Learning to Sail
Discussion
Evening everyone,
I have been into boats for years, but never sailing. I am looking to possibly do my RYA level 1 and 2 soon.
What I need is some help on which boat would be right for me.
Ideally, I would like, once I have the hang of it, to take my 10 year old son out with me.
The boat should be small, fun, easy to rig up and use.
Neither myself or my son have problems in being tipped out, so fun over stability is ok.
I was looking at the standard Laser, which to me looks ideal. I did start thinking the Laser 2 would be better with more room, but to be honest it looks quite complicated with all the sails, perhaps that's something you work up to.
Many thanks
I have been into boats for years, but never sailing. I am looking to possibly do my RYA level 1 and 2 soon.
What I need is some help on which boat would be right for me.
Ideally, I would like, once I have the hang of it, to take my 10 year old son out with me.
The boat should be small, fun, easy to rig up and use.
Neither myself or my son have problems in being tipped out, so fun over stability is ok.
I was looking at the standard Laser, which to me looks ideal. I did start thinking the Laser 2 would be better with more room, but to be honest it looks quite complicated with all the sails, perhaps that's something you work up to.
Many thanks
Where are you intending to sail? There is a big difference between lake & sea sailing.
What do the local sailing club(s) sail? Some of the smaller lake/reservoir based ones are limited on what classes they can sail, catamarans are not usually allowed on inland waters.
Laser - cheap if your not a top racer, plentiful, accepted everywhere, easy to rig, easy to right, not very roomy for 2. Hard work to sail fast/well.
Laser 2 - are those things still going? Can only be sailed 2 up.
Mirror - classic father/son class, cramped & not very exciting for a adult. Can be sailed but not raced solo.
Two hulls - sprint or Dart 16, not as quick as the 18footers but quick enough, can be sailed by one or two.
Best suggestion - join a local sailing club & volunteer to crew, try lots of boats until you find one you like.
What do the local sailing club(s) sail? Some of the smaller lake/reservoir based ones are limited on what classes they can sail, catamarans are not usually allowed on inland waters.
Laser - cheap if your not a top racer, plentiful, accepted everywhere, easy to rig, easy to right, not very roomy for 2. Hard work to sail fast/well.
Laser 2 - are those things still going? Can only be sailed 2 up.
Mirror - classic father/son class, cramped & not very exciting for a adult. Can be sailed but not raced solo.
Two hulls - sprint or Dart 16, not as quick as the 18footers but quick enough, can be sailed by one or two.
Best suggestion - join a local sailing club & volunteer to crew, try lots of boats until you find one you like.
MBBlat said:
Where are you intending to sail? There is a big difference between lake & sea sailing.
Just in the sea.MBBlat said:
What do the local sailing club(s) sail? Some of the smaller lake/reservoir based ones are limited on what classes they can sail, catamarans are not usually allowed on inland waters.
Not sure yet, but this is my local club. http://www.sailbrightlingsea.com/MBBlat said:
Laser - cheap if your not a top racer, plentiful, accepted everywhere, easy to rig, easy to right, not very roomy for 2. Hard work to sail fast/well.
Laser 2 - are those things still going? Can only be sailed 2 up.
Mirror - classic father/son class, cramped & not very exciting for a adult. Can be sailed but not raced solo.
Two hulls - sprint or Dart 16, not as quick as the 18footers but quick enough, can be sailed by one or two.
Best suggestion - join a local sailing club & volunteer to crew, try lots of boats until you find one you like.
Still looking like a Laser to me at the moment then. Laser 2 - are those things still going? Can only be sailed 2 up.
Mirror - classic father/son class, cramped & not very exciting for a adult. Can be sailed but not raced solo.
Two hulls - sprint or Dart 16, not as quick as the 18footers but quick enough, can be sailed by one or two.
Best suggestion - join a local sailing club & volunteer to crew, try lots of boats until you find one you like.
You'll get the benefit of collective experience & may even find a suitable boat at the right price.It's always hard to find a good compromise between single handed sailing and sailing with kids. I am looking for something that fits that box myself.
If you're sailing at Brightlingsea they have a strong cat presence, so maybe a Dart 16 or Topper Topaz Sport 14, both suitable for an adult and a child and ok to sail single handed, but you would need to learn to trapeeze in any kind of moderate wind (especially single handed). I sail an 18 foot cat normally, so I think i will go for a Topaz sport 14, but I guess if you're just learning this might be a bit of a handful.
