| Would you like to try sailing but have anxieties that | | | | than for spacious interiors. Marine toilets are not the |
| hold you back? Here are some common things that | | | | nicest things to use either! Don't be discouraged. Most |
| first-time sailors worry about: | | | | people have no difficulty adapting to living on board |
| - Being seasick | | | | for the five days of an RYA sailing course. If you |
| - The yacht heeling over / capsizing | | | | think of sailing as going camping on water you will |
| - Spending five days with strangers | | | | find that you are pleasantly surprised as yachts are |
| - The level of comfort on board | | | | more comfortable than tents! |
| - Bad weather | | | | The weather in the UK is unpredictable. If this |
| - Being are too old | | | | concerns you why not start sailing in a warm climate |
| - Having young children | | | | such as Spain or Greece? You will get sunshine most |
| - The cost | | | | of the year and for your first course it makes no |
| People are less seasick on sailing yachts than on | | | | difference whether you learn in tidal or non-tidal |
| motor boats. The keel and sails act as stabilisers so | | | | waters. Investigate the likely wind and weather |
| the yacht does not roll in the same way. Sickness is | | | | conditions in the areas you are interested in and |
| much easier to prevent than to cure so if you think | | | | make an informed choice. |
| you are susceptible, investigate preventatives | | | | You can learn to sail at any age. You may find you |
| including tablets, patches, and armbands. | | | | are less confident and not as strong as in your youth |
| Yachts are not like dinghies. They are designed so | | | | but one of the wonderful things about sailing is that |
| that they do not capsize. When you sail towards the | | | | you can continue to sail into your 90s! Most schools |
| wind they will sail at an angle ('heeled over') but this is | | | | will be happy to take older students but you may |
| quite safe. You should make sure that you are | | | | need to look around a little for insurance if you are |
| comfortable and well supported in the cockpit as this | | | | over 70. |
| will give you confidence. You may need to | | | | There are sailing schools that will happily take families |
| experiment with different places to sit to find the | | | | with children. A warm climate is often an advantage |
| best one for you. | | | | as children prefer shorter passages with lots of |
| Sailing schools normally run group courses for up to | | | | swimming stops. Find a school that has experience |
| five students. Although these may be strangers at | | | | with families and discuss it with them. |
| the start of the week you will quickly find that | | | | The cost of sailing is a major inhibiting factor for |
| learning together creates a bond. It is very unusual | | | | many. While it is not a cheap sport it's possible to |
| for there to be friction on a sailing course even | | | | start sailing on a budget. Many schools offer |
| though you are living in a small space. Sharing a | | | | discounts out of the main summer season, or for last |
| common experience seems to help enable people to | | | | minute bookings. You can also ask at local clubs if |
| get on well even if they are very different. | | | | anyone would be prepared to take you on as crew. |
| Most small yachts are not particularly comfortable. | | | | Don't let any of these factors deter you - you'll |
| They are designed for sailing performance rather | | | | never know if you'll enjoy sailing unless you try it! |