Learning to sail large sailing boats
Discussion
Im a total newby to sailing, and despite having being on small sailing boats (far) in the past, Ive never learnt to sail.
I really love the tall sailing ships from the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries, and also am finding Im really interested in giving "proper" sailing a go, so not the tiny stuff but good sized sailing boats.
There are a few places that look to give sailing courses on the sort of thing Im thinking, for instance: http://www.classic-sailing.co.uk/vessels/tall-ship... but wanted to check with those in the know what the best way to approach learning to sail would be, and advice on who to go through?
Im near the Medway towns in Kent so Southampton is about 2 hours or so away, so ideally courses would be within that sort of distance away.
Cheers
I really love the tall sailing ships from the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries, and also am finding Im really interested in giving "proper" sailing a go, so not the tiny stuff but good sized sailing boats.
There are a few places that look to give sailing courses on the sort of thing Im thinking, for instance: http://www.classic-sailing.co.uk/vessels/tall-ship... but wanted to check with those in the know what the best way to approach learning to sail would be, and advice on who to go through?
Im near the Medway towns in Kent so Southampton is about 2 hours or so away, so ideally courses would be within that sort of distance away.
Cheers
Thanks for the info, I suppose Id like to learn to sail a decent sized sailing boat, and also crew the larger ones more for fun.
Ill see about picking up a copy of that book, is starting really small (like a dingy) really necessary, or could you go and learn on a bigger yacht from scratch?
Ill see about picking up a copy of that book, is starting really small (like a dingy) really necessary, or could you go and learn on a bigger yacht from scratch?
I sailed from Barbados to the Azores on an 18th century brig replica with this outfit:
http://www.tallships.org/
It was excellent and one of the best experiences of my life. Highly recommended.
http://www.tallships.org/
It was excellent and one of the best experiences of my life. Highly recommended.
Tokoloshe said:
Thanks for the info, I suppose Id like to learn to sail a decent sized sailing boat, and also crew the larger ones more for fun.
Ill see about picking up a copy of that book, is starting really small (like a dingy) really necessary, or could you go and learn on a bigger yacht from scratch?
dingy sailing can be dodged but you'll be a better sailor for it.Ill see about picking up a copy of that book, is starting really small (like a dingy) really necessary, or could you go and learn on a bigger yacht from scratch?
Tokoloshe said:
I really love the tall sailing ships from the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries, and also am finding Im really interested in giving "proper" sailing a go, so not the tiny stuff but good sized sailing boats.
Im near the Medway towns in Kent so Southampton is about 2 hours or so away, so ideally courses would be within that sort of distance away.
Cheers
4 years a member here and at last a tall ship thread Im near the Medway towns in Kent so Southampton is about 2 hours or so away, so ideally courses would be within that sort of distance away.
Cheers
I run 2 of the largest tall ships in the UK, so what would you like to know?
You mention sailing on a "good sized sailing boat", so how about this one:
65m long, 42m tall, largest UK flagged tall ship, and 14.5 million quid to build and her home port is Southampton.
Big enough?
Any questions ask away.
Tenacious!
crewed her from Antigua to Bermuda a few years back, a fantastic few weeks and can thoroughly recommend the experience.
http://www.jst.org.uk/
edited to add link
crewed her from Antigua to Bermuda a few years back, a fantastic few weeks and can thoroughly recommend the experience.
http://www.jst.org.uk/
edited to add link
Edited by db on Wednesday 19th January 20:14
db said:
Tenacious!
crewed her from Antigua to Bermuda a few years back, a fantastic few weeks and can thoroughly recommend the experience.
http://www.jst.org.uk/
Thanks for the kind words, glad you enjoyed it. There's a few spaces on the same run at the end of Feb if you like... crewed her from Antigua to Bermuda a few years back, a fantastic few weeks and can thoroughly recommend the experience.
http://www.jst.org.uk/
Legmaster said:
db said:
Tenacious!
crewed her from Antigua to Bermuda a few years back, a fantastic few weeks and can thoroughly recommend the experience.
http://www.jst.org.uk/
Thanks for the kind words, glad you enjoyed it. There's a few spaces on the same run at the end of Feb if you like... crewed her from Antigua to Bermuda a few years back, a fantastic few weeks and can thoroughly recommend the experience.
http://www.jst.org.uk/
too busy this time of the year
Legmaster, that looks amazing!! Exactly the sort of thing I was looking for. Edit: just seen the link, Ill take a look at available dates and try get booked on.
