OK, so you’ve done RYA1 & RYA2 and are now competent to sail.
True. But, that doesn’t help you plan the next few months. Fear not, we are here to help in many ways. As a start, here is a Q&A on common issues we’ve heard. Or, you can come to training on Sundays for refreshers and more practice on the water, starting at 10am.
Its expensive, isnt it ? Well… No, not until you want to buy a boat. (Some are cheap.) But, don’t rush into buying a boat. You need to decide if you prefer single-handed sailing (e.g., Laser) or two-handed sailing (e.g., 2000/RS400). So….. rent out our club boats. They’re booked through our Spond site once you have registered your interest in joining the club
If you want to sail 2-person dinghies, please communicate. We need to match up two people for those. Please contact the class captain to arrange crewing opportunities. We recommend doing this in advance. It can be discouraging to show up and not sail.
As for buying a boat later on… we have people in the club that are happy to help. The apolloduck website and “Dinghys & Bits for Sale” Facebook page have many posts trading second-hand boats and hardware. To give you an idea: a low cost starter could be ~£600. A competitive racing boat might cost ~£1500, and a new boat could be ~£5000. (You don’t see many of those at the club.)
But don’t I need lots of kit ? We have basic kit you’ll need (wetsuits, jackets, buoyancy aids). So, all you need to bring is boots and gloves. You can get those online or at one of the 2 local chandlers, Storrar Marine or Trident. That gives you a low cost entry. If you’re enjoying the sailing, a wetsuit & buoyancy aid are normally a good next buy. See here for our what to wear page.
So that the mechanics of boats & kit…. what about becoming an active member of the club & joining in the activities? We have a sailing programme each year that comes out in January. If you are joining through RYA 1 & 2 courses, that season will already be underway. Here is the calendar
And joining the club ? Well…. thats why we do the training courses – not to make money, but to see more people enjoying sailing & joining us. No pressure – come down a few times, try it on for size. if its a fit after a few weeks, we’d be delighted to welcome you. In your second year of sailing, we run coaching for beginners, returners, and improvers. They are scheduled for Sunday mornings at 10am. This will provide a smooth transition from beginner to race winner.
Any more questions – probably best just to ask at the club. Or you could always use the contact us form.