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