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I'm Seadream, some call me James. I originally put Mr. in the 'Title' box at the top and I don't even have a sense of humour :grin.
A wise man once told me to write your goal first and then plan the steps you must complete to achieve that goal. I am here to eventually achieve the things I put in that conveniently placed title box at the top. Currently I have very little sailing experience and not even as many friends as I thought (don't make this list, trust me) but forcefully I will get around that soon hopefully.
I'm not sure if I should start asking questions here so I wont. Will speak to you all again I hope.
Personally, I would get more sailing experience before buying the boat you plan to sail the world on. That's a huge investment should you find out that you don't like sailing or, more importantly, boat maintenance as much as you thought you would.
Others will say buy the biggest boat you can afford and learn as you go.
Only you know what risks you are comfortable taking but know that you are responsible for both the boat AND the crew/guests.
Good luck. Sailing can be a grand adventure. Learning to sail can be, too, if you don't look at it as only a means to an end.
I was looking at the training as a means to an end, but now I am quite excited to do it rather than just get a boat.
My three goals are probably still way off, at some point in the future, right now I have a lot to learn and I wont jump into anything. Right now I am looking to learn to sail and get more experience as you said, but not sure if I should pay £232 for two weekends worth of RYA (Royal Yachting Association) accredited dinghy learning lessons or learn directly in a yacht. I have heard a lot about learning on dinghies as being a good place to start, but it isn't exactly cheap, especially if I need further yachting lessons. That was going to be my first question on these forums. Is it worth paying for the dinghy lessons or is it better to go straight to yachting lessons do you think, considering I am not rich?
I feel there might be basics of sailing that I may never know if I go straight to yachting lessons, but I don't have enough knowledge yet to decide (that's where you guys might be able to help me ). If you could advise me on this if you have ideas I would be very happy to hear them.
I am also going to be looking around for people in want of crew members, seems like a great way to learn on a budget.
I've paid for formal lessons, I've sailed with other recreational small boat sailors for the price of a few drinks or sandwiches. No learning is wasted, even the bad stuff.
I've found that there is always something to learn and the tangents that simply learning to sail have sent me off on have changed our lives. It doesn't stop at learning how to move a boat from Point A to Point B for most people. Although for some it does and that's OK for them. I've gone on to more advanced learning about weather, radio, seamanship, navigation, oceans, tides, history, etc. I've become more tuned in to things I never had before. The journey has also introduced me to some super people who have become good friends and who I count as people I can depend on if the **** hits the fan.
Sailing is what you make it but if someone presents him or herself as knowing all there is about any aspect of it, wish them a good day as you back away politely.
You might consider taking a US Power and Sail Squadron or USCG Auxiliary classroom course on sailing and seamanship. Besides giving you a good foundation, you have the advantage of face to face discussion and someone to answer questions.
I agree no learning is wasted and that there are benefits to all experiences on board. I also would like to learn about all them things such as radio, tides and weather as you mentioned, and I have started.
I do need a plan though about which way to go about it or else it will take me a further 10 years to get my boat as I am a very hard rather than smart worker and get distracted as I am interested in everything. I have been on a yacht sailing adventure for 4 days. Other than that I don't have much experience but I know I want a boat to sail the world on one day.
Thank you I will . I didn't actually think about joining a sailing club in this reservoir near me, I did ask them about sailing lessons but didn't even consider they had a club.
I hope I will in 6 months, the other forum I have started asking questions in called 'Performing the Perfect Bank Robbery for Dummies' may help
Yeah, I know Birmingham well enough (I'm English but living in Canada now), used to live in Northants which was actually about the furthest you could be from the sea anywhere in the British Isles. Yes that's my current tub, C&C27, in her 40s, tired, in need of many replacement parts but still functional for the most part and always up for a laugh. I share all of that in common with her.
I've had her for a couple of years now, haven't kept track of how much sailing I've done but the furthest was probably her delivery trip which was some 50nm as the crow flies, I mostly just daysail her by myself but given I've managed to put 130 hours on the motor in that time, I would think at least 1000 hours under sail during that time. As with most decent old boats, you generally give up long before they do.
Good luck with the learning process, I'd definitely recommend an RYA course, get the basics down and then spend some time taking any and every opportunity to get out on the water. If you ever find yourself out in my neck of the woods, always happy to head onto the water.
Cheers, Paul.
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