Thanks to everyone else for the links etc, I never realised just how alive and well sailing these large vessels is, I recon Ill do a 3 or 4 days "dogs body" type experience, maybe a week if a suitable one is available, and see if it's for me.
Thanks to everyone else for the links etc, I never realised just how alive and well sailing these large vessels is, I recon Ill do a 3 or 4 days "dogs body" type experience, maybe a week if a suitable one is available, and see if it's for me.
Edited by Tokoloshe on Thursday 20th January 08:36
Here is my advice....
If you want to get really good on all boats then starting in dinghies is definitely the way forward, I would even add windsurfing in the equation if you want to develop true wind awareness. However none of this is essential if you want to just sail big boats. I know plenty of people who have never sailed before and have picked up sailing on bigger boats pretty quickly.
If you are not going to go down the dinghy route to start with I would perhaps to some crewing on some cruising yachts for a while to get your sea legs, learn your way around the boat and to learn the basics. It is generally a lot more relaxing than the racing environment where people do shout at each other a lot more.
There are loads of good sites out there for crew positions, www.sailingnetworks.com is one.
If you have any specific questions, please feel free to ping me.
If you want to get really good on all boats then starting in dinghies is definitely the way forward, I would even add windsurfing in the equation if you want to develop true wind awareness. However none of this is essential if you want to just sail big boats. I know plenty of people who have never sailed before and have picked up sailing on bigger boats pretty quickly.
If you are not going to go down the dinghy route to start with I would perhaps to some crewing on some cruising yachts for a while to get your sea legs, learn your way around the boat and to learn the basics. It is generally a lot more relaxing than the racing environment where people do shout at each other a lot more.
There are loads of good sites out there for crew positions, www.sailingnetworks.com is one.
If you have any specific questions, please feel free to ping me.
Tokoloshe said:
Legmaster, that looks amazing!! Exactly the sort of thing I was looking for. Edit: just seen the link, Ill take a look at available dates and try get booked on.
Thanks to everyone else for the links etc, I recon Ill do a 3 or 4 days "dogs body" type experience, maybe a week if a suitable one is available, and see if it's for me.
Cool. If you are 25 or under, then we can subsidise the voyage costs more via our Youth Leadership programme. Thanks to everyone else for the links etc, I recon Ill do a 3 or 4 days "dogs body" type experience, maybe a week if a suitable one is available, and see if it's for me.
From personal experience when I first went sailing and from feedback of those that sail with us, go for as long a voyage as you can afford / get time off work for. If at all possible go for a minimum of a week as it really takes that long to used to ship, the routine and remembering which one of the 140 ropes you need to pull as there's no yachtie colour coded ropes on 'proper ships'.
If you sail with us and get noticed by my chaps as a 'keen good egg' then you may get on our volunteer deckie list and then it won't cost to sail with us and we'll pay all travel costs to come sailing for a few weeks a year.
Anything else you want to know just ask here or PM me.
On a similar topic, I'm working on a PH day out on the ship in August from Southampton (should pull my finger out on that one).
Tokoloshe said:
I never realised just how alive and well sailing these large vessels is...
In 1956 a few Tall Ships gathered for a race from Torbay to Lisbon to say goodbye to the age of the great sailing ships. Now the annual Tall Ships races have up to 100 tall ships taking part and are probably the largest free events in Europe (Hartlepool reported 970,000 visitors over 4 days at last year's event).
If you are interested, more info on annual tall ships races and the world's fleet is at www.sailtraininginternational.org
ETA - spoolinge mistaks!
Edited by Legmaster on Thursday 20th January 11:54
Cheers, Im approaching 40 so the subsidies arent an option (maybe this is my mid life crisis thing 
).
The stupid thing is Ive always really loved the idea of tall ship sailing, but never thought of seeing what there is available to try out, wish Id looked into this years ago.
Im especially fascinated by the exploration that used to be done on ships hundreds of years ago when there was no GPS, radio, maps etc, those men had some courage!! I guess Im looking for a taste of what it mustve been like, as well as a good physical challenge, plus have always loved the sea so it sounds like an ideal experience to try.
