Where to learn to sail?
Discussion
Lets say that you could go anywhere in the world to learn to sail (from scratch) whrere would you go?
The only restrictions are thet the weather should be good (hot) and relativly inexpensive. I am wanting to end up with my own sailboat (30 plus foot) to go round the world. I am a fast learner but starting from zero, so how would you do it?
The only restrictions are thet the weather should be good (hot) and relativly inexpensive. I am wanting to end up with my own sailboat (30 plus foot) to go round the world. I am a fast learner but starting from zero, so how would you do it?
Olivero said:
Lets say that you could go anywhere in the world to learn to sail (from scratch) whrere would you go?
The only restrictions are thet the weather should be good (hot) and relativly inexpensive. I am wanting to end up with my own sailboat (30 plus foot) to go round the world. I am a fast learner but starting from zero, so how would you do it?
Carribean or Med.The only restrictions are thet the weather should be good (hot) and relativly inexpensive. I am wanting to end up with my own sailboat (30 plus foot) to go round the world. I am a fast learner but starting from zero, so how would you do it?
Most important thing is to learn to sail in a dinghy, then progress to a yacht. In a dinghy the effects of sail trim will be much more apparent, you will then be well palced to transfer to a bigger boat.
Depends what you are looking for really!
Carribbean or Med are great for warm sea, hot sun, consistent wind sailing. However, you won't get much exposure to very tidal / shifty conditions.
If you are looking to learn to sail to cruise competently (read safely & enjoyably), then the Carrib or Med are perfect. If you are looking to learn to race competitively, then the Solent / East Coast / Severn Estuary are good starts, as the breeze is very shifty & the tides are pretty complex (both aspects can dictate the outcome of a race).
Notwithstanding either, as said previously, learn in a dinghy first. It will give you a strong appreciation of trim, balance, weight distibution without exposing you to the often considerable loads that can be placed upon equipment in a yacht (ie if it goes tits up, you are very unlinkely to kill yourself or someone else in a dinghy!)
Carribbean or Med are great for warm sea, hot sun, consistent wind sailing. However, you won't get much exposure to very tidal / shifty conditions.
If you are looking to learn to sail to cruise competently (read safely & enjoyably), then the Carrib or Med are perfect. If you are looking to learn to race competitively, then the Solent / East Coast / Severn Estuary are good starts, as the breeze is very shifty & the tides are pretty complex (both aspects can dictate the outcome of a race).
Notwithstanding either, as said previously, learn in a dinghy first. It will give you a strong appreciation of trim, balance, weight distibution without exposing you to the often considerable loads that can be placed upon equipment in a yacht (ie if it goes tits up, you are very unlinkely to kill yourself or someone else in a dinghy!)
Join a sailing club
Have some RYA lessons in a dingy
Crew for somebody
Do a bit of dingy racing
Crew on a bigger boat
Get competent in navigation and meterology
Buy a smallish cabin cruiser
Really learn how to sail and look after yourself and the boat in marginal conditions for days at a time
Buy a bigger cruiser
And off you go...
Have some RYA lessons in a dingy
Crew for somebody
Do a bit of dingy racing
Crew on a bigger boat
Get competent in navigation and meterology
Buy a smallish cabin cruiser
Really learn how to sail and look after yourself and the boat in marginal conditions for days at a time
Buy a bigger cruiser
And off you go...
Olivero said:
The only restrictions are thet the weather should be good (hot) and relativly inexpensive.
Pick one...e.g. hot:
http://minorcasailing.com/
or (relatively) inexpensive:
http://www.plasmenai.co.uk/intro.php
http://www.uksa.org/
http://www.lasersailing.com/disp/sl/courses/adult-...
Somewhere like Sunsail or Mark Warner would be hot and cheaper, but probably less good on the sailing front.
Edited by rustyspit on Sunday 10th August 10:41
I went to Minorca Sailing to brush up on how to use an Assymetric Spinney a couple of years ago. They were a really well sorted lot with tonns of equipment, all very well maintained.
I pulled the shroud through the hull of my boat, headed back and was given a new boat. The following day I checked on the boat that I'd trashed and the repair was hardly noticeable.
Vrey very impressed.
I pulled the shroud through the hull of my boat, headed back and was given a new boat. The following day I checked on the boat that I'd trashed and the repair was hardly noticeable.
Vrey very impressed.
Just remember if you pass most RYA certs and other quals if you do them in the Carib or Med they will not be tidal endorsed. If you want to sail around the world you need to learn about tides , so do your learning hear as it is harder, but you will need it be hard to be safe around the globe.And yes learn to sail in a dinghy. Just been trying to teach in a Hunter 707 today but the people are not getting it, so then put them in a small dinghy (singlehanded) where they can't damage themsleves or others or the boat .The only way to learn properly !!.
Edited by Rum Runner on Tuesday 12th August 20:49
Del 203 said:
Jaguar steve said:
Del 203 said:
Rum Runner said:
put them in a small dinghy (singlehanded) where they can't damage themsleves or others or the boat .The only way to learn properly !!.
Especially if its blowing a bit 
I know about these things, having done them myself
Del 203 said:
Jaguar steve said:
Del 203 said:
Rum Runner said:
put them in a small dinghy (singlehanded) where they can't damage themsleves or others or the boat .The only way to learn properly !!.
Especially if its blowing a bit 
Olivero said:
Del 203 said:
Jaguar steve said:
Del 203 said:
Rum Runner said:
put them in a small dinghy (singlehanded) where they can't damage themsleves or others or the boat .The only way to learn properly !!.
Especially if its blowing a bit Del 203 said:
Jaguar steve said:
I know about these things, having done them myself
So do i, having competed in fastish trapeze boats for many years !! Sorry you missed the
in my original post 
Edited by Del 203 on Wednesday 13th August 20:32
ked up many years ago: loosing it in a big way on an easter weekend on the east coast and in the water for a long time without a wetsuit, and involving lifeboats, coastguards and ambulances and hypothermia and stuff... 
And a very pissed off Dad 'cos I'd bent the mast.
Fittster said:
I've done the RYA Start Sailing course but I really need a lot of practice so I can put what I've been taught into practice.
Would one of these sailing holidays give me the opportunity to spend a fair bit of time in a dinghy so I can get the basics nailed down?
I'd definitely recommend Minorca Sailing for that. The sailing is organised around instruction in groups for different levels of experience. From memory, the usual daily timetable would be:Would one of these sailing holidays give me the opportunity to spend a fair bit of time in a dinghy so I can get the basics nailed down?
10:30 - 12:15 sailing in groups with instructor
14:00 - 15:45 either more sailing in groups or racing depending on experience level
16:00 - 18:00 one-to-one instruction for those who want it
Most people just join a group for the week, but you could just do free sailing if you prefer - there is more than enough equipment to cater for whatever you want. The one-to-one instruction sessions (everything is included in the holiday price) would particularly be a good opportunity to learn a lot very quickly. If you took advantage of all the sailing opportunities you would probably be completely exhausted by the end of a week.
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