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Hi all.

 

I'm based in the Manawatu and have been lurking around here for a few weeks. I'm 46 and despite having never sailed (but plenty of small boat fishing off Foxton etc) sailing seems to appeal to my sometimes solitude lifestyle.

 

1. Is it too late to learn - being given my goal would be to one day head off to Tonga or Fiji

 

2. I need to learn, I guess Mana would be my best bet? I think Wanganui only do dinghy type instruction, and while some might suggest that is the best way to start, others say if you want to cruise then go crew or do a course.

 

3. Any suggestions on boats. My budget will be about 25k but will allow up to another 10k for work needed or a less work needed but better boat. I'm looking for something I can eventually skip round the coast or cross the strait in and maybe berth 3-4.

 

Thanks for all and any advice. I'm looking forward to a new start in something!

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Or start with a small trailer  sailer, kestrel or Hartley 16, under 4 k ,easy to sail and tow, and learn in lakes and sheltered waters, small boat means small problems but you can still make a cup of tea and have a lie down.

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You are never too old!!
If you are wanting to sail off that beach, I would suggest a little Beach Cat of some kind. Fast and happy to handle a few waves off that beach. You want something you can flup back up if you go over. A little Sailing dinghy I think would be too frustrating. You would constantly be swamped in the surf. Otherwise, head down to Mana and sail within the Estuary area where you have some shelter from the Sea State.
Anyone!!!....Does Mana have a club racing group?? If it does, I would ask around if anyone is wanting a crew member. It's a great way to learn, and to find out if you like sailing without spending a lot of money. Mana is also the best choice for when you own something a little bigger and is the best of all entry points for aiming for the Sounds and Able Tas when you get a bigger boat.

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Hi, yes there is a club group, Paramata boating club, a friend races lasers there, Also there is Mana marina and plimmerton that do the "bigger" racing.else head a bit further south to wellington

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You are never too old!!

Good to know :)

If you are wanting to sail off that beach, I would suggest a little Beach Cat of some kind. Fast and happy to handle a few waves off that beach. You want something you can flup back up if you go over.

I don't think I'd be going off the beach there - although the estuary might be ok - there is also duddings lake, but that might be too small with powerboats around.

A little Sailing dinghy I think would be too frustrating. You would constantly be swamped in the surf. Otherwise, head down to Mana and sail within the Estuary area where you have some shelter from the Sea State.

Anyone!!!....Does Mana have a club racing group?? If it does, I would ask around if anyone is wanting a crew member. It's a great way to learn, and to find out if you like sailing without spending a lot of money. Mana is also the best choice for when you own something a little bigger and is the best of all entry points for aiming for the Sounds and Able Tas when you get a bigger boat.

Thanks - good advice!

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Hi, yes there is a club group, Paramata boating club, a friend races lasers there, Also there is Mana marina and plimmerton that do the "bigger" racing.else head a bit further south to wellington

Ah Paramata - true that cheeers!

 

Or start with a small trailer  sailer, kestrel or Hartley 16, under 4 k ,easy to sail and tow, and learn in lakes and sheltered waters, small boat means small problems but you can still make a cup of tea and have a lie down.

 

Thats more the thing - once i get used to sailing it then able to have a play then the cup of tea and a lie down or cook something, snooze etc - thanks!

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I learned to sail at Paremata. Great for dingy sailing and learn to sail. I sailed for many years as a teenager at plimmerton in dinghies. Also good learn to sail program, and quite a few trailer yachts. After that I sailed out of Mana maybe 20 years. Racing out of mana is mostly keelboats in winter. Good if you wish to crew. Give then a call and I'm sure they would be happy to help - someone is always looking for crew.

IMO dinghy racing is where you really learn to sail.

Any of these clubs will be a good place to start, and they co-operate well. Plimerton and Mana o joint events, Including beginner strait crossings, escorted trailer yacht crossings etc...

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I learned to sail at Paremata. Great for dingy sailing and learn to sail. I sailed for many years as a teenager at plimmerton in dinghies. Also good learn to sail program, and quite a few trailer yachts

So you'd recommend Paremata as opposed to Plimmerton? their website wasn't very helpful (only kids class advertised) so might need to gert in contact. Thanks for your help!

