Hi there, I've done a few dinghy & keelboat courses and a certain amount of pottering in my obscure slow-moving eBay dinghy but I was thinking of trying to get into dinghy racing to improve my skills. Is there much of an adult dinghy racing scene around Melbourne? The club I did my training at doesn't really do that kind of thing.
My family is still young so I'm unlikely to get my hands on a cruising yacht in the next few years and this seems like a fun pastime which might help ensure that when we eventually get a decent boat I will have some sailing skills to fall back on.
As all my friends are in a similarly busy stage of life and my kids are still very young I feel like a single-handed class might be a suitable way forward. If I pick up a ratty old Sabre, Laser or Finn will I be able to find a club where a relative novice can have fun getting better at racing? I've never sailed any of these classes but I figure I just have to pick one as most clubs don't seem to lease them to try them out. I'd probably do the AS "Start Racing" course too but it would make sense to do it at a club where there are racing opportunities to be had.
Thanks in advance!
A Laser is an easy entry point. There are approx 3 billion available for sale (ok, slight exaggeration), from a few dollars to brand new. Easy to rig, tow and cheap to run.
Finn's are for the big guys who are full of muscle, so not really recommended. Sabre are also a good entry point, but not nearly as easy to buy as a Laser. Look also at a Spiral (similar to a Laser Radial).
Depending on where you are in Vic, Sandringham, Blackrock, Blairgowrie and Geelong are places to try. Almost all dinghy sailing clubs will have Lasers, unless they are sailing Spirals. The local guys on this forum will probably have much better suggestions.
A suggestion to improve your skills is to read up on the basic racing rules before hitting the start line for the first time.
Select to expand quoteelectricmonk said..
Hi there, I've done a few dinghy & keelboat courses and a certain amount of pottering in my obscure slow-moving eBay dinghy but I was thinking of trying to get into dinghy racing to improve my skills. Is there much of an adult dinghy racing scene around Melbourne? The club I did my training at doesn't really do that kind of thing.
The answer to your question is yes.
What part of Melbourne do you live in?
There's an old adage that you find a club first then chose your boat. Sabres and Impulses are other very nice and popular single handers. If possible, go with what's popular at the club you find
I quite like the Pacer as an allrounder, not sure how popular they are in Vic but I bought one from there about 15 years ago when my kids where smaller. There's a "hotter" version now with increased rig but the original great for kids as they sit more in it than on it. I fitted some rowlocks to mine and it made a handy tender and allround boat for fun on the river too. Never put an outboard on it but would have needed a bit of transom work to deal with the load 2,5/3hp or electric would be heaps. Personally I'd go for some versatility, kids love beach and sand so something that does a picnic great too. Wives & kids can sail Pacers too..
All the best in your quest, regards from Jeff.
Select to expand quoteTamble said..electricmonk said..
Hi there, I've done a few dinghy & keelboat courses and a certain amount of pottering in my obscure slow-moving eBay dinghy but I was thinking of trying to get into dinghy racing to improve my skills. Is there much of an adult dinghy racing scene around Melbourne? The club I did my training at doesn't really do that kind of thing.
The answer to your question is yes.
What part of Melbourne do you live in?
There's an old adage that you find a club first then chose your boat. Sabres and Impulses are other very nice and popular single handers. If possible, go with what's popular at the club you find
Northern suburbs nowhere near the sea, if I hop in the car and head directly south I wind up in St Kilda. I'm not aware of any clubs in that immediate area that do much adult dinghy racing but I could be wrong. Essentially though all the clubs in the northern end of the bay from Altona to Sandringham are more or less equally convenient.
I'm Ballina based but I have a dinghy orientated friend heavily involved with Altona
Port Melbourne YC has a Laser fleet. Other clubs in that area include the two on Albert Park Lake, which are mainly centred on Sabres and Impulses - both worth looking at. Further south is Black Rock - lots of Sabres, some OKs and some RS Aeros.
PMYC also has Jollyboats, which are sort of like a Flying Dutchman but have three crew; crewing on one of those could be a good way to get into the scene.
The Elwood sailing club also had a fairly big adult program.
www.elwoodsc.com/blog/
If I was going to get into dinghy, I would race the National E class.
A
Select to expand quoteAndrew68 said..
The Elwood sailing club also had a fairly big adult program.
www.elwoodsc.com/blog/
If I was going to get into dinghy, I would race the National E class.
A
Thanks for that. What appeals to you in particular about that class? There are so many.
The only problem with multi-person dinghies is that I would need to have an equally enthusiastic and available friend and at a certain stage in life it becomes hard enough to organise to have dinner let alone a commitment to sailing every week.
Look at a National 125 if considering a double hander.
www.125assoc.com
Plenty about, including Elwood SC, in Victoria as well as other States....and lighter/easier to handle than a National E and quicker than a Pacer.
Has a trapeze and Spinnaker when your ready for that too.
