One question that comes up time and time again on TheMainSail forum is: “How do I get started?”
Lots of people, it seems, dream of owning their own boat, whether to cruise round local creeks, or to set off round the world when they retire, but don't know where or how to get started.
So we are starting a new section of the site, which we hope will provide help, advice and inspiration for beginners. The important thing to remember is that everyone, no matter how confident and experienced they might seem now, was a beginner once.
One of the best things about sailing is that there is no “one size fits all” solution. Just as there are boats of every shape and size, so people's aims and expectations cover an equally wide spectrum, from those who want to go as far and as fast as possible, to those who don't really care about performance, but simply like messing about in boats.
You need to find roughly where along that spectrum you fit before you buy your first boat - to make sure you get one that will suit you. So how do you build the experience to make that decision?
There are many different routes into sailing, and again, it is a question of picking the one that suits you.
Sail a dinghy
If you are young and fit and not afraid of getting wet, there is a lot to be said for buying a sailing dinghy and teaching yourself - ideally by joining a sailing club and doing some racing. You will probably want to take a couple of lessons first. Visit local sailing centres and sailing clubs to find out what is available.
Even if ultimately you don't want to race, and you really want a cruiser, not a dinghy, this is probably the quickest way to learn the basic principles of sail trim and the different techniques required for different points of sailing, how to cope with heavy weather, and how to coax speed out of the sails when the breeze is light.
You can of course learn these skills in a yacht, but because dinghies are less forgiving, they teach much more intensively! But if you don't like boats that capsize, and prefer the reassurance of an engine, then by all means start sailing on yachts.
Try a sea school
You can take a course with a sea school, which will show the right way to go about things from the start. Experienced teachers will instil confidence as well as knowledge, and the course will probably be highly sociable and good fun, too. But it will cost money.
A small investment, true, compared with the cost of buying a boat. But ideally, before making that commitment, you want to do as much sailing as you can, on as many different boats as you can, to get an idea of what is available, and what suits both your budget and your temperament.
Join a race crew
Again, racing provides an excellent way of gaining lots of experience quickly, and learning an awful lot about everything from the rules of the road to making the most of the tide. Willing, reliable crew are always in high demand.
You don't need to have lots of experience to start. The lowliest job on the boat simply involves providing “lard” on the rail. But you will be given more responsibility as you learn. And the chances are you can have as much sailing as you like for free (well, for the cost of a round of beers in the bar after the race). Just find a club with a strong racing fleet and put your contact details on the notice board.
It's worth putting a notice up even if you don't want to race. There may be people looking for crew for local cruising or longer deliveries. A willing hand will often be welcome.
Organisations like the Royal Ocean Racing Club operate crew lists to put skippers in touch with volunteers. A season of offshore racing would be a great apprenticeship for a prospective boat owner.
Not only would you learn the finer points of sailing, in all weathers, you'd also get a taste of what's involved in running, provisioning and maintaining a boat - all the skills beyond sailing itself that a novice skipper needs to acquire.
Follow a flotilla
Another good way to get started is to take a sailing holiday. Companies like Sunsail and Neilson will take you to the Mediterranean, where the weather is likely to be kind, and there are no tides to worry about, and teach you the basics before taking you off on a flotilla holiday, where you can get a taste of skippering your own boat..
There's the reassurance of a lead boat, with people to help if you get in a muddle, the sense of safety in numbers, and also the opportunity to be self sufficient and in control - a great way to build confidence and boat handling skills.
Again, there's expense involved - but it's worth investing some money to make sure sailing is what you really want to do before taking the plunge into boat ownership. It could save you from making a very expensive mistake!
For information about clubs and training centres near where you live, visit the Royal Yachting Association website, www.rya.org.uk
