Sydney catamaran learner needs on board experience

[manawatuman]

Hi everybody. im new to CF and the sailing scene. Im 50, single
im in the process of selling my house and Im looking at buying a used 36' catamaran and Sailing the pacific Islands and hopefully yonder.
I've been doing my theory and have bought numerous books but Im finding it hard to get hands on experience on a catamaran just for a walkabout to get a feel for the space. they seem few and far between compared to monohulls. I live south of Sydney . wollongong.
Is there anyone out there that would let me some access and advice on their catamaran. I have no sailing connections and funds are low till I sell house so a yacht club is not viable yet.
just someone with ocean experience and a little time would be very much appreciated.
Or I could go full on and spend a few weeks or months as a willing crew member and sail Australia. I am a very good worker and take instructions well.

kind regards Dean


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[ozskipper]

Why is a yacht club not viable? I would be heading down there and speaking to the race committee and asking who needs crew. It doesnt matter if its a big or small, cat or mono boat. The main thing is that you are out there on the water. That will get you into the sailing community in your area. You will learn so much, sitting at the bar, having post race beers.

[manawatuman]

hi. thanks for that.
yacht club sounds expensive at the moment with myself not working and mortgage payments etc.
the rest sounds like a good idea. let me know the date. I always have money for a post race rendezvous.
cheers dean

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[Uncle Bob]

Originally Posted by deanwright

hi. thanks for that.
yacht club sounds expensive at the moment with myself not working and mortgage payments etc.
the rest sounds like a good idea. let me know the date. I always have money for a post race rendezvous.
cheers dean

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Hi, sailing clubs far and wide are happy to accommodate some one willing to crew to gain experience at no cost or sometimes the cost of an associate membership, not expensive at all.

[ozsailer]

Hi Dean,
Down Wollongong way it is going to be difficult to get up close and personal with a Cat or cat owner without heading north up to Sydney. I second attending one of the many yacht clubs that dot Sydney Harbour but while you may get sailing experience there are few "Catamarans" that actually do the afternoon round the can races.
Putting a sign up on the notice boards on the yacht clubs or wandering the docks on weekends chatting to owners may give you some insight into what you are looking for in a cat. I beliee there are Cats for charter on Sydney Harbour/Pittwater and definatley a Seawind 1000 for charter on Lake Macquarie.
In the meantime I found perusing the different multihul brokerage sites gives you a good idea of what different manufactures offer and the current llisted prices so you become aware of what is a good price for a boat and what is an inflated price.
PM me if you are after any information I might be able to assist you with. We are normally based at Lake Macquarie but are about to return to Sunshine for our season of cruising.

Greg H
Sunshine
Lagoon 410S2

[ozskipper]

Originally Posted by deanwright

hi. thanks for that.
yacht club sounds expensive at the moment with myself not working and mortgage payments etc.
the rest sounds like a good idea. let me know the date. I always have money for a post race rendezvous.
cheers dean

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Quite the opposite. The hollywood-ish perception that many people have about yacht clubs is quite wrong. In general, they are no more expensive to visit than the local RSL. Some of the little ones dont even have pokies or alcohol licences.

Its incredibly cheap to join and enjoy the facilities. Get down there mate

Social membership at Woolongong Yacht club is only $20.
"full" sailing membership is $200 (includes YA insurance etc etc)

But like most sailing clubs, I am sure they would let you have a few free rides before signing up.

Actually, considering your planning at throwing well over a hundred k at a blue water cat, the membership is a sensible investment.

[manawatuman]

ok. thanks for that. I will check it out this week.


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[ozskipper]

Awesome.. Keep us posted :-D