So you fancy taking up dinghy sailing and you are not sure what that first step should be. Well look no further, this is the guide for you. The first myth to get rid of is that you need to go out and buy your own boat straight away –You Don’t.
The best way of having a go to see if you enjoy the sport without having to outlay a large amount of money would be to try a taster session. This will last about 2 hours. It will give you the basics of how to make the boat go, how to turn it around and how to get back to where you started. An RYA instructor will always be on hand to help you and give you advice.
If this seems to be something that you enjoy then the next step would be to gain an RYA nationally recognised qualification in sailing. The RYA syllabus can take you from a total beginner right the way through to becoming a dinghy instructor.
The first step on your RYA ladder is the level 1 Start Sailing course. This course will take 2 days and the aim of the course on completion is for you to be able to launch your boat, sail towards and away from the wind, be able to both tack and gybe the boat (turn the boat around) and to be able to come back again safely with only minimal assistance from your instructor.
It is then well worth continuing on to the RYA level 2 Basic Skills course. The aim of this course is to help you become a more efficient sailor and become more self sufficient. It will give you important background knowledge of weather, tides and safety so that you embark on your own without an instructor.
After these courses its time to get out there and get some practice. This can be done in many ways from buying a cheap second hand boat, joining a sailing club and hiring one of their boats which can usually be done for a small fee. Alternatively visit a sailing centre such as our centre based at Poole Park and hire a dinghy, safe in the knowledge that there is someone on hand to help you if it all starts to go a bit wrong.
With this time on the water under your belt you can then decide which route of sailing interests you the most and the RYA have advanced modules to suit most people’s requirements. ie. sailing with spinnakers and performance sailing for those who want the adrenaline rush, seamanship skills for those that want to improve their general boat handling, day sailing for those wanting to get in to dinghy cruising and finally start racing, well the name gives this one away really it’s a crash course in racing.
The RYA courses are there to help you take your first steps into the exciting world of sailing.
