There are plenty of books about sailing out there, from which you can learn a tremendous amount and we would recommend you read as many as you can. However, when it comes to casting off, on a real floating boat, on the sea, we would definitely say do not do this on your own.
Learning to sail without an instructor
Attempting to teach yourself to sail without prior experience is not only extremely dangerous but also potentially life-threatening: for you and for others. When you step into a boat and head off it’s pretty important that you know how to steer to start with. Also how to raise, lower and set the sails correctly to the wind. If you don’t you are a disaster waiting to happen and will very quickly end up high and dry on a rock or a sand bar – and that is if you are lucky. If you are unlucky you will be smashed up on the rocks or run down by a container ship.
You can read about the rules of the road, the wind and how tides work and affect a boat but unless you’ve practised it in real life the chances are you will not get it right
Sadly, there are countless examples of novice sailors needing rescue from the UK coastline. Not only are you putting your own life at risk, but you are also risking the lives of the volunteers at the RNLI charity who come to the rescue.
While it’s true that there’s no law preventing you from attempting to teach yourself to sail, that doesn’t make it a good idea.
One-to-one sailing lessons
But what about learning to sail on your own with an instructor?
Occasionally we are asked if someone can get some one to one tuition on one of our RYA sailing courses.
Generally that doesn’t work. Sailing is a team effort. You need crew to help raise and lower the sails, to help set up lines and fenders when you come alongside and moor. To help with the steering, heating up the soup at lunch, keeping a look out.
Learning to sail with others is always the better way.
We always recommend bringing at least two other crew members on beginner courses like Competent Crew. Working with a crew teaches you how to communicate, delegate tasks, and rely on others. These collaborative skills are essential and cannot be fully learned when sailing alone.
You’ll find that learning alongside others not only enhances your skills but also speeds up your progress compared to trying to learn in isolation. Our weekend of sailing on the Solent could also be a perfect choice.
In conclusion, while you can study the theory of sailing on your own, you cannot effectively teach yourself the practical aspects. Sailing safely and successfully requires the guidance of qualified instructors and the support of a crew.
At First Class Sailing, we make it easy and enjoyable to learn with experienced instructors and a supportive team environment. Explore our range of sailing courses and weekend trips today or call us for personalised advice on the best course for you.
