| Small Craft Dinghy Sailing Boats | | | | sailing and how sailing dinghy actually works, plus |
| If you are about to learn how to sail then I would | | | | learning the terminology that goes with that. Once you |
| recommend starting out with the practical side of the | | | | have done that and taken your turn at sailing the |
| sport in a small sailing boat preferably on a lake or | | | | dinghy under tuition, it is now time for you to go out on |
| river. | | | | your own. When you first do this it is the most |
| I can’t speak for everywhere but in the UK we | | | | exhilarating and exciting part of learning this great sport |
| have plenty of sailing clubs that have a fleet of small | | | | and not forgetting that you are actually on the move |
| craft to learn the basics and also obtain qualifications | | | | and it is free, there’s no cost for the prime mover, |
| as some have RYA (Royal Yachting Association) | | | | wind! It’s a question I always raise when talking to |
| qualified tutors. | | | | motor boat owners when I take them out sailing on my |
| When starting out and joining a sailing club it saves you | | | | sailing boat! |
| having to purchase your own sailing dinghy, as the fleet | | | | Now you have the basics and you are on the move |
| of club dinghies have been purchased out of the club | | | | to gain further experience it is good to take part in the |
| members fee’s. | | | | local clubs racing calendar. This is probably the fastest |
| The craft you would be sailing are generally between | | | | way you will learn and become more efficient with the |
| 3.0m to 5.0m in length which can be sailed single | | | | sailing manoeuvres when sailing in a competitive arena. |
| handed or two plus crew, some types of sailing dinghy | | | | Boat speed, sail trimming, reading wind direction and |
| that spring to mind are for the single hander; | | | | water state all play a key role in getting the best out of |
| Contender, Comet, Laser, Laser Funboat, Laser Pico, | | | | your dinghy. |
| and Topper. | | | | Owning a trailer sailor dinghy has its benefit of having |
| For the slightly larger dinghies for two or more crew | | | | the flexibility of being able to sail on different waters |
| you would have more of a chose from the following; | | | | and even going out to sea. So you could plan your |
| Albacore, Bosun, Comet Duo, Flying Fifteen, Gull, | | | | sailing calendar taking in these different scenic areas to |
| Hornet, Laser 2000, Mirror, and RS400. | | | | sail also visiting other sailing clubs and take part in their |
| These craft are manufactured from, Wood, GRP | | | | dinghy sailing races. |
| (Glass Reinforced Plastic), inflatable’s and Ribs, | | | | The good thing about learning this basic knowledge is |
| they normally come with a two or four wheel trailer | | | | that it applies to any size of sailing boat or yacht you |
| dependent on the boats size. The trailer is used to | | | | sail, so when you have purchased your 12m sailing |
| launch the dinghy from; sailing clubs will have a | | | | yacht and you are on a long haul passage plan you will |
| launching jetty designed for this purpose. | | | | be able to achieve the best out of your vessel and |
| When starting out on the water you will need to go out | | | | arrive in the shortest time, at your destination. |
| with someone who can teach you the basic’s on | | | | |