Learn to sail
The Royal Yachting Association is the go-to for information for all things sailing-related, and should be your first port of call if you’re considering learning new skills on the water. It’s the national body for dinghy, yacht and motor cruising, all forms of sail racing, RIBs and sports boats, windsurfing and personal watercraft, and offers a huge number of training options for those of all ages who wish to acquire both theory and practical knowledge.
You’ll find sailing clubs and sailing schools around the UK that are RYA-affiliated and therefore able to offer the Association’s recognised training courses. In many cases, the certificates you’ll receive on successful completion of a course – and, in some cases, an exam – will be accepted in other places around the world as confirmation of your competence. Above all, though, completing a recognised theory or practical course will give you the skills and knowledge necessary to be safe on the water, to interact with other vessels, their crews and – if all goes horribly wrong – the emergency services, and to get the maximum enjoyment out of your boat, board or other watercraft.
The RYA claims to offer ‘the world’s leading training programme for leisure and professional boaters’ and its schemes steer an impressive 250,000 yacht sailors, powerboaters, small craft leisure boaters, windsurfers and canal boaters towards confident and successful boating every year. Even those who are not active or on-deck members of a crew can benefit from an RYA course: first aid knowledge will never be a waste of time, for example, and on a yacht it’s essential that someone knows how to properly use any VHF and VHF Digital Selective Calling (DSC) radio equipment. These two courses are classroom-based and assume no prior experience.
The RYA’s website offers a full run-down of all the courses available, plus a list of clubs and training centres. Contact a few to chat over your options before you sign up for anything, but don’t expect the prices to vary a great deal – the RYA-related costs (exam and certificate fees, for example) should be the same whichever you choose.