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Who me? Nah that's all rubbish talk to me if you want to know youth stuff not the site. we tend 2 train people in doublehanders then send them out in toppers to practise, adults as well as kids. the site is bad, we dnt have any cadets...

I learnt to sail at Queen Mary in West London, they operate what they call the Select scheme, which for a joining feeof £229 and a monthly subscription of £62 provides RYA training courses and free boat hire. They use the Laser range so that includes Picos, Lasers, Laser 2000, Stratos, Laser 3000, Dart 16 and the new Vago, so once you have learnt to sail you can practice and develop your skills and sail a boat to match. They will provide the RYA part 1 and 2 at the start and then you can take courses for sailing Cats and using Asymetrics later depending on how you progress and what you want to do, again all free on the select scheme.

http://www.queenmary.org.uk

Speak to Rob Foster on 01784 248881 or rob.foster@queenmary.org.uk

A good place to start is a sailing holiday.

Many people treat sailing like skiing and do it once or twice a year; but the good thing about sailing is you can do it in the UK unlike skiing (now que a load of Scots going on about skiing up in Scotland in the cold & dark ...)

Try;

http://www.minorcasailing.co.uk/pages/main/index.asp

http://www.sunsail.com/index.html

Rick

For scuba diving, I could give you a few tips - how to submarine a Topper downwind (or how to forget the bung  - hasn't happened lately)

For origami, please refer to Int Moth class!!

One way to get into the sport would be to use the club index on this site to find your local club, get in touch with the secretary and ask if someone would be willing to take you out for sail to try the sport before you make any decision. 

Your next steps, assuming you enjoyed yourself, would depend on what facilities were available and what budget you were willing to commit.  Many people enrol on an official RYA training course either locally or as a holiday. But equally, many people learn by simply crewing for someone in a 2 man boat and having a go at steering between the racing.  Both can work!

Whatever you decide to do, I would suggest you wait until things are a bit warmer before you start.

It's a great sport and worth the wait!

Ian