convert from a small yacht to a dinghy

   I have sailed a small yacht and crewed other yachts for a few years and always looked at a dinghy with some trepidation due to them appearing to capsize with ease, However, recently have been reading a lot on dinghy cruising and general sailing and think it is time to start. Any advice as to whether should start with something like a laser or a wayfarer? Do a course? Or join a club and sail there?
Should I hold off on buying a dinghy or jump in and learn on my purchase?

All thoughts and advice greatly received

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pij27 Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Groupie Joined: 27 Jul 10 Location: Ryde / Tilbury Online Status: Offline Posts: 44	Post Options Post Reply Quote pij27 Report Post Quote Reply Topic: convert from a small yacht to a dinghy Posted: 25 Jan 21 at 3:41pm
	I have sailed a small yacht and crewed other yachts for a few years and always looked at a dinghy with some trepidation due to them appearing to capsize with ease, However, recently have been reading a lot on dinghy cruising and general sailing and think it is time to start. Any advice as to whether should start with something like a laser or a wayfarer? Do a course? Or join a club and sail there? Should I hold off on buying a dinghy or jump in and learn on my purchase? All thoughts and advice greatly received

rich96 Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 20 Jan 05 Online Status: Offline Posts: 596	Post Options Post Reply Quote rich96 Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 25 Jan 21 at 4:05pm
	Hi Definitely do a dinghy sailing course and then decide what you want Lots of great 'cruising' dinghies that are less likely to tip you in Really depends where you sail and what you want to achieve

tink Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Really should get out more Joined: 23 Jan 16 Location: North Hants Online Status: Offline Posts: 789	Post Options Post Reply Quote tink Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 25 Jan 21 at 8:07pm
	Welcome to the light, dinghy sailing is proper sailing. It is best to join a club if you would like to get into racing, not as scary as it sounds. If you’re more interested in pure cruising then work contacting the Dinghy Cruising Association- they have an active Facebook group it that’s your bag. The boat depends on many factors, cruising or racing? budget, your weight and fitness.
	Tink https://tinkboats.com http://proasail.blogspot.com

Sam.Spoons Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 07 Mar 12 Location: Manchester UK Online Status: Offline Posts: 3401	Post Options Post Reply Quote Sam.Spoons Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 25 Jan 21 at 11:52pm
	Dinghies capsize with varying degrees of ease but they can usually be recovered likewise. Generally speaking the less stable dinghies like Lasers and modern open transom/double bottom boats are easy to recover and come up dry enough to continue sailing immediately. More traditional dinghies like the Wayfarer are much harder to capsize but recovery is usually more protracted as they will have a fair bit of water in the cockpit which will need bailing out. Some old designs have been updated with double bottoms (Ent and GP) and others like the OK have always had a small cockpit which doesn't hold too much water after a swim. If cruising is your thing look for something designed for the job and learn not to capsize (not too difficult TBH). If racing or going fast is what lights your candle then you won't go far wrong with an old Laser as a first dinghy and learn how to recover from a capsize, you'll soon stop worrying about it. Edited by Sam.Spoons - 25 Jan 21 at 11:53pm
	Spice 346 "Flat Broke" Blaze 671 "supersonic soap dish"

pij27 Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Groupie Joined: 27 Jul 10 Location: Ryde / Tilbury Online Status: Offline Posts: 44	Post Options Post Reply Quote pij27 Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 27 Jan 21 at 1:00pm
	Thanks for the advice, will look at the local clubs and do a course through one of them