It is a general guide and should not be taken as the only advice available.
What can you sail at Farnham?
Recognised class dinghies, monohull and not more than 4.67m (15ft) overall length

Fleet status classes sailing at RSC.
RS200 - Laser - Enterprise - Mirror - Topper
Mirror & Topper sail as part of the Slow Handicap fleet

Handicap boats sailed at the club include:-

National 12, Graduate, GP14, 420, RS400, Laser 2000, Merlin Rocket,
Solo, Streaker, Supernova, RS300, Phantom, OK .

It is a good idea to make sure that any boat is suitable for our type of inland water.
In general terms boats that have a trapeze or very large spinnaker can be a handful
and do not compete well with the established classes at Farnham.
More traditional boats like the Enterprise or Graduate are more suited although
the new breed of asymmetric types, RS200, RS400 are proving to be a good choice
of the modern designs and in the right hands can do well.

Sailboards are not really a viable proposition due to the restricted nature of the water and the variable winds.
Their use is permitted but tends to be popular only in very windy conditions for fun.

When choosing a boat you should consider

Who will be sailing it? Don't buy a Mirror dinghy if you and your crew both top 6ft and weigh 12 stones
you just won't be comfortable or fit into it.
The Mirror is however an excellent first boat for a family and has introduced many people to sailing,
it can be sailed with or without a crew. It's big sister the Miracle is worth considering since it offers
the same simplicity in a larger boat, but needs a crew.

What type of sailing do you intend to do?

Will you get the racing bug once you have found your way around the lake
and can make the boat go where you want it to, or do you want to take
the boat on family holidays to explore the Cornish creeks?
Some boats can do both but will do neither very well.
Will you always have a crew or do you need a single hander?
Not too many boats will allow you to do both, the Mirror being the old favourite that springs to mind.
A more modern single hander alternative is the RS Vareo, a light weight GRP hull with a modern "skiff " type hull.
When racing you can add the asymmetric spinnaker for some off wind excitement.
In cruising mode the assymetric gives the crew something to play with,
it also has the advantage of being a hull that can carry a bit of weight.

How much do you intend to spend?

Bargains can be found, but beware! That just painted look may be hiding serious rot,
try to examine both sides of any suspect areas, especially inside buoyancy tanks where
water may have been standing for some time.

Remembering that you will also need to buy buoyancy aids at the very least, and probably
some waterproofs, you must also insure the boat?
A rough idea of a boats' value can be found by comparing adds in Yachts & Yachting magazine or asking other owners at Farnham.

Wood or GRP (Fibreglass)?

The vision of a shiny varnished deck may soon fade when winter frosts leave their mark
because you have no indoor storage available or workshop to carry out the occasional repaint
. GRP may not always be the answer if the boat has had a hard life, it too can deteriorate if neglected,
but a sound GRP boat will have much less maintenance.

Where can I find boats for sale?

The club notice board is a good place to start, there is always a selection of boats on offer.
Yachts & Yachting magazine has a good classified section although you should be
prepared to travel as this is a national publication.
If you have already decided what class of boat you are looking for then try the Class Association,
some publish lists of second hand boats. class secretaries addresses included at the end of this information)
We all have different ideas about our ideal boat and you will undoubtedly canvas as many ideals as there
are boats to chose from. Buying one of the established classes will ensure that you can glean expertise from
others in the club and help to reduce the learning curve, should you turn to racing you will also have others
to compete against on equal terms.

What clothing do I need to sail in?

A buoyancy aid is compulsory at Farnham whenever you are afloat, do not take chances with this item,
old/worn or badly fitting buoyancy aids should not be used.
Most beginners take to the water in the warmer months of the year when you can be comfortable in T shirt and shorts.
A pair of soft pumps is adequate but a pair of wetsuit boots can help keep your feet warm as they will inevitably get
wet even if only when launching.
Out on the water the wind that makes it possible to sail is also the thing that will cool you down,
so a windproof is almost an essential on all but the warmest of days.
On cooler days don't be tempted to put on too much bulky clothing, you need to be able to move around
easily and sometimes quickly, several thin layers are better than one thick one.

Where can I buy sailing clothing or chandlery?

Mail order is popular, but there is a source locally,
Mike Saul in Hampsthwaite (Mike always has a car full of goodies and visits the club regularly,
he can supply most things, from a new boat to a split ring).
Of course you can always call to see Mike to make the purchase,
a phone call before you go may save a wasted trip though. Tel 01423 771821

Without going into too many pages the above information should help you make a start in sailing,
if you are still confused or need help then visit the club and seek advice, some of it may be conflicting
but most of it will be from experience.
Above all do not be afraid to ask, advice is free, mistakes can be costly!

Class Association websites

RS200 - Enterprise - Laser - Mirror - Topper - Streaker - Supernova - Solo
N12 - OK - Merlin Rocket - Graduate - GP14

Boat Insurance Specialists

There are others, a copy of Yachts & Yachting magazine will reveal more.

Noble Marine (Insurance Brokers)Ltd
Clinton House, Lombard Street ,Newark ,Notts ,NG24 1XB Tel 01636 707606 Fax 01636 707632
Newton Crum
839 London Road,Westclife-on-Sea,Essex,SS0 9TE Tel 01702 710041
W.H. Insurance Consultants
The Malt House,The Green,Steeple,Southminster,Essex,CM0 7RN Tel 01621 774000 Fax 01621 772810
St. Margarets Insurance Ltd
153-155 High Street,London, SE20 7DL Tel 0181 778 6161 Fax 0181 659 1968
Admiral Marine Ltd 4 Barnack Centre,Blakey Road,Salisbury,SP1 2LP Tel 01722 416106 Fax 01722 324455

Details correct @ October 2004