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CHAPTER 1 Getting started
You don’t have to live near the sea to take up sailing, nor do you have to own your own boat.
Where to begin
In the UK, and in many other countries, there is a sailing club on almost every river, lake or reservoir, and also on many gravel pits, so you will usually find one nearby. If you want to sail in a yacht, you will have to go to the sea, or an estuary, but that also may not be too far from where you live.
Many clubs have arrangements for teaching beginners and provide boats that students can borrow. Do not hesitate to visit your local club and ask; they are friendly places and the weekend will be best with more people about.
There are also numerous sailing schools which will teach you to sail in either dinghies or yachts. Many of these are on the coast and, of course, you will have to pay for your tuition. Some of them arrange sailing holidays where you can be on holiday and are taught to sail at the same time.
Finally there are sailing centres, mostly in warmer climates where, with your family and friends, you can also learn to sail. With limited experience you can go afloat in a small yacht and cruise under the supervision of a leader.
If you don’t have any local contacts, get in touch with the RYA (see below) and they will provide you with a list of recommended places to learn sailing. You can then look around and find what suits you, and your budget.
Clothing for a dinghy
It’s wrong to think of sailing as a sport where you will always be wet or cold. But, even on a hot summer’s day, it can be colder than you expect out on the water. When you are dinghy sailing, you’ll be very close to the water and there’s a good chance of getting wet, so you could start off with shorts and a waterproof top.
Look around, see what others are wearing, and get advice. There is now more sailing in the winter, and you do need to keep warm.
The sort of oilskins suitable for use on a yacht will be too cumbersome in a dinghy as they won’t allow you to move around quickly, which you’ll need to do.
Shoes on a dinghy
Any light trainers with non-slip soles will do. If you start doing more regular dinghy sailing, neoprene non-slip dinghy boots (made of the same material as wetsuits) will help keep your feet warm and dry.
Lightweight neoprene dinghy boots will keep your feet warm and dry.
This one-piece lightweight spray suit with its reinforced knees and seat is the ideal clothing for dinghy sailors.
You’re never too young to start sailing.
Clothing for a yacht
If you do get wet when dinghy sailing, it won’t be long before you can get back to the clubhouse to dry off. On a yacht, unless you are just going out for an afternoon cruise, you will spend much longer on board and will need more clothes with you – including at least one complete change of clothing.
Even in the UK there are plenty of fine days afloat, and even more if you go sailing in a warm climate. But the answer is to be prepared and make sure you have enough warm clothing with you.
A set of oilskins is almost essential – at least in UK waters. Not only does it keep the rain and spray out, it will also help to keep you warm.
Good oilskins can be expensi ve, but if you shop around you will find cheaper sets – and perhaps the skipper has a spare set. Again, don’t rush to spend your money until you are sure what you want.
Shoes on a yacht
Shoes with non-slip soles are essential. Without them you’ll slip and injure yourself, or even go over the side. Although many sailors wear leather deck shoes, canvas ones, provided they have the proper grooved soles, are just as good.
Safety harnesses
These are only used on yachts and are designed to prevent the swearer falling overboard. They should be individually allocated, the straps adjusted to fit, and then stowed with the crew member’s kit.
Harnesses are worn on deck in bad weather, at night, or whenever the skipper says that they should be.
A harness, of course, is no good unless it is hooked on to a secure anchoring point. Most yachts have a number of strong anchoring points on deck, but harnesses should not be hooked onto lifelines which are not designed for that degree of strain.
Being safe
When you’re learning to sail a dinghy you should alway...
