the level of volunteering members have to do (they rely on members to man the bar(s), racing, safety boats, grounds maintenance, events etc etc etc - something like a total of 4,000 days of duties a year being covered)
My opinion of Draycote;
One of the Great Lakes clubs, friendly, open all year, good variety of boats, decent sized water, RYA centre, everything (except race duties) done by employees of the club so only 164 days of duties need to be covered.
As for which boat; try as many as possible then decide……..
My opinion of Rutland;
One of the Great Lakes clubs, always seems friendly when I’ve been there as a visitor, open all year, good variety of boats, decent sized water, RYA centre, possible downside is the level of volunteering members have to do (they rely on members to man the bar(s), racing, safety boats, grounds maintenance, events etc etc etc - something like a total of 4,000 days of duties a year being covered)
My opinion of Draycote;
One of the Great Lakes clubs, friendly, open all year, good variety of boats, decent sized water, RYA centre, everything (except race duties) done by employees of the club so only 164 days of duties need to be covered.
As for which boat; try as many as possible then decide……..
Quick look on the AA routefinder shows Bedford itself to either Rutland or Draycote as 50+ miles each way.
Grafham as 20.
The one mentioned by the OP is only 6 miles so probably a good bet as a starter.
Quick look at their website & they seem to have decent free use to members fleet so plenty of opportunity to try before you buy!
Grafham as 20.
The one mentioned by the OP is only 6 miles so probably a good bet as a starter.
Quick look at their website & they seem to have decent free use to members fleet so plenty of opportunity to try before you buy!
Thanks so much for the replies
So location - I live in Dunstable so Grafham is lovely but just a bit to far, We stay and bike around regularly with the caravan. The closest to me is Milton Keynes, but Marston Mortain is bigger and seemed friendly when I visited a few years ago.
Good shout about the boat after joining the club. But I like to get some ideas of what's around, budget and do a bit of research first. I am so out of touch with boats.
Use to sail a few Wayfarers back in the day as a kid. But since my wife got me the RYA dinghy course a few years ago and I completed my day skipper in 2019 (love a greek sailing holiday). So fancy something to do when its warmer!!
So location - I live in Dunstable so Grafham is lovely but just a bit to far, We stay and bike around regularly with the caravan. The closest to me is Milton Keynes, but Marston Mortain is bigger and seemed friendly when I visited a few years ago.
Good shout about the boat after joining the club. But I like to get some ideas of what's around, budget and do a bit of research first. I am so out of touch with boats.
Use to sail a few Wayfarers back in the day as a kid. But since my wife got me the RYA dinghy course a few years ago and I completed my day skipper in 2019 (love a greek sailing holiday). So fancy something to do when its warmer!!
Not local to the area, but I agree you want to choose the club and boat together.
I think things have improved noticeably in the past 10-15 years, but until really quite recently a lot of main series raced at local inland clubs was remarkably old stock. GP14, Enterprise, Laser, Solo, Firefly, Single skin Nationals etc ruled the roost. The RS200 has done really well and breaking into this, and I believe you see a number of the larger RS400 around too which is great.
The other consideration is the lake/conditions, depending on what your aims are. There are some cracking in land options, but also there some clubs based on quite small and or sheltered waters, which if you are after a bit of a thrill might not give the same results!
Not been out in nearly long enough, and my parents keep suggesting maybe having to stoop to walk under the boat hung above there car in the garage could end one day. My uncle was an early adopter, and the boat is actually RS200 Sail No 324 (124th boat). Would need a full set of sails to be competitive but otherwise in serviceable condition. Had thought I might take it up again, but with a child on the way, its looking less likely.
Daniel
I think things have improved noticeably in the past 10-15 years, but until really quite recently a lot of main series raced at local inland clubs was remarkably old stock. GP14, Enterprise, Laser, Solo, Firefly, Single skin Nationals etc ruled the roost. The RS200 has done really well and breaking into this, and I believe you see a number of the larger RS400 around too which is great.
The other consideration is the lake/conditions, depending on what your aims are. There are some cracking in land options, but also there some clubs based on quite small and or sheltered waters, which if you are after a bit of a thrill might not give the same results!
Not been out in nearly long enough, and my parents keep suggesting maybe having to stoop to walk under the boat hung above there car in the garage could end one day. My uncle was an early adopter, and the boat is actually RS200 Sail No 324 (124th boat). Would need a full set of sails to be competitive but otherwise in serviceable condition. Had thought I might take it up again, but with a child on the way, its looking less likely.
Daniel
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