The Expense of it!
Printed From: Yachts and Yachting Online
Category: General
Forum Name: Beginner questions
Forum Discription: Advice for those who are new to sailing
URL: http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=6782
Printed Date: 27 Jun 25 at 4:44pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.665y - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: The Expense of it!
Posted By: Triv McCarlie
Subject: The Expense of it!
Date Posted: 27 May 10 at 4:53pm
As you guys may or may not know I've never sailed, which is ever so slightly embarrassing as I'm the new Website Manager at P&B! So I started looking into it all and was a bit stunned to find out how much lessons and tasters etc cost. Luckily for me I've got lots of willing people here who are going to take me out but I thought it was quite expensive, is there a way in for the more strapped for cash or is it just not done to be broke and admit it in sailing  ????
|
Replies:
Posted By: JohnW
Date Posted: 27 May 10 at 5:24pm
|
Lots of clubs have open days or free taster sessions to attract new members. As for learning to sail the most common way these days is to do an RYA level 1&2 course. Again many clubs offer these courses to members at rates that are below the rates charged by commercial operations. The alternative is to offer to crew, at club level there are often people looking for crews who are quite happy to train up an enthusiastic novice.
------------- |
Posted By: JimC
Date Posted: 27 May 10 at 5:40pm
|
If you do it all formally then it can get quite pricey, but there are always options...
For instance my club does informal training sessions for non members on Tuesday evenings for a fiver an evening. No certificates or anything because its informal, and that's also how we keep the price down but provided folks do most of the evenings then they are at a level where they can get in a boat and sail in reasonable conditions. From there they can join the club and rent club boats and learn more through more club training or spend the money on training courses safe in the knowledge that they actually like sailing and it won't be money wasted. Alternatively of course they may find they don't like sailing and walk away without having spent a load of cash... |
Posted By: Rockhopper
Date Posted: 27 May 10 at 6:20pm
|
At our club i think once you are a member the courses i think are free not sure but i know we run training sessions once a month Broadstairs sc is our club ------------- Retired now after 35 seasons in a row and time for a rest. 2004 national champ Laser5000 2007,2010,National Champ Rs Vareo |
Posted By: Adam MR 1137
Date Posted: 27 May 10 at 6:23pm
|
At my club I help organise informal training which is free to all members of the club. You can join the lcub for £60 a year as a single adult. Also we do not charge for use of our club boats, so I think you can learn to sail on quite a small budget, if the informal route is taken. I agree with Jim that the formal training route witrh certificates can be very pricey though! far too pricey and is what I think keeps a lot of people out of the sport. The fact that you cannot get a certificate or a formal training course without paying an arm and a leg for it! Oh forgot my club - Welland yacht club ------------- Merlin rocket 1137 OK 2049 Can be seen at http://www.wellandyachtclub.co.uk/ - WYC |
Posted By: alstorer
Date Posted: 27 May 10 at 7:51pm
|
Formal training at a club (fully RYA recognised, certsa and all) is more usually cheaper, through the use of volunteer (but fully qualified) instructors and lack of profit drive, though the really big clubs may be allied to a professional school operating on the same water that will be pricy. I'm sure your new colleagues will be able to point you in the right direction in the local area! ------------- -_ Al |
Posted By: craiggo
Date Posted: 27 May 10 at 8:17pm
|
I'd recommend not doing any formal qualifications. The text book approach to sailing very rarely works, and all they teach you in L1 & 2 is how to rig the boat and sail a triangular course.
Go down to your local club, ask around if someone needs a crew and get out there. You'll learn far more crewing for someone, and then as you gain experience you can then move to the back of the boat between races and gradually build up your experience. All in all it will only cost you the annual membership of the club. |
Posted By: ASok
Date Posted: 27 May 10 at 8:34pm
And you'll learn all of their bad habits! I'd suggest learning the text book or proper way, then developing your own bad habits! ------------- |
Posted By: Garry
Date Posted: 27 May 10 at 9:46pm
Sorry to disagree but the RYA method or variations of has been successful getting people sailing since the 70s. Secondly you must have experienced a very poor centre, level 2 teaches you everything you need to sail safely in winds up to about 15 knots, including coming alongside, launching, man overboard, met, being towed, all points of sailing except a dead run, capsize recovery and very basic racing. Even commercial courses are good value when you consider the costs involved, most clubs offer something at a considerably reduced rate. Crewing is good if you can get out regularly, but unless really strapped for cash a course is generally well worth the money and allows you to succeed quickly. ps a commercial L2 course is less than 1/2 the cost of a new set of P&B sails - now that's expensive ------------- Garry Lark 2252, Contender 298 www.cuckoos.eclipse.co.uk |
Posted By: ASok
Date Posted: 28 May 10 at 11:46am
|
Garry - good points. I had just thought of the bad habits you'd be exposed to, but actually basic seamanship and safe handling of a boat are things you really need to learn. ------------- |
Posted By: vscott
Date Posted: 28 May 10 at 12:28pm
|
There are definitely startup costs in learning to sail - but depending on what you find you like sailing can be not too much thereafter. Joining a club is the best investment because there you meet people who can take you out, supply second hand equipment, usually offer much cheaper training to members - and you get a whole new group of friends who talk about sailing all the time! If you meet someone who likes to train up crews you then only need clothing for years of fun. ------------- Mk IV Osprey 1314 Think Again 
Kielder Water Sailing Club |
Posted By: patj
Date Posted: 28 May 10 at 1:55pm
|
