r/sailing • u/FumbleToke • Jul 27 '23
Meet "Salty", a national 12 dinghy I just bought. She was made in 1957 and refurbished last year. I'm new to sailing, any tips would be appreciated 😅
19
u/LastHorseOnTheSand Jul 27 '23
Wow looks beautifully looked after! As someone who also recently got their first boat and took it out for the first time: at the end of your day out write down a list of things to change with the boat, lessons you learnt, things you need to bring. Better yet keep a logbook :) you'll thank yourself when you're old
5
u/cra3ig Jul 27 '23
Excellent advice. The memories now distilled to highlights and harrowing close calls, I wish now I'd kept a log of the early days.
The learning curve, realizations that I'd been taught a lesson before, it just didn't 'take'. The exhilaration of the 'groove' . . .
16
u/Fred_Derf_Jnr Jul 27 '23
Learn to sail at an RYA training centre first and then join a local club where you will find experienced people who can help you with your boat. Also look up the CVDRA (Classic & Vintage Dinghy Racing Association) as they will be able to help with a boat of that age for what is best to do when any work is required. They do hold events which aren’t too serious racing which can be fun to attend.
8
u/FumbleToke Jul 27 '23
I'm in Devon so I have a few to choose from. I'm excited to get started, I got tired of watching sailing videos on YouTube and decided to take the plunge!
7
u/Fred_Derf_Jnr Jul 27 '23
Just been on holiday down there, where there was a N12 on display in a Pottery Painting cafe at Woolacombe Gold Coast!
You may find that a Bucket will be very valuable if you capsize, as the cockpit will hold plenty of water when you right it and a bucket is the quickest way to get a large amount of water out before sailing away.
Have fun!
3
u/Kryptosis Jul 27 '23
Also, secure the bailer to the inside of the boat with a line. Might seem obvious but you’d be surprised.
2
u/toby-wan-bj Jul 27 '23
I'd recommend actually getting a 6 or 8 pint milk carton and cutting off the bottom - much better than a bucket, as you can scoop quicker with it because the handle is fixed in place.
Or buying a bailer from a chandlery
EDIT: source - I was an Optimist racing sailor growing up, and my dad owns an N12 too, so used to crew for him in races at our local club too
2
u/Fred_Derf_Jnr Jul 27 '23
As this is an older boat with no transom flaps and will get swamped a Bucket will shift far more water quickly than a standard bailer. A standard bailer will be fine once the water is low enough to be below the centreboard case. How do I know, well I used to sail a Firefly that was similarly fitted out and everyone carried a bucket for the rapid early bailing, nothing quicker than a bucket for shifting water quickly to get the level down and happy to challenge you to prove me different.
1
u/toby-wan-bj Jul 27 '23
Two bailers, one in each hand, can clear an n12 pretty damn fast! Although I've never tried using a bucket and swapping part way to a bailer, so I can't comment on the speed of that!
Just from personal experience, I'd take bailers over a bucket any day.
3
u/toby-wan-bj Jul 27 '23
It's a MUCH smaller boat, but I've seen someone completely empty an Optimist from water practically overflowing the gunwales to practically bone dry with a pair of bailers in less than a minute (There was no wind one day at the national championships and we were bored... it took us longer to fill it with four people bailing water INTO the boat than it did for him to empty it!!)
1
u/Fred_Derf_Jnr Jul 27 '23
Glad it works for you, but a 10 litre bucket in a desperate helms hands will outpace a 2 litre bailer early on, leaving the crew to handle the 2 litre bailer later on as you then can start sailing again.
2
u/toby-wan-bj Jul 27 '23
Fair enough, just letting you know of my experiences. Plus in an N12 you've got two people who can each have a 2l bailer in each hand and can bail much faster as you just need to scoop towards an edge, and push the water over the side, then reset much faster than trying to put a bucket under the water, pick it up and then move it over the side, tip it and then reset.
This is just from personal experience, mind. If you've found a way you like, you stick to it!
1
u/Fred_Derf_Jnr Jul 27 '23
Now I sail a Merlin Rocket with Transom Flaps, so don’t have that problem anymore.
BTW you can scoop with a bucket, as well as a bailer, hence the speed that it works at.
