First solo sail

Hi Guys and Girls

I've been doing a good talking game since buying a wee dinghy last July/August but my nerves kept failing me to take it out in the water, apart from the fact I'd never sailed before.  Now at almost 50yrs I've done it, I just got my level 1 RYA certificate and I spent yesterday cruising around the loch at Lochwinnoch.  It was fantastic.  What a way to have fun.  I have to say, I wish I'd done this years ago.

Can you guys remember your first solo sail?

 

 

 

Originally posted by timnoyce erm... I think that i was 4 or 5 when i had my first sail. I have to admit that my memory is a little hazy! I remember capsizing an optimist and then not being able to right it again because it turtled!

Im trying to picture a mini version of yourself Noycey, but small enough not to be able to right an oppy. Oh lord.

Originally posted by timnoyce Another memory of the event was that in classic young boy fashion, i had fallen off my bike numerous times in the week leading up to the event so each day I had to be bandaged up and helped into my wetsuit as the cut was so gammy! (As a word of warning to those of you with kids, wait until the wound is better! I still have the scar 15 or so years on!)

Done that too... Got removed from my bike by a ford escort a few days before a week long regatta... Still got a bit of a scar...
Same regatta the year before I fell out a tree and raced all strapped up with a handfull of cracked ribs...
Happy days

To answet the original question I have no idea... My earliest sailing memory is sitting in my grandads enterpise but ive been sailing pretty much all my life and cant recall my first time out alone...

i've only been sailing 6 years and about my 2nd time out in my little mirror i went for a club race and and put a hole in a brand new merlin, fresh out of winders workshop! ouch...that scared me.  didn't speak to the guy for about 2 years! we are all mates now tho so meh.

anyhoo enjoy your boat mate, its a quality sport  

My first sail was in a Jacksnipe (fantastic boat - think Laser 3000 but longer).

I was all set up: mast in forward s/h position, trapeze harness, long tiller extension, but the bit I remember most was lying in the bottom of the boat running inshore along the river bank and being aware of the (feathery) birds on the shore. I was (like) communing with nature (man). Took me by surprise - no jabbering self or crew to distract me.

Soon got bored on my own though and always prefer to sail two-up nowadays - partly for sociability, partly out of idleness (sharing the workload). But must get out alone again and do some more communing, now I think of it...

Then he added "I can't even see the point...!"