Hi Folks,
As I mentioned in my previous posts, I purchased a second hand Hobie 16 two weeks ago here in the UK and have yet to hit the water with her.
I am also a complete novice to the practical side of sailing but have digested a number of cat sailing books so have an understanding of terminology and sailing theory. I guess I would label myself as an arm chair sailor
I decided to join a yacht club which is only 40 minutes away from where I reside door to door,
Saturday just gone I transported the Hobie so as to store or park her at the yacht club for convenience.
I hazard a thought, that the lay of the land is rather different here in the UK than in the US, for example we don't really have large lakes to sail so most cat sailing if all is generally carried out on the coast which is tidal. Another aspect is that access is generally restricted to the beaches by tidal walls and locked gates so the proposition of just driving to the coast, rigging the boat and sailing is limited. One also finds that the access to the beach's is also owned by some entity or other. Everything over here is owned by someone or other
hence joining a yacht club.
I was hoping to make some new friends at the club and while doing so glean a little knowledge, I also hoped to have met someone more knowledgeable than I to give the boat an eye over. I was also hoping I could persuade a charitable sole to help rig and even to come out for an hour or two, to give me an informative tutorial as it where to get me started. Unfortunately this did not transpire for a number of reasons, one being that the weather was blowing a gale on Saturday so club members where lite on the ground and when I arrived on Sunday it was rather late in the day due to work commitments.
However on Sunday I did manage to grab the attention of one of the instructors from the training school next door to the club and explained that I had purchase a Hobie 16 and that I was keen to get out on the water. Unfortunately he came across quiet patronizing with an air of apparent superiority while questioning my motives as to why the heck purchased a Hobie 16, he then progressed to state his rather low opinion toward the Hobie 16 in general such as the boat capsizes fore and aft etc etc. I was informed he could teach me on a Dart 16 which is more stable and so fourth.
I said don't people just go out and put theory to practice at which point I was informed that people drown and die all the time. Not the constructive answer I was looking for, but I guess they do and after all the school wants my cash.
Moving forward, I called the sailing school today and a lady that answered tried to push me towards a two day course to start sailing monohull dingy's then to do a cat conversion course. Ching, Ching, more cash I guess. I expressed that I was not interested in dingy sailing and that I was seeking a course for cat's only, after that the boat I have, then again I had this distinct feeling of superiority and feeling that I did not know what was good for me, if that makes sense. Besides the courses will end up costing more than I paid for the Hobie.
BTW I did ask whether they could teach me in my Hobie but was informed that this is not an option.
So given this rather verbose post I would be very interested to know your thoughts, recommendations and advise on how to get my Hobie out sailing as right now I can't see the woods for the trees and am feeling a little glum to say the least.
Kind Regards,
SRG