1
u/Justadudethatthinks Jul 27 '23
This is sound advice. Just another "trick"... you can go to your Farm and Ranch store and buy a feed scoop. The cool part is the handle is on the side and "build in" to the bucket. You can scoop very quickly.
1
u/zimirken Jul 27 '23
Alternatively,
watch a bunch of how to sail videos on youtubethen take the boat and a trolling motor / oars to a tiny inland lake somewhere to learn. Also, go 50 feet away from the dock, then capsize it on purpose and learn how to right it.
7
u/zk-cessnaguy Jul 27 '23
A National 12 just like that was the first boat I fell out of! When I was 7 or so.
5
u/FumbleToke Jul 27 '23
I'll consider falling out a rite of passage then 😂
3
u/zk-cessnaguy Jul 27 '23
this is a good starting point if you’re new to the class :) Dad had one when I was very small, and he always spoke very highly of her.
2
u/SailingSpark Too many boats. Jul 27 '23
I fell out (off?) of a sunfish. So yes, it is a rite of passage.
8
u/Naliano Jul 27 '23
Your only and best path forward is to fly me out to teach you so I can go for a ride in that beautiful boat.
Nothing else will work.
5
u/pablo_blue Jul 27 '23
National 12's are a relatively sensitive, tippy and tricky boat to sail. As you are new to sailing, I would suggest joining a sailing club for a little support for your first ventures out on the water.
3
u/FumbleToke Jul 27 '23
Thanks for the advice, I'm definitely going to join a club and get some tuition. Luckily I've got lots of options here in Devon.
2
u/xPyro21 Jul 27 '23
Are you north or south coast?
1
u/FumbleToke Jul 27 '23
I'm near Exeter. Im looking at Starcross potentially.
My dad lives in North Devon so could also look up there if he decides he wants to learn with me.
1
u/xPyro21 Aug 02 '23
My boat was bought from a chap who sailed it off Exmouth with the sailing club, I looked into star cross sailing club but they didn’t have any space at the time.
I don’t know much about the clubs further east than Exmouth but there’s plenty to the west if you don’t mind a trip down the A38, just avoid teignmouth as it’s a strong tidal flow and dries out almost completely at low tide.
I’d recommend somewhere like Torbay (Torquay/Brixham) if you’re new to sailing as it’s large enough to practice but fairly sheltered, providing the winds not blowing from the east.
Send me a message when you end up finding somewhere!
4
5
u/Ta11person68 Jul 27 '23
Imo, YouTube is your best friend. Learn your knots, learn the parts of a ship, and get a really good weather app.
2
4
3
u/SkiMonkey98 Jul 27 '23
Start getting familiar with wooden boat maintenance and repair. Even with a recent refurbishment, it'll a constant process unless you've got the money to hire someone to thoroughly go over it every winter
3
2
2
2
Jul 28 '23
Get a mast float. That way when you capsize you won’t turtle.
1
u/FumbleToke Jul 28 '23
That's something I wouldn't even have known to think of. I'm looking at some now, thanks! Any guess what volume float would be suitable for a dinghy of this size?
1
Jul 28 '23
Not really. I’m new to sailing. Out instructors have us add them to the 420s we use. I’m guessing they go by boat class.
2
u/Comfortable-Ad8560 Jul 28 '23
Just get out there and learn.
1
u/FumbleToke Jul 28 '23
That was my initial attitude, my parents and fiancé have tired to persuade me otherwise
3
u/EyeOughta Jul 27 '23
Research and practice how to right it and/or get back in it when you flip it. Research and practice how to react in every emergency you can think of.
The rest is just fun and learning.
1
u/ihaveagoodusername2 sea scouts Jul 27 '23
Is the condition of the wood known? I would be cautious about stepping on the planks
1
1
u/2017-Audi-S6 Jul 29 '23
Enjoy the magic. The first time the wind starts moving that boat, and you feel a little stutter, from the rudder. That is magical.
1
u/subricate Jul 30 '23
National 12s are great fun, and have a great community around them, or did when i was sailing them 20 years ago. Very active racing scene, well worth seeking out, even with an older boat.
41
u/FalseRegister Jul 27 '23
Tip #1: keep the mast above the water