Sailing at Glenridding

After two enjoyable days sailing I have a certificate to show for it.  

We could not have had two better days, brights sunshine, gentle reliable wind, mostly force 2 coming consistently from a Northerly direction, it was ideal conditions for learning to sail.   

There was one instructor for two course participants, which meant we got experience of being crew and at the helm, opportunity to practice all the manouvres, and to watch both the instructor and one another, (learning from mistakes) as well as ask lots of questions.

There is a definite advantage in doing the course in a dinghy with mainsail and jib.   Learning solo in a single sail boat with an instructor in a motor boat gives you twice the experience at the helm, but you have to learn about a two sail boat later.  With the instructor there, you spend more time on the water, you see stuff demonstrated for real, you can ask questions as they arise.

Our instructor was called Neil, clearly enjoyed sailing and following sailing races, and was ready to answer our questions even if it took us onto stuff we did not need to know for the qualification. Steve & Pete, the centre managers also took an interest in how we were doing, and generally managed to make us feel very welcome at the centre.

The boat we learned in was a Laser Stratos, small enough to be manned by one, better by wo, and fitted the three of us reasonably, and would certainly manage four at a pinch.  

Ullswater is a beautiful place to learn to sail.  We were surrounded by beautiful scenery, that (almost) made me wish I had been out walking instead.  We were lucky, getting a fairly consistent wind, it can come from different directions with all those mountains around.  There are islands, buoys, bays, lots of interest, and hazards - another good reason to have the intructor in the boat with you - you need to learn the lake as well as the boat.