Learning to sail and undertaking quality sailing training are so important. I think that a sailor never stops learning. Here you’ll find details of some of the sailing training I’ve undertaken, as well as my stories as an RYA Cruising Instructor and Offshore Yachtmaster. Wherever you are on your ‘learning to sail’ journey, you’ll find lots of hints and tips here
I’ve just got back from Clipper Race level one training, I am very tired, am black and blue on both legs, and my hand and arm muscles are aching. But despite all that, I feel absolutely great. I’ve completed my level 1 training, I scored 1 (out of 5) on all of the pieces we were trained on and have been put forward to be a watch leader on the race. It has been an absolutely incredible week of learning and the sense of achievement is fantastic. I will talk more about the week in a later post, but for now I just wanted to share my top tips for anyone who is preparing for their level one training.
Pack toiletries for washing!
You will probably be moored up in Gosport marina or Cowes marina each night, so you’ll have access to showers and toilets. Most of us in my group thought we would be offshore for the whole week with no access to showers, so we didn’t bring Shampoo/Conditioner or shower gel. On the race you obviously won’t have shower access, but on level one training you will, so why not make the most of it!?
Clipper Race training involves 4 core weeks of training over about 18 months. The weeks are notoriously intense, they’re hard work, incredibly tiring and most definitely not for the faint hearted. Later this week I will be sailing off on my 1st week of Clipper Race training.
Week 1 is apparently the toughest. This is perhaps to do with the fact that it is the 1st time that most people will have lived in such an environment… i.e. a 70ft racing yacht out on the high seas, with 18 strangers! Working hard rigging decks and hauling sails, whilst at the same time learning continuously about the art of becoming a highly efficient crew member for an ocean yacht race.
I recently completed the RYA Inland Waterways Helmsman course with Thames Boat Training.
Thames Boat Training is run by an awesome guy called Paul, who is an incredibly experienced sailor. He’s based on a narrowboat in Shepperton and will tailor courses to meet your needs. The training takes place onboard one of his two narrowboats, and due to the sheer size of the boats offer the perfect training experience for any future motor cruiser.
The Thames Boat Training narrowboat which I learnt on
