Getting Started - Part 6

Rob Andrews talks you through your first race

In this, the last of the series, we will be looking at racing and how it may become a goal for you as you embark on your voyage through dinghy sailing. The amazing thing these days is how quickly people progress in the sport due to the new generation of boats and teaching programmes.
I remember last year, talking to a group at our sailing centre in Spain. They were mainly on their second week in the sport and had completed RYA level 1/2 during the first week. I was teaching them to fly spinnakers in the second week. It then dawned on me that I had been sailing for at least three years seriously before I had put up a spinnaker and here they were in week two asking about trapezes to help them hold down the added power of the spinnaker. Oh to be just starting our in sailing today with the new boats, new personal kit and better teaching!

What has been the backbone of UK sailing - and being the top sailing nation at the Sydney Olympics I think it fair to say we're one of the more progressive nations - are the many dinghy clubs around the country. Just as they were when I took up sailing, the same encouragement and enthusiasm from the club members are today helping many people progress in the sport.

The majority of the clubs in the UK have an emphasis on racing - not all of them, but the majority - and there is plenty of room in most clubs for those that race and those that just sail or like cruising. However at some point that competitive streak comes out and we want to test our ability against others in a race. In fact if you want the fastest way to learn, then take up racing as every mistake is highlighted and you will soon learn from your mistakes and the skill that others will no doubt share with you.

Most clubs run two types of racing. Class racing where all the boats are from the same class, e.g. Laser 2000, Enterprise, Laser, etc. Althernatively there is handicap racing where all boats race together and the result is calculated after the finish, based upon its handicap (given to each class of boat by the RYA), and the time difference that is taken by each boat to complete the course.

For my part, I love class racing as then, your finishing position on the water is your actual position. The easiest way of getting into racing - just as I first did - is by crewing for someone who has raced before, or by attending an introduction to racing course run in the club. The RYA has recently been training up Club Racing Coaches (CRC) to run these and if your club is a Volvo Champion Club then they will definitely have a CRC in the club.

With the great enthusiasm for the sport created by the Olympic Team, the likes of Ellen MacArthur and the future looking bright with the GBR Challenge for the America’s Cup there has never been a better time to start sailing. So get on the Internet and look up a club or sailing school near to you. I just hope you enjoy the sport as much as I have.

Have fun
Rob Andrews