Go crewing definitely. Do a course as well but you'll learn about real sailing and racing by crewing and be more quickly involved than you would otherwise be as a helm. You've got some good sailors for colleagues so take advantage whilst you can! Just use your staff discount to get some suitable clothing - it's a good long term investment. When you do want a boat there's plenty cheap secondhand - my last Lark was bought for £23 in a club abandoned-in-the-dinghy-park auction. Added secondhand sails and rudder and now a student who couldn't afford much is sailing it. |
Posted By: Pierre
Date Posted: 28 May 10 at 4:01pm
|
Dear Triv. Spectacular first post.. Well done. You are right. Not cheap at all if you don't know anyone or anything about the sport. |
Posted By: Triv McCarlie
Date Posted: 28 May 10 at 5:22pm
| Thanks guys for your advice, I think I'm lucky and will get some help from my colleagues, I was just sort of thinking of those who aren't in my position really - especially kids. I think more and more clubs are doing things to get people involved these days so lets hope that continues! |
Posted By: winging it
Date Posted: 29 May 10 at 8:46pm
|
When starting out at this time of year you don't need to spend much on kit until you're sure you like the sport - tesco, lidl and aldi all do cheap wetsuits that are good enough to get you started. Nobody just setting out should even think about buying a boat until they've got at least a season behind them and they're sure of what they want. How to learn? Visits lots of clubs, find one that's friendly and either get a crewing job, though it may be hard to find someone who's prepared to take on a complete novice. Alternatively find a club that runs courses and book yourself onto one. That way you get to sail a variety of boats and more importantly, meet lots of other beginners with whom you can make friends. You'll meet other members too and might well get a crewing job that way. Courses range hugely in price. Commercial centres will charge £100s, smaller clubs much less. Do look for an RYA recognised club. The RYA has a search facility on its website that will help you find one. ------------- the same, but different... |
Posted By: jeffers
Date Posted: 30 May 10 at 8:58am
|
You are correct sailing can be an expensive sport to do. However when you are just starting out it can be done very cheaply so you can see if you develop a taste for it. As already pointed out most clubs run and open or taster day aimed at attarcting new people in. To do some cost comparisons between sailing and other sports might also be useful. Some years ago a dabbled in karting in the TKM100 class (the cheapest 100cc 2 stroke class at the time). The kart itself cost me £700 (which you had to have as there is no real way of borrowing or crewing in karting, the corporate and public karting centres also do not offer the same equipment). On top of that I had to get an MSA license which required a full medical (Around £150 total).You have to have a medical every 2 years. Then I had to buy a fire restardant suit, helmet, gloves and boots which cost around £250 all in. On top of that I also had to join a club which was around £60/year. Not too bad until you consider that you then had to pay for every day that you wanted to race or practice (around £30/day). Then there was to ongoing maintenance and fuel costs along with an engine rebuild every 6 hours... I am sure you get the picture... By comparison sailing is a very cheap sport and a much more accessible sport and the thrills are just as good (IMO). ------------- Paul ---------------------- D-Zero GBR 74 |
Posted By: Merlinboy
Date Posted: 01 Jun 10 at 7:50am
|
Sailing is a cheap sport if you compare it to motor
racing, of any discription! My Dad used to be a competitive ralley driver back in the 60's to 70's. He gave up in the end due to the huge cost involved and went back to sailing. I think sailing can be as expensive as you want it to be really. As wingingit says, at this time of year you don't need to blow £000's on wet weather gear, a cheap shorty should do the trick. I'm sure P&B will have a previous years colours wetsuit for you!! In terms of the cost of learning, the cheapest and i believe quickest way to learn is by crewing for a (decent) club sailor. Not by spending £000's at sailing centres, where you sit in the middle of the lake in a pico, these places are great for kids to grab the basics, but in the long term i think you would learn more by crewing for someone first. ------------- |
Posted By: MerlinMags
Date Posted: 02 Jun 10 at 9:20am
|
I second that - sailing can be as expensive as you want it to be!
I guess we have to admit it is not as cheap as other sports where, say, you can buy a tennis racquet in Tescos and hire your local court for a fiver. But then....playing tennis doesnt involve a vehicle which transports 1 or 2 people for a mile our across a body of water, so isn't as complex and doesn't carry the same risks. My advice for those on a budget is... Pop into your local club and speak to a committee member who will help you find a crewing position. This will get you some experience and this enables you to see if you might like it. Club membership can be pricey...but you can start somewhere 'small' and join the fancy place another year. You could buy a boat for £100 which would look rubbish but hopefully work properly (find a friend to help you choose!). Then cough up for a 2 day or 5 day course, and get practicing in your own boat after that. Clothes - another expense...but you can always learn in summer so you need less expensive items. Tescos often do wetsuits too! |
Posted By: ASok
Date Posted: 02 Jun 10 at 1:15pm
|
I saw shorties in the services near Winchester on the M3 for sale at £9.99! Ok they were kids sizes, but that's no bad to get you started ------------- |
Posted By: Triv McCarlie
Date Posted: 03 Jun 10 at 4:20pm
| Thanks everyone, there's some really valuable advice here. I can't believe you can buy wetsuits in Aldi and Lidl lol! Great!! Once I've finished moving house I'm looking forward to having a go :) |
Posted By: damp_freddie
Date Posted: 11 Jun 10 at 10:21pm
|
Sailing as crew is a lot cheaper than a season ticket to any permiere division club ! Even including a couple of courses, if you followed away games you are gonna save by giving up the plastic seat of a gel coat bum rest! As an owner it is often, as Ted Heath put it "like stanidng in a cold shower, tearing up ten pound notes" |