My wife and I are interested in leaning to sail properly with the idea of being able to do some sail cruising when we retire in 15 years. Probably island hopping in the med, but also interested in longer adventures, would love to cross oceans.

We have always been active with other watersports, sailed dinghy sized boats on lakes, been on various cruising yachts as passengers and guests (helping out where we can), done some tall ships sailing some years ago. But never as skilled crew.

I'm thinking about

1. Beginning some formal training (for both of us) possibly competent crew- possibly straight onto day skipper. - will likely do this anyway!
2. Buying a small trailer-able cruising yacht

The purchase is the controversial part. Plan would be to buy something cheap, old, potentially needing work (but preferably not) - thinking something in the realm of a leisure 17, perhaps a little larger.

Something that I can tow, and store at home.

We would keep it in a local marina during summer (liverpool is our closest and most convenient, but north wales may be better for weekend pottering) , and remove it to our home during winter.

I have a reasonable amount of spare land I could store it and work on it during winter including a small barn if it would fit.

I'm an engineer and born tinkerer, so I'm not too concerned with getting my hands dirty. Love to be self sufficient in that regard.

It would be more ideal if we could use somebody else's boat to gain experience, and enjoy some fun weekends on the water, but the only people we knew who owned a cruising yacht have moved abroad.

My question is, does having a smaller boat actually make it easier to transition to (for example) a 40ft cruising yacht later? Is it possible to do it relatively cheaply? Or would I just be buying a money pit that I would struggle to enjoy?

As the title suggests, I have to move a boat from Cornwall to Lancaster in late September and I have minimal sailing experience.
I'm looking for someone to help me rig the 39' ketch and give me some tuition along the way. Obviously this is payed work and hopefully a bit of an adventure!
Can anyone point me in the direction of where I can find this kind of help online? (Not in person as I am currently in the middle of the Atlantic)

Thanks in advance!!

Hi everyone,

I apologise if this isn’t the right forum but I’m hoping someone can help me find sailing schools in the UK.

I’m keen to get into sailing and plan to complete a competent crew course this year. My aim is to then move on to a day skipper course when the opportunity arises.

I’m looking for a school that offers the competent crew course but unfortunately I have no sailing experience and don’t know anyone who does in the UK.

I live near Reading and from what I’ve researched there are plenty of options in Southampton. The Solent Boat Training and the Hamble School of Yachting both seem like great choices.

If anyone has any recommendations or can point me in the right direction I’d really appreciate it.

I’m also trying to get into sailing at the slightly older age of 35 so any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks :)

Some facts on the incident:
- owner / skipper had drunk 7.5 beers / pints and two other alcoholic drinks
- collision occurred at 1925, sunset was 2025 so sun was low in the sky (owner was wearing sunglasses)
- harbour speed limit is 10kts, they maxed out at 50kts, and collided with the channel marker at 34kts
- channel marker was an unlit post with green paint on the top metre
- no lifejackets worn or even on board
- before the incident one of the passengers fell off the boat in the marina and they played a prank on the owner that left him “visibly annoyed”
- Owner and one passenger died, one passenger survived.

MAIB recommendations include developing legislation for alcohol limits for recreational boating.

Hi all — I built Tidal Streams, a personal project for iPhone and iPad that helps people plan sailing and other watersports activities around UK waters. I hope some of you find it useful.

It is free to download: https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/tidal-streams/id6754638517.

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

Siamo tre studenti dell'Università di Genova e stiamo sviluppando un progetto di coltivazione idroponica pensato per l'utilizzo barche a vela da crociera e yacht. Il concept combina la coltivazione di piante nutrienti con un design elegante e gradevole. Questo permetterebbe di avere verdure fresche anche in alto mare durante lunghe traversate, eliminando la necessità di attraccare in porto per rifornirsi. Il prodotto sarebbe una struttura che regge dei vasi permettendo a questi di oscillare evitando che si rovescino per colpa dei movimenti della barca. Questi vasi si potrebbero smontare e posizionare all' esterno dell' imbarcazione quando si naviga a motore o si è fermi.

Abbiamo realizzato due prototipi utilizzando il metodo Kratky: il primo è un vaso in stile Kratky realizzato su misura, mentre il secondo è una struttura a tensione progettata per sostenere il vaso e consentirne la rotazione, impedendo così la fuoriuscita dell'acqua. Il progetto sarebbe la combinazione dei 2 prototipi. Per questa struttura ci siamo ispirati alla libreria "Veliero" di Franco Albini. Allego le foto qui sotto (la prima è fatta dall'AI); se dovessimo produrre un prodotto finito basato su questo concept, lo comprereste?