New Posts New Posts RSS Feed: Newbie - where to start? Best beginners way?
  FAQ FAQ  Forum Search   Register Register  Login Login

Newbie - where to start? Best beginners way?
 Post Reply Post Reply Page  12>
Author
  Share Topic Share Topic  Topic Search Topic Search  Topic Options Topic Options
Sam.Spoons View Drop Down
Really should get out more
Really should get out more


Joined: 07 Mar 12
Location: Manchester UK
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 3400 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Sam.Spoons Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Newbie - where to start? Best beginners way?
    Posted: 25 Nov 20 at 7:57pm
Originally posted by ColPrice2002

Of course,

If you own a dinghy, then insuring it is straightforward...


Colin

And it's pretty cheap and, in the UK at least, doesn't require any sort of qualification. Not sure how that is in Croatia but I believe that in some countries there is a requirement for a qualification which would affect the insurance situation so check your local rules and regs.
Spice 346 "Flat Broke"
Blaze 671 "supersonic soap dish"
Back to Top
ColPrice2002 View Drop Down
Far too distracted from work
Far too distracted from work


Joined: 25 Nov 08
Location: United Kingdom
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 222 		Post Options Post Options   Quote ColPrice2002 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25 Nov 20 at 6:19pm
Of course,

If you own a dinghy, then insuring it is straightforward...


Colin
Back to Top
aitchy View Drop Down
Newbie
Newbie


Joined: 13 Sep 20
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 11 		Post Options Post Options   Quote aitchy Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 Nov 20 at 12:19am
Thanks for your reply and help. I have seen already some second hand lasers which are not very expensive so maybe this will be the best way to start. And I get your point about the insurance...and you are right...I would neither give my car to a teenager without any experience in driving :D
Back to Top
ColPrice2002 View Drop Down
Far too distracted from work
Far too distracted from work


Joined: 25 Nov 08
Location: United Kingdom
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 222 		Post Options Post Options   Quote ColPrice2002 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25 Oct 20 at 8:38am
Hi,
You may have difficulty renting/ hiring a dinghy. In the UK, most dinghy hire companies would need you to have RYA level 2 certificate (or equivalent, or show experience).
I understand it's an insurance requirement.. you wouldn't let your 16 year old friend try driving your car without any training!
Sam's recommendation for a laser is that (UK experience) they are not too expensive and there is at present a good market for second hand lasers. You could buy one, try it, then resell without losing much money.
Let us know how you get on.
Colin
Back to Top
aitchy View Drop Down
Newbie
Newbie


Joined: 13 Sep 20
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 11 		Post Options Post Options   Quote aitchy Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 24 Oct 20 at 10:19pm
Hey, thanks again for your useful answers. I really feel welcome in this forum and it's nice to see that people want to help :) a Laser sailing boat is one option. I have already seen some second-hand Laser boats in Croatia for sale. But as I said, I will not rush and buy one without having done a course before. So at the beginning I would like to rent one and later make the decision.
Then: big respect to all of you, who learned sailing by self-teaching. But I will first look for a beginners course. I think a professional instructor can give a lot of very useful information at the very beginning. And obviously the safety is also a very important issue at the beginning.
Back to Top
ColPrice2002 View Drop Down
Far too distracted from work
Far too distracted from work


Joined: 25 Nov 08
Location: United Kingdom
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 222 		Post Options Post Options   Quote ColPrice2002 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 06 Oct 20 at 4:32pm
Just to add to Sam's suggestion:-

Many people I knew were self-taught. There's nothing wrong in that, jut be sure that you keep safe!

Always wear a personal flotation device (check it's right for your body mass), dress to keep warm (and allow for the fact you may be in the water! - so don't use thick woollen jumper). Wear trainers (closed toes) or dinghy boots.
Never sail without someone else able to help.

Go and enjoy!

Colin
Back to Top
Sam.Spoons View Drop Down
Really should get out more
Really should get out more


Joined: 07 Mar 12
Location: Manchester UK
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 3400 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Sam.Spoons Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 06 Oct 20 at 4:05pm
Depending how big/heavy you are buying a used Laser is a tried and tested way to get started. It's perfectly possible to teach yourself, and actually pretty safe if you can do so under the watchful eyes of a club or training centre*. They will almost certainly have Lasers for rental but a perfectly serviceable Laser can be had for £3-500 in the UK and I guess it won't be that much different in Croatia.

* I wouldn't recommend teaching yourself without some form of safety backup but that's where a club comes in. I have taught myself to sail twice, first when I was 11 in an Optimist watched by my dad and his sailing buddies and, second, I taught myself to windsurf when I was 30.
Spice 346 "Flat Broke"
Blaze 671 "supersonic soap dish"
Back to Top
aitchy View Drop Down
Newbie
Newbie


Joined: 13 Sep 20
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 11 		Post Options Post Options   Quote aitchy Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 06 Oct 20 at 3:10pm
Thanks a lot to everyone. Yeah the Covid situation now is not the best condition to start, but I hope that next year it will be better and I can start a course without restrictions. If it is really not possible next year, than I will have to wait more...not that what I want, but I will have to accept it.
Ok, good. I will search for some sailing clubs in my region.


Originally posted by ColPrice2002

There are several ways to start:- I'd advise you to look at the RYA website for RYA training establishments.
All RYA approved centres teach the same syllabus, so a level 1 course should be the same, no matter where you do the course.

You can certainly do some preparation - try the RYA "start sailing" book - there are alternatives - it's really to get an idea of parts & names used.

Once upon a time in the UK you could start by joining a club and offering to crew in a 2 person dinghy - and then try helming, but the current Covid situation makes this impossible.

To keep your enthusiasm, try reading some of the classic books!
I'd recommend "Sailing alone around the world" by Joshua Slocum. There's also the biography/autobiography of Arthur Ransome (a good spy story as well).

Don't rush to buy a new dinghy - second-hand is perfectly good, just check with the class website for details of potential problems.

Colin


And meanwhile I was thinking of reading some sailing book...thanks for the advice! :)

Actually I was thinking to buy a second-hand Dinghy. From time to time I search a little bit but as I have enough time to find the one I will not rush :)
Back to Top
ColPrice2002 View Drop Down
Far too distracted from work
Far too distracted from work


Joined: 25 Nov 08
Location: United Kingdom
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 222 		Post Options Post Options   Quote ColPrice2002 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 29 Sep 20 at 7:54am
Sorry, I forgot...
If you're in the EU, you should also be aware that the Brexit agreement (as far as I know), doesn't include mutual recognition of qualifications, so an RYA instructor may not be recognised in Croatia next year.
You should also check your local requirements, in Germany one needed a qualification before helming a dinghy (may have changed since I was there), in the UK not.

Colin
Back to Top
Rupert View Drop Down
Really should get out more
Really should get out more


Joined: 11 Aug 04
Location: Whitefriars sc
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 8956 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Rupert Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28 Sep 20 at 8:13pm
The situation in the UK is unique. Often in Europe there are council run clubs with training. I have no idea how Croatia works, I'm afraid, but it should be a great place to go sailing!
Firefly 2324, Puffin 229, Minisail 3446 Mirror 70686
Back to Top
 Post Reply Post Reply Page  12>

Forum Jump Forum Permissions View Drop Down

Bulletin Board Software by Web Wiz Forums® version 9.665y
Copyright ©2001-2010 Web Wiz
Change your personal settings, or read our privacy policy