Flyer Sailing Club

[Rotorboater]

Having met quite a few Forumists it appears quite a few of us sail as well as fly. Having talked to a few people at the recent sports car day, the question was asked about shared ownership and I have been thinking about it a little.

I have too many boats and I was wondering if anyone might be interested in joining a share o boat with me on my first 30 cruising boat, it a nice little boat thats easily handled by 2 but can take 4 or 6 people in reasonable comfort and speed, its not new but its in reasonable condition & well found with a good recent engine & new standing rigging so shouldn't take much maintenance. Its currently on the East coast but I fancy putting it France near a suitable airfield but I am completely open to suggestions as to where to put it for this season.

As to number of shares, I would again be open to ideas, the boat is worth about 15k so that split between 4 or 6 would be fine, running costs are quite low if on a mooring, a bit more if on a Marina and I think we could do an internet booking system easily enough.

This is just a running it up the flag pole thing, I own the boat anyway but I won't use it anywhere near enough this year so it would be interesting if anyone is interested. I don't think you will need too much experience as its very easy to sail and if you have a pilots license then navigation is going to be no problem.

If anyone is interested please let me know.

Welcome to the Flyer Sailing Club!

[JoeC]

If it was built in the 70s I bet Gerard will buy it!

[Paul_Sengupta]

I don't have any friends, so anything would have to be capable of being run by myself alone...like my aeroplane!

Actually, not strictly true, I have some friends who sail and fly and may be interested. I'll point them in the direction on this thread.

[Gerard Clarke]

What a good idea. I am certainly interested, whether the boat is a 1970s tub or not (if the boat was built in the 70s, I want ten of them). I might have a mild preference for an East Coast base rather than a French one, but France probably makes more sense, and would produce more sailing days. Most of my recent sailing has been in dinghies, and I am pretty rusty on handling something like a thirty footer, particularly under power coming on and off moorings and so forth, but could hope to knock the rust off under your Captaincy, RB. Jwscud is an obvious candidate for Club Vice-Commodore. Also, as he is youthful and has floppy hair, he could double as Roger the Cabin Boy. I will volunteer as the surly foredeck hand. Bill can supply the yarns.

PS: pickchas , please

[Gerard Clarke]

Chav.

[Pete S]

East Coast? Hmmmm.........

Where is it moored at present? Levington, Felixstowe Ferry, Pinmill?

[Paul_Sengupta]

I'd be genuinely interested if it was a 900hp Sunseeker Superhawk!!!

Have you seen how much fuel 900hp takes to generate?

[PaulB]

What a good idea.

I thought that too. I wish I could be part of this.

[Rotorboater]

Its currently in Ipswich at Foxes but anywhere in UK could be good, GC you would have no trouble getting it on a mooring, you are very used to the vague steering of 70's cars so a yacht should be no problem!

Its an 1980 boat but a reasonably modern design and quite nice to sail, absolutely no problem sailing single handed as its got an auto pilot, it makes a very pleasant weekend sailer although I wouldn't want to do a round the world on a 30 footer!

I suspect it would have a large Gin capacity as well!

Here are some pics of the type

[Gerard Clarke]

Well, she's a looker. The boat too! [/obvious cheap gag]

What class is this? Thirty feet seems to me a good size for a knockabout cruising boat. Long enough to sail well, but not so long that it's a pain to anchor or moor. Presumably 4 berths in comfort, 6 at a squeeze?

I used to moor my ex-wife's 24 footer in a crowded part of Brancaster harbour, so I am used to faffing about with vague yacht steering, but it's been a while since I did any of that .

How about an initial weekend familiarisation cruise, with RB as skipper? If heading to France, what we need is a seaman from Staines.

[Rotorboater]

Its a Beneteau First 30, It has a double bunk in the front, 2 in the main cabin & 1 at the back, quite comfy if a bit friendly for a few days, Ideal for 2.

I have had a few people interested in a share already and the consensus is to leave it in the UK, prob90 east coast or south east coast, I don't mind too much as long as there are nice pubs and a beach near by.

For 6 shares it would be 2,5K each and about £50 month to cover marina fees etc, I suppose we would need to consider the equivalent of an engine fund but that wouldn't be very much.

If anyone is interested please let me know, I have the 2nd week of July booked on it so far and a weekend in May, other than that it will be free.

[Gerard Clarke]

I am in. I'll PM you. I would appreciate a refresher course on yacht handling with you, RB, as it's been a while since I handled anything larger than a Laser 2. My only formal ticket is Day Skipper, obtained many years ago at Gibraltar. I will buy the gin, if you will do the skippering on a training day.

[PaulB]

I sharing boats in this way commonplace? I said earlier in this thread that it seemed like a good idea, and given the costs of purchase and subsequent ownwership, sharing (as many do with shareoplanes) seems to be an obvious solution.... except I'd never really thought about it. Seems like a good way of getting more people into sailing too.

If I wasn't a poverty stricken, Midlands dwelling, land lubber I might even have been interested!

Hope it all works out......

[Steve R]

I love the idea, but I'm already 160 miles away from my shareoplane, and only 7 miles from Weymouth. If it were to be moored a bit further west I'd be in.

[TheKentishFledgling]

If anyone wants any refresher training, PM me. My (semi retired, ie swanning about in boats) father runs an RYA training school, and I'm sure could do a deal of some kind for mates.