How to get started in Sailing
Sailing, whether its dinghy sailing or windsurfing has never been more accessible. There is an excellent structure of sailing schools and clubs in the UK meaning that anyone aspiring to be the next Ben Ainslie or Sarah Ayton is only a few steps away from being in with a fighting chance.
The best place to start
Book a session at your local sailing school ensuring that it is RYA recognised.
There are over 2000 RYA recognised training centres in the UK and over 100 overseas, so it shouldn’t be too difficult to find your nearest one. They should provide you with all the kit you need to get underway. For information on sailing schools and courses go to www.rya.org.uk.
For the younger sailor, the RYA has a great structure in place to make sure that children get the most out of the sport through the RYA Youth Sailing Scheme which offers the chance for children to develop their skills in a fun environment.
After a few lessons you will no doubt acquire a taste for the sport and then you really need to get kitted out. The most essential item is a buoyancy aid. You need to make sure that it is a good fit, as a buoyancy aid which is too loose can actually be very dangerous.
Whether you’re going for Olympic gold, or just learning about the joys of sailing for the first time, sailing is always a rewarding sport.
For more information on sailing courses and a comprehensive list of schools, classes and clubs go to www.rya.org.uk.
Buying a boat
Whether you decide you are a cruiser or a racer, once you have a feel for sailing you will want to start thinking about buying a boat and there are a range of factors to take into consideration.
The main factor is you; some boats are better suited to different builds and levels of fitness and there is no point buying a high performance boat if you can’t keep it upright as this will only serve to put you off.
You also need to give consideration to whether you will be sailing alone, doublehanded or with the family, this will have a great deal of bearing on the size and shape of your boat.
It is always worth getting an expert opinion on before you make a choice and any RYA instructor will be happy to advise you before you make a final choice.