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Common Questions For Novice Sailors
Would I enjoy sailing?
If you want to try sailing to see if you like it, you can try it out at our club without any major financial commitment. You can come along for a Taster Session without obligation, to see if you enjoy being on the water. Our sport is full of people keen to help newcomers get interested.
Can small children go sailing?
Children as young as 8 can sail small boats alone, and there are many craft suitable for families with young children too. Our club caters for children over the age of 8.
Can anyone sail?
You do not need to be fit or able-bodied to sail, as there are such a variety of boats to cater for everyone. If you cannot swim, do not sail alone – just make sure your instructor or companion is aware. Disabled sailors would need to contact the Club Secretary to discuss any special needs.
Is sailing expensive?
Sailing is not an expensive sport, unless you choose to race at the highest level! Secondhand boats can be bought very cheaply, but you do not have to have your own boat at all. Many boats need 2 or more people to sail them, so finding opportunities to sail on someone else’s boat is not difficult. Specialist sailing clothing can seem a little expensive, but again you do not have to own any, or buy brand new. It all depends on how much you get hooked!
Where can I go sailing?
With sea all around, Ireland offers a host of sailing opportunities, and the sea around Lough Swilly is ideal for the beginner and the more advanced sailor.
Do I need to join the sailing club?
In order to sail, you have to join the club due to insurance purposes. There is membership available for visitors, so just contact the club for further details.
Will I get cold and wet?
You’ll probably get splashed a bit unless the weather is calm. The proper clothing (bought or hired) will keep you warm and dry so there is no need to shiver. In strong winds, small dinghies may tip completely over, quite safely, and dunk you in the water. All boats will lean over as the wind gets stronger, but large yachts do not tip right over.
Is sailing dangerous?
Sailing has a very good safety record, and even racing the fastest boats, injuries are incredibly rare. Checking the weather forecast before launching makes it easy to stay as safe as you want to. Before every sail, the committee members check the forecast and only head out if it is safe to do so. You will be informed by text if the sailing is cancelled at any time. The club always has a safety boat on hand, so help is never far away!
Will I feel sick?
Some people may feel sea-sick if sailing a larger boat on the sea in waves, but in smaller boats and on lakes or rivers, it is very unlikely anyone will feel sick. If you go inside the cabin of a yacht, where you cannot see easily out of a window, this is likely to bring on a nauseous feeling.
Will it take a long time to learn?
Like any new sport, sailing has strange new skills and terminology to learn. You can certainly spend a lifetime progressing to the highest levels, but after an hour most beginners can sail along happily, building up to sailing a dinghy alone after a day or two.
What about racing?
Sailing around just for fun is called cruising, but many people like to try racing too. The sense of competition is exciting, but beginners may not enjoy the shouting that sometimes accompanies this! If you get shouted at, it normally just indicates urgency rather than real anger, so don’t get upset.
Why do people like sailing?
It’s fun! Sailing can be made as fast and exciting as you like – or as gentle and relaxing as you like. Racing against others gives great competition, or you can use a boat to explore an area of water. You’ll also meet new friends, and maybe get fitter.
What else do I need to know?
It is helpful to know the basic difference between a dinghy and a yacht: Dinghies are light boats between 2 to 4 metres long, for one or two people to fit in. They are meant to be taken out of the water after a day’s sailing. They can be fast and exciting, or gentler for beginners and families. Yachts (also called keelboats) are bigger than this, and much heavier, which makes them more stable. They need several people on board, and are suitable for a short day sail, or a trip around the world.
Other wind-powered sports
You may also enjoy windsurfing, kite-surfing or land-yachting.
Tips For The Perfect Sail
1. Pick a day with decent conditions, and dress appropriately. Around Donegal and especially Lough Swilly, good conditions come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Generally, we want fairly calm seas with lighter, rather than stronger, winds. Sunshine and 0% chance of precipitation is a plus, though rarely seen in Donegal! Remember that it is often windier and cooler out on the water than onshore, so dress appropriately. The idea is to stay warm and dry by not falling in!
2. Have the right boat. When you’re learning, a smaller, more responsive boat makes it easier to understand the dynamics of sailing. The Club has a range of craft for you to use.
3. Be aware of the boom. The boom is the big, heavy bar at the foot of the mainsail. It swings across the boat whenever you tack or gybe, and you really don’t want it to hit you. It can injure you and even knock you overboard, but it’s easy to avoid as long as you’re paying attention. Whenever you hear talk of tacking or jibing, make sure your head is down low, out of the way. Experienced sailors know how to control the movement of the boom, mainly by “sheeting in” when preparing for a tack or gybe, as allowing it to move freely causes unnecessary wear on the boat. By a combination of common sense safety and good sail-handling, you can ensure that there’s no danger or unpleasantness. Tacking the boat is putting the bow through the eye of the wind. Sailboats can’t sail directly into the wind so if our destination lies upwind we will need to tack back and forth to get there. Jibing is putting the stern of the boat through the eye of the wind. Here, we must be vigilant about an accidental jibe. Unlike the tack where the boom is moving slowly, when we jibe the boom is given to violent movement so we must be prepared, in order to avoid damage or injury. But really, there is no need, at this stage, to worry about these nautical terms, as they will all make sense later!
4. Go with someone who knows what they’re doing. We recommend a qualified instructor. An experienced, trained teacher of sailing will make a world of difference–the difference between a frustrating, unfulfilling experience, and a safe, fun, highly educational experience.
5. Know some basic sailing terms before you go. Learning basic terms such as “tack” and “gybe,” the difference between port and starboard, and the points of sail, is recommended. This will make it easier for you to contribute to sailing the vessel. Once you’re safely back on the pontoon you can expand your nautical vocabulary to include other key phrases such as “Where’s the tea?”
If you do these five things, you’re setting yourself up for a great time sailing, whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned seafarer. The best way to combine them all into one experience is to sign up for Rathmullan Sailing and Watersports Club to ensure a fun time on the sea windsurfing, kite-surfing or land-yachting.