Cruiser Sailing - Beginner

t1mm

Hi all,

I've had a good bit of experience with powerboating (RIBs, ~25ft hardboats, etc), but I'd like to learn how to sail. I've had a day out with a friend in a Laser and I've done a bit of couch-sailing (reading about the theory of it all on the web!), but my ultimate goal would be to learn how to sail a cruiser. I've gone on some day trips on cruisers before and helped out, but I was simply doing as I was told rather than actually knowing what I was doing.

What course of action would you recommend I take? Is it unwise to learn on a cruiser without mastering the basics on a dinghy first? Is casual cruising common during the winter months?

Thanks in advance

HeidiHeidi

t1mm wrote: »

Hi all,

I've had a good bit of experience with powerboating (RIBs, ~25ft hardboats, etc), but I'd like to learn how to sail. I've had a day out with a friend in a Laser and I've done a bit of couch-sailing (reading about the theory of it all on the web!), but my ultimate goal would be to learn how to sail a cruiser. I've gone on some day trips on cruisers before and helped out, but I was simply doing as I was told rather than actually knowing what I was doing.

What course of action would you recommend I take? Is it unwise to learn on a cruiser without mastering the basics on a dinghy first? Is casual cruising common during the winter months?

Thanks in advance

Whereabouts are you, for starters?

Sounds like you should do a beginner's sailing course. All other things being equal, I'd recommend starting on a dinghy, even if only for a little bit, as you get a much better idea of what's going on - if you pull too hard on the main sheet in a cruiser you just won't go as fast - do it on a dinghy and you're in the drink! I did two week-long courses with Glenans in Clew Bay when I was starting out - I've never been in a dinghy since (except for floating around the Med), but the experience has definitely stood to me. It's rough down there, but the tuition was excellent and it was great fun.

If you're around Dublin there's the INSC (www.insc.ie) in Dun Laoghaire - I also did evening stints with them, they're very good as well - or any of the yacht clubs do adult training courses - not sure if they'll be doing them over the winter but worth enquiring. Mostly they use squibs or 1720s - both keelboats but light and responsive ones, so as near as you'll get to a dinghy without having to wear a wetsuit.

Best advice would be talk to a sailing club near you, and see what courses they offer or recommend.

PhoenixParker

There's another thread on this forum about learning to sail.
The options in that case were dinghy or keelboat course.

In your case, it's keelboat course or competent crew course.
I'd be firmly on the side of the keelboat/1720/sportsyacht* course in your case.
More comfortable and less wet then a dinghy but a better exposure to the basic mechanics of sailing than a cruiser.

Take a look at that thread for links to courses around the place.

*these are all the same thing.

Talent

I agree with Heidi and Parker. Learn in a smaller boat. I started in a dinghy with larger boat cruising in mind. Forty years later I'm still sailing a dinghy and won't be parted from it. But I've also done some ocean races as crew in keelboats and a wee bit of keelboat cruising.

On the other hand I've taken out people who crewed a few years on a racing cruiser and they proved less than expert They told me they just did what they were told, trimming sheets and the like but never got a feel for the basics. Smaller boats give you that feel.