Hi forum.

Im 19 years old, I have worked and played in the yachting industry for a number of years now crewing/skippering large cruiser/racers, and afew months ago was thrilled to pass Yachtmaster offshore (one of those 'weekends from hell'!!!)

Ive now got this funny little itch to get on one of these fappin fast pond skaters, scare the s**t out of myself and get really wet!!!!!!! Oh yessss.  The thing is guys ive never tried dinghy sailing, I dont know anything about it or anyone whose got one.  I may have the cash lying around for a cheap one if i try hard enough.  Im also a fit but well built 13 stone, does this cause a problem? what sort of boat shall i go for guys? and how do I get into this sport?? ps anyone from the solent/hamble river area? gimme a shout.

Any help will be great guys,

Cheers

Thanks garry ill look into it.  Ive seen that book about, so should be no probs getting a copy.  As it happens my next door neighbour has just taken possesion of a Laser SB3 and has asked me to buy myself a wetsuit for christmas.  They look like good fun!

Thanks again.

K.

I think moneys the real issue!!  A wet suit will be fine i guess.  I do have a very good pair of ocean foulies, except i really think they were intended for use aboard a yacht, theyre abit cumbersome at times, even using them working fore deck on a Sigma 38 can be difficult! (although we were being tossed around like a toy in a bath tub by my old friend the Bay of Biscay. - just in case the old girls listening to this: look after me and i promise; No more apple cores!)

Anyway, I used to 'dry-sail' (a series of lauch and recoveries including a scrub once a week to keep them out of the water when not racing) SB3's, 1720's, and Hunter 707's, now, correct me if i'm wrong (and you'll probably need to) but the SB's had a lifting keel, which was more a-kin to a daggerboard in my eyes (although they do have the bulbous lead bottom) so to me the SB is a dinghy, and the likes of the Cork 1720 is a keel boat as they have bolted fin keels very similar to alot of cruiser-racing yachts, as do the 70's, any thoughts guys??

K

An SB3 is a keelboat, if a lift keel means a boat is a dingy a Melges 24 must be a dingy too. You dont even hike on an SB3! At 13 stone look for a crewing spot on an Rs400, that will be fast enough for you to start with but not be a million miles from what your used to, everytime i step on  a J80 I still think that its a big 400!

Interesting to come across somone who is going from big boats to dinghy's, I'm also 19 and have been working the other way...Trying to get some offshore rides now!

Crewing is definatly the way to start. The RS400 is a good idea its a big dinghy but it can get goin pritty quick! The 59er would also be a good boat to have a go in if ya can find someone with one.

Yeah, in hindsight it was abit of a thoughtless comment about the SB as I have been aboard large yachts with lifting keels, and have heard of yachts upwards of 65ft that are fitted with lifting keels.  That would be one 'mother of a dinghy!!! 

I have been told several times that my sailing career has been started arse about face, however, start as you mean to go on, and I think dinghy and one design keel boat racing will keep me busy on a sunny weekend, although my talents aboard the yachts will also provide me my wage!  I know first hand that dinghy sailors often make extremely good trimmers and helmsmen due to excellent wind awareness and apreciation for a good sail shape, as I had one aboard a westerly Fulmar 32 i was skippering from Le Havre to Portsmouth.  I must say that at about 2am crossing the channel in a good force 6, I had to come up and ask him to ease the sheets just a tad as we were dead close hauled, thrashing to windward at a good 10kts, as the lee cloth of one of our larger crew members had taken acception to the 35 degrees of heel and had sent the ex fireman into the saloon table ripping it from its base and sending apples, oranges and plastic cups all over the show!  They certainly like going fast, as indeed I do, however on this occasion the visability was poor and we were crossing busy shipping channels, and whats more we were "cruising" her back to Portsmouth! The repairs to the saloon table were made by the guy upon our safe return to haslar marina!!

Lunatic.

K.

http://www.wally.com/jumpCh.asp?idUser=0&idChannel=38&idLang=IT&idProd=17&attivo=1-2-1 - http://www.wally.com/jumpCh.asp?idUser=0&idChannel=38&am p;idLang=IT&idProd=17&attivo=1-2-1

105 foot, lifting keel, and very sexy!!!!!

Put me down for two!!!!