Cheapest way to take up sailing?

ManwitaPlan

Hey,

would be very interested in taking up sailing but dont know where to start.

Basically I want soemthing that will teach me the basics of how to sail and be able to go out for a few hours sailing at the weekend.

I would ideally like to join a club that does such a course (think most do?) but I would also like to join somewhere that has access to a boat I could use at the weekend. Is there any clubs that provide such a service?


Money is an issue at the moment but if I was to buy a very small basic sail boat how much would that cost?

I know these are very basic but if somebody could even point me in the direction of some info I would be grateful...a lot of the club websites seem outdated or have little info on how one actually goes about getting involved.

Thanks guys.

DOTHEDOG

sorry as soon as i seen this thread this came into my mind,dunno why

Cheapest way to take up sailing?

yeah swim with a kite :eek:

on a serious note,i haven't got a clue bud

COUCH WARRIOR

Hi Manwitaplan check out the Glenans Irish Sailing Club web site.

TarfHead

Many clubs run courses. I attended two at Sutton Dinghy Club and got a lot out of it. AFAIK, if you join (I didn't) you can use a club boat for the first year (subject to availability). After that you're expected to supply your own.

I was looking at the prices of Optimists on Apollo Duck and they ranged from 500 to 2000, depending on condition and what was being offered for sale. A neighbour of mine got a Topper in West Cork for a couple of hundred.

After that, once you've some sense of what you're at, you could offer to crew at a yacht club. It's getting late in the season to start down that road, but something to think of for next year.

cfitz

I'm relatively new to sailing so feel free to ignore or disagree with any of the below.

First of all, there are different types of boats that you can sail:
Dinghies are small and very close to the water, and can easily capsize, and require a wetsuit in this part of the world because of the water temperature.
Keelboats and yachts are larger and have a weight beneath them that makes them unlikely to capsize.

It would probably take a while before you would be ready to sail a keelboat or yacht on your own so it might be best to learn in a dinghy if you want the freedom to sail alone. However, because dinghies are small and you will be a beginner for a long time, it wouldn't be a good idea to do much sailing all on your own without anyone keeping an eye on you.

A straightforward approach that I think is fairly cost effective is to do a Level 1 and Level 2 course. These will teach you some basics, then you can rent boats for pay-per-play sessions at some clubs. These clubs usually supply all the kit you need - buoyancy aids and wetsuits etc.

From what I can gather, joining a club is probably value for money if you are good enough to start racing or maybe if you own your own boat. But as I am not a member of a club I may be unaware of just how much they offer...

Pigeon Reaper

Have you tried contacting Eastwall sailing club? They're probably the cheapest to get involved with and supply equipment. It is a tidal area but they'll get you into the sport quickly.

thirtythirty

I'd recommend you get a few lessons before buying a boat - there's endless options for both dingys and small keel boats on a budget, so it's best to learn to sail and get experience of things before you can start making decisions.

I dunno where you're based, but i'd recommend the Irish National Sailing Club in Dun Laoghaire (West Pier).

http://www.insc.ie/

They do loads of adult taster days / weekends / training courses. And you won't be by yourself!

You'll also be able to chat to the instructors about buying a boat then - because there's issues with storage for dingys at the clubs if you're leaving it there, costs associated with transportation if you're keeping it at home, and difficulties with securing a mooring / deck space at the club if you're getting a small keel boat! Not to mention the different variations of boats suited to different kinds of weather, single-handed or multi-handed etc etc.

sophie1234

spottyelephant wrote: »

I'd recommend you get a few lessons before buying a boat - there's endless options for both dingys and small keel boats on a budget, so it's best to learn to sail and get experience of things before you can start making decisions.

I dunno where you're based, but i'd recommend the Irish National Sailing Club in Dun Laoghaire (West Pier).

http://www.insc.ie/

They do loads of adult taster days / weekends / training courses. And you won't be by yourself!

You'll also be able to chat to the instructors about buying a boat then - because there's issues with storage for dingys at the clubs if you're leaving it there, costs associated with transportation if you're keeping it at home, and difficulties with securing a mooring / deck space at the club if you're getting a small keel boat! Not to mention the different variations of boats suited to different kinds of weather, single-handed or multi-handed etc etc.

+1 i find one of the best places in dublin to learn to sail ive been and worked in many other and i find insc the best!

dave fowler

hi manwitaplan ,i have a 2 man dinghy [rondar 420] for sail if your interested i will take you out for a spin any weekend in dublin as long as your not 20 stone .Phone number removed, please do not put personal details on Boards, use the PM system to contact them - Mod

tyreman7

The Cheapestway to get into sailing is to do it for nothing.
I am a boat owner in DL and if I only knew in the past what I know now. How many times have you heard that.
I am sick of hearing how expensive sailing is and must be a rich persons sport.
well first fact most people in sailing are working class.
there are 400 boats sailing in Dublin bay every thursday evening all summer and 2400 persons sailing.
The obvious thing here is 2000 people who do not own boats sail every week. There are even people skippering boats who do not own them. No bills they sail every week and pay nothing ever.

There is a race this week I would love to do but cant as I do not have crew. There it is a 36`brilliant racer and cant race as no crew.
people like me are crying out for people to take up sailing.
When I tell friends I cant get people they dont beleive me and its the same for loads of boats in Dun Loagaire. (hence the if I knew then, Would not have bought my boat)

See my boat on You tube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OaSYUn2R0ow


So the advice is turn up any race day at marina. get on any boat you want. and see if you like it. Then def do one of the courses at INSC after you have been out a few times.

As people here have said the real sailing is the small boats, anyone can sail the big ones but I love been out at sea in big storms, better rush.

In The round Ireland video above the race was in june and in March the Bowman (one of the most important positions) had never raced before.
No he is a Bowman on 50`racer in Mahatten NY.

Please contact me anyone who would like to sail

t wex

Dig out that old Mountain bike, canoe you never use form the shed or the old banger in the drive and put it up on a site like gumtree or donedeal.ie for a swap for a dingie. You'd be supprised how many are out there sitting in peoples gardens waiting to be used.

Would also recommend a few lessons from someone who knows what they are talking about before hitting the high seas