Funny thing about the popularity of sailing, I was reading the other day that some shipping companies are looking at sail assisted cargo ships due to the whole economic downturn/fuel shortages, as a means to save on fuel. Could see a resurgence of sails on the seas again.
).The stupid thing is Ive always really loved the idea of tall ship sailing, but never thought of seeing what there is available to try out, wish Id looked into this years ago.
Im especially fascinated by the exploration that used to be done on ships hundreds of years ago when there was no GPS, radio, maps etc, those men had some courage!! I guess Im looking for a taste of what it mustve been like, as well as a good physical challenge, plus have always loved the sea so it sounds like an ideal experience to try.
Funny thing about the popularity of sailing, I was reading the other day that some shipping companies are looking at sail assisted cargo ships due to the whole economic downturn/fuel shortages, as a means to save on fuel. Could see a resurgence of sails on the seas again.
I would love to sail a tall ship too! Indeed yes. IIRC there was talk of a PH voyage in one some time ago, did that ever happen?
For good reading on sailing such things 'for real' I can recommend 'The Last Grain Race' by Eric Newby.
For good reading (that might out you off), 'Tall Ships Down' by the skipper of the most beautiful schooner ever:
For a great tall ship movie - based on a true story - 'White Squall'.
For good reading on sailing such things 'for real' I can recommend 'The Last Grain Race' by Eric Newby.
For good reading (that might out you off), 'Tall Ships Down' by the skipper of the most beautiful schooner ever:
For a great tall ship movie - based on a true story - 'White Squall'.
Ayahuasca said:
For good reading on sailing such things 'for real' I can recommend 'The Last Grain Race' by Eric Newby.
For good reading (that might out you off), 'Tall Ships Down' by the skipper of the most beautiful schooner ever:
For a great tall ship movie - based on a true story - 'White Squall'.
Beautiful she is, though those sharply raked masts come with a drawback. Pic of her in 2005 after a bit of blow in the Bay of Biscay:For good reading (that might out you off), 'Tall Ships Down' by the skipper of the most beautiful schooner ever:
For a great tall ship movie - based on a true story - 'White Squall'.
Ayahuasca said:
I would love to sail a tall ship too! Indeed yes. IIRC there was talk of a PH voyage in one some time ago, did that ever happen?
That was me, it never happened. I am working on a combined PH meet and day sail on Tenacious (see my pic above) on 14 Aug in Southampton, so pencil it in if you fancy it. More info to follow once I get my act sorted. Legmaster said:
Ayahuasca said:
For good reading on sailing such things 'for real' I can recommend 'The Last Grain Race' by Eric Newby.
For good reading (that might out you off), 'Tall Ships Down' by the skipper of the most beautiful schooner ever:
For a great tall ship movie - based on a true story - 'White Squall'.
Beautiful she is, though those sharply raked masts come with a drawback. Pic of her in 2005 after a bit of blow in the Bay of Biscay:For good reading (that might out you off), 'Tall Ships Down' by the skipper of the most beautiful schooner ever:
For a great tall ship movie - based on a true story - 'White Squall'.
Ayahuasca said:
I would love to sail a tall ship too! Indeed yes. IIRC there was talk of a PH voyage in one some time ago, did that ever happen?
That was me, it never happened. I am working on a combined PH meet and day sail on Tenacious (see my pic above) on 14 Aug in Southampton, so pencil it in if you fancy it. More info to follow once I get my act sorted. Legmaster said:
Ayahuasca said:
Ayahuasca said:
I would love to sail a tall ship too! Indeed yes. IIRC there was talk of a PH voyage in one some time ago, did that ever happen?
That was me, it never happened. I am working on a combined PH meet and day sail on Tenacious (see my pic above) on 14 Aug in Southampton, so pencil it in if you fancy it. More info to follow once I get my act sorted. Yes please.
Count myself and Mrs Maser in for certain sure.
maser_spyder said:
Legmaster said:
Ayahuasca said:
Ayahuasca said:
I would love to sail a tall ship too! Indeed yes. IIRC there was talk of a PH voyage in one some time ago, did that ever happen?
That was me, it never happened. I am working on a combined PH meet and day sail on Tenacious (see my pic above) on 14 Aug in Southampton, so pencil it in if you fancy it. More info to follow once I get my act sorted. Yes please.
Count myself and Mrs Maser in for certain sure.
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