Mono-hull wise the RS Feva is the go-to kids boat, and ok to sail with an adult and a child or single handed. I have sailed a Feva with my 8 yr old, there's much more room than a Mirror! There are a few other plastic boats similar to the Feva (RS Vision, Laser Vago) with various rig configurations, all nice boats.
I have a Topper which I currently sail with the kids, and hopefully the kids can sail themselves when they get more confident. Toppers can be super cheap and are virtually indestructible, this would be a great boat to learn on but not very exciting for an adult. More room in a topper than in a Laser. I struggle to sail a Laser with one of my kids on board, the cockpit is too small.
In any case, get yourself down to the club and ask lots of questions.
If you're sailing at Brightlingsea they have a strong cat presence, so maybe a Dart 16 or Topper Topaz Sport 14, both suitable for an adult and a child and ok to sail single handed, but you would need to learn to trapeeze in any kind of moderate wind (especially single handed). I sail an 18 foot cat normally, so I think i will go for a Topaz sport 14, but I guess if you're just learning this might be a bit of a handful.
Mono-hull wise the RS Feva is the go-to kids boat, and ok to sail with an adult and a child or single handed. I have sailed a Feva with my 8 yr old, there's much more room than a Mirror! There are a few other plastic boats similar to the Feva (RS Vision, Laser Vago) with various rig configurations, all nice boats.
I have a Topper which I currently sail with the kids, and hopefully the kids can sail themselves when they get more confident. Toppers can be super cheap and are virtually indestructible, this would be a great boat to learn on but not very exciting for an adult. More room in a topper than in a Laser. I struggle to sail a Laser with one of my kids on board, the cockpit is too small.
In any case, get yourself down to the club and ask lots of questions.
My advice would be to do the course/s and then join a club that has a fleet of boats you can take out, which is normally very cheap and most clubs will rent you a boat if you have RYA Level 2. That way you can pass the beginner stages and settle in to what sort of boat you like sailing before deciding to buy one, and you can also make a judgement on what sort of boat your son likes going out in. There may also be sides to it that you hadn't considered or experienced, such as the length of time to rig the boat, the weight of it getting in and out of the water, ease of righting after a capsize etc.
Did RYA 1 on a weekend last autumn and doing RYA 2 in a couple of weeks over a weekend as well. We are using old wayfarers and Laser 2000s. If I was out with my 8 year old son I would opt for the Laser 2000 as it is faster and more involving, if I was out with the wife and 7 year old daughter it would be the wayfarer, mainly because it takes 2 adults to launch and recover the wayfarer and they want as stable and as uneventful potter around the harbour as possible.
Have fun...
Have fun...
Edited by anonymous-user on Wednesday 15th July 15:14
Considering booking a Topper Argo for a couple of hours for myself and the wife next week for a play. I haven't sailed in nearly 20 years but used to be pretty handy and was my school captain (Yes, posh school, no I'm not posh). I used to love hammering round in my Mirror and later moved up to a graduate which was an utterly brilliant boat. Things have moved on hugely in the last 20 years and I have a right hankering for another boat but wooden ones seem pretty unusual these days which is what I would prefer.
Anyway back on topic. Agree with above posters. Take the lessons, try lots of boats, buy the one you like. Have fun!
Anyway back on topic. Agree with above posters. Take the lessons, try lots of boats, buy the one you like. Have fun!
I never actually got a boat as I went off the idea after a number of times being out on my jetski and being asked to tow stuck sail boats in when the wind had gone.
However, I recently noticed there seem to be a few of the smaller sailing boats which have the ability to take a small outboard.
Same rules as originally stated, that I need to be able to launch and sail it single handed. (will always be launched from a road trailer)
So far I have seen Wanderer, Wayfarer and Gull. Are there any others that you know of?
However, I recently noticed there seem to be a few of the smaller sailing boats which have the ability to take a small outboard.
Same rules as originally stated, that I need to be able to launch and sail it single handed. (will always be launched from a road trailer)
So far I have seen Wanderer, Wayfarer and Gull. Are there any others that you know of?
If you are well organised you could probably launch and recover the smaller boats in the Drascombe range (Scaffie and Dabber) yourself, and both of these have outboard wells. They are pottering boats rather than speedy wet types, so better for "Swallow and Amazon" type activity, fishing, exploring than a thrilling ride. They will keep you dry though, and good if you have young children, although personally I'm not a fan of the Scaffie - sails poorly and low freeboard.