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Depends. They are different. Parematta - and most clubs- have way more learn to sail for kids than adults. My experience there was 40 years ago, when dingy fleets were big! No reason not to speak to both clubs and see what they offer now. I can say this about the sailing;

Paremata harbour is shallow, with many sand bars and strong tides. It will teach you about sailing, close navigation and boat handling. There are no real waves.

Plimmerton will teach you about sailing, and sailing in waves, quite often as big as your dingy! Great fun, and teaches you surfing in a sailboat. It is probably more adventurous than paremata. It's west coast sailing and pretty open. IMO it is great training for sailing larger boat in heavy conditions in the ocean. There is some tidal flow at plimmerton, but it is not like between the sand bars at paremata.

Once you have a dingy on a trailer, you could leave it at plimmerton in the trailer park. Parematta does not have one. Dinghy sailing is great and portable - you can sail anywhere, both days, every weekend if you want to, including racing. However, best to find out what classes are popular at your main club, and by the one of those that suits you best.

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Plimmerton will teach you about sailing, and sailing in waves, quite often as big as your dingy! Great fun, and teaches you surfing in a sailboat. It is probably more adventurous than paremata. It's west coast sailing and pretty open.

Cheers - that sounds like me. I might flick off an email and see what they can offer.

I don't mind paying one-on-one if they offer that or can point me to someone that does.

 

Can anyone advise of potential costs of hiring a small trailer sailor or dinghy to learn in and lesson cost approximations?

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Cheers - that sounds like me. I might flick off an email and see what they can offer.

I don't mind paying one-on-one if they offer that or can point me to someone that does.

 

Can anyone advise of potential costs of hiring a small trailer sailor or dinghy to learn in and lesson cost approximations?

I believe Mana has a couple of dingys they rent out, not sure the cost exactly but i thought I heard it was aout $20, but not sure if that is an hour or a day. 

 

Oneday I might find i have a bit of spare time that will allow me to get out and try sailing, have sailed my friends laser, which i loved, but he is now involved in the mid winter series and his laser is kept elsewhere. :(

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Is Manawatu Sailing Club still going? Sailed in estuary at Foxton and used to go out across bar when it could. Really fond memories as we towed our boats down from New Plymouth (Trailer yachts as well), and had great times.

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started sailing about 46yo by soloing a 420 dinghy on a lake, that taught me the sails'n'strings

 

at 48 had cracked that nut so traded up to racing + soloing a 17' nacra catamaran on same lake, which gave me an insight into performance sailing + the wind

 

by 50 was sailing a weta trimaran + the nacra on the same lake but looking for my first keeler in auckland

 

51 bought a 25' keeler that had sailed here from sweden and started sailing round the hauraki gulf, form which i learned about inboard engines, anchoring, tides and reefing sails

 

now at 53 expect to be putting all that together crewing on a boat to fiji 

 

so as long as you keep your enthusiasm levels up

 

there's no reason you can't start small and stay on the learning curve until you get to where you want  

 

and it's all here in nz

 

at reasonable prices

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started sailing about 46yo by soloing a 420 dinghy on a lake, that taught me the sails'n'strings

 

at 48 had cracked that nut so traded up to racing + soloing a 17' nacra catamaran on same lake, which gave me an insight into performance sailing + the wind

 

by 50 was sailing a weta trimaran + the nacra on the same lake but looking for my first keeler in auckland

 

51 bought a 25' keeler that had sailed here from sweden and started sailing round the hauraki gulf, form which i learned about inboard engines, anchoring, tides and reefing sails

 

now at 53 expect to be putting all that together crewing on a boat to fiji 

 

so as long as you keep your enthusiasm levels up

 

there's no reason you can't start small and stay on the learning curve until you get to where you want  

 

and it's all here in nz

 

at reasonable prices

 

Thanks Erice - sounds like you were in exactly the same position as me now! I'm going to sell my bike tat doesnt get used much now and use that towards a small trailer sailer and see how I go - good luck with your ventures!

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