Buying a dinghy

In theory you can sail pretty much anywhere with a large expanse of water, but in practice it is better to look for a sailing club and most of them will welcome new members with open arms.

Try looking at local reservoirs, lakes, rivers, and along the coast for a suitable club and don`t be afraid to ask lots of questions, after all, you may be spending alot of time there in the future!

Membership fees can vary considerably and will relate to the facilities provided such as:

* Location
* Opening Times
* Facilities
* Number of Instructors
* Size of the Venue

Historically, sailing clubs have been predominantly focused on racing, but are now looking to help those who just wish to learn sailing techniques or wish to sail recreationally.

There's no point spending thousands of pounds on a dinghy that will get used once a year? So be realistic about your choice if you will get little chance to sail. Obviously price will probably be the biggest factor in choosing your dinghy, and bear in mind that as a beginner, you are much more likely to crash or collide with an object or other vessel, and so it is better to go for a cheaper dinghy to begin with.

If you intend just to sail on your own, then a single-hander will be fine, but if you intend to sail with a friend, spouse or someone from a sailing club, you will need to look at two-handers. The latter is certainly more sociable but you need to be certain that you both wish to sail the same number of times per month.

There are a couple of models such as the Enterprise and the Mirror, which can be manned by either one or two people, making it a happy medium.

Remember, wooden boats require a lot of tender loving care to keep them in good condition, whereas fibreglass boats require less maintenance (but they still need to be cared for!).

If you are just learning then it is fair to assume you have little or no experience and some dinghies are easier to sail than others. It's worth thinking about the power of a boat as learning in a boat that has a large powerful sail will soon see you getting more than your feet wet!

Speak to your club - many cater for berthing of dinghies but you will need to get your dinghy to the club. If it is only small, then you may be able to transport it on top of your car, if not, you will need to borrow or purchase a trailer and you will also need a car with a towbar.

General Purpose Dinghies are fast, yet stable; fun, yet safe; suitable for daysailing and racing alike, they are all-rounders, definately suitable for beginners due to their versatility. Examples include:

1) Wayfarer
2) Mirror

Small keelboats have weighted keels, making them stable and very unlikely to capsize, but are also exceptional performers, popular to race. Examples include:

1) Flying Fifteen
2) Laser SB3

Children's boats are generally less powerful, and lighter, making them easier to handle both on and offshore for the younger generations. Nevertheless, some classes can still be raced competitively:

1) Optimist
2) Laser Radial

High Performance Dinghies often have lightweight hulls, and large powerful rigs, usually with both trapeze and spinnaker to ensure an extremely fast and thrilling racing experience. Some examples are:

1) International 14
2) 49er
3) Contender (Single hander)