There may be more modern equivalent small "dayboats" that I am unaware of though.
We certainly used to attach outboards to a Wayfarer in when I was very young, and had many a family trip down the coast off the West of Scotland, although 4 adults, picnic, assorted gubbins (and a dog or two) tended not to lend itself to much sailing - a dayboat is much better at covering more roles, albeit you won't win any sailing races in one.
There may be more modern equivalent small "dayboats" that I am unaware of though.
We certainly used to attach outboards to a Wayfarer in when I was very young, and had many a family trip down the coast off the West of Scotland, although 4 adults, picnic, assorted gubbins (and a dog or two) tended not to lend itself to much sailing - a dayboat is much better at covering more roles, albeit you won't win any sailing races in one.
Hi Andy,
I know a few members at BSC, if you haven't already been just pop in one day and have a chat, it's a really friendly club with a large and varied fleet, they'll have plenty of club boats for you to try before you commit to buying your own.
Dinghy sailing isn't that difficult once you get the hang of it, if you'd prefer to learn the ropes (pun intended) in sheltered water there's Ardleigh sailing club in Colchester which is quite small and more about racing but equally friendly and Alton near Ipswich which is a bit bigger and more geared up for sailing courses.
Boat wise you really need to try a few and see what you like, bear in mind that if your son gets into it you'll be buying him a single-hander before too long and shuttling him to race meets so it won't matter what you want!
I know a few members at BSC, if you haven't already been just pop in one day and have a chat, it's a really friendly club with a large and varied fleet, they'll have plenty of club boats for you to try before you commit to buying your own.
Dinghy sailing isn't that difficult once you get the hang of it, if you'd prefer to learn the ropes (pun intended) in sheltered water there's Ardleigh sailing club in Colchester which is quite small and more about racing but equally friendly and Alton near Ipswich which is a bit bigger and more geared up for sailing courses.
Boat wise you really need to try a few and see what you like, bear in mind that if your son gets into it you'll be buying him a single-hander before too long and shuttling him to race meets so it won't matter what you want!
andyb28 said:
I never actually got a boat as I went off the idea after a number of times being out on my jetski and being asked to tow stuck sail boats in when the wind had gone.
However, I recently noticed there seem to be a few of the smaller sailing boats which have the ability to take a small outboard.
Same rules as originally stated, that I need to be able to launch and sail it single handed. (will always be launched from a road trailer)
So far I have seen Wanderer, Wayfarer and Gull. Are there any others that you know of?
I have a Laser and a Miracle, the Laser is a no-no for your requirements, the Miracle is a possibility. It is the same length as a laser but can seat 4 due to the shape, can take an outboard and is easy to sail. Very light compared to a wayfarer which is handy when alone for launching. I have a lovely wooden one but I believe there are also grp ones. Worth looking into to see if it suits.However, I recently noticed there seem to be a few of the smaller sailing boats which have the ability to take a small outboard.
Same rules as originally stated, that I need to be able to launch and sail it single handed. (will always be launched from a road trailer)
So far I have seen Wanderer, Wayfarer and Gull. Are there any others that you know of?
Thank you for your replies.
I do realise going to a club is probably the best thing to do, but I just dont want to commit to a club. I would rather just get out there and teach myself the basics and maybe later go back and do the set courses with Brightlingsea sailing club.
This is the main reason I wanted a boat that can take an outboard.
I am very comfortable on the sea, have had many boats / jetskis etc, so know my way around.
I took a look at the Drascombe, but they are a bit too big for what I want. Not really my cup of tea.
I think either the Wanderer or Gull is the right boat for me, I have researched both of these and they seem to tick all the boxes.
I do realise going to a club is probably the best thing to do, but I just dont want to commit to a club. I would rather just get out there and teach myself the basics and maybe later go back and do the set courses with Brightlingsea sailing club.
This is the main reason I wanted a boat that can take an outboard.
I am very comfortable on the sea, have had many boats / jetskis etc, so know my way around.
I took a look at the Drascombe, but they are a bit too big for what I want. Not really my cup of tea.
I think either the Wanderer or Gull is the right boat for me, I have researched both of these and they seem to tick all the boxes.
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