Sailing has really lost popularity recently. Up until the start of the last century travelling by boat was among the most used methods of getting from place to place. However the twin disasters of the Titanic sinking and the invention of the aeroplane combined to lessen sailing’s popularity. Then there was that dirge-like Rod Stewart song.

Nowadays barring a few fishermen, smugglers and booze cruisers, most people who sail do so for pleasure. The mix of the great outdoors, bracing sea air, physical challenge, beautiful scenery, sense of freedom and complex skills to master make taking to the sea an increasingly popular way of spending a weekend.

We don’t recommend just roping a few old barrels together and setting out from the dock of the bay. There are many sailing courses available at levels from beginners’ to expert at venues scattered around Ireland, although most of them are in coastal locations such as Cobh and Malahide.

The Irish Sailing Association is the national governing body for sailing in Ireland. The ISA oversee a large amount of sailing and similar training courses. Vessels you can try out include powerboats, yachts, dinghies, catamarans, motor cruisers and personal watercraft (Jet-skis etc). There are also shore based courses involving subjects such as navigation, VHF radio and safety instruction.

You can quite quickly move from absolute beginner to useful deckhand over the course of a weekend. Some courses are basically just fun days out, while others provide more structured training. Several sailing schools offer children’s courses. A number of the courses available involve heading out to sea, staying overnight somewhere along the coast and then coming back the next day. There are also longer courses available involving more nights away. The Irish Disabled Sailing Association (IDSA) promotes sailing as a viable sport for the disabled.

Skills you will learn on a sailing course included ropework, sail handling, sea language, safety, helmsmanship, helmswomanship, rules of the sea and mopping the deck. More advanced courses feature classes in navigation, pilotage, maintenance, sea survival and radio communications.

There is an ISA approved qualifications framework and those interested can progress by earning national certificates at increasing levels. Level one is basic beginners for those still learning their sea legs, level two provides knowledge of safety and handling so the holder should be capable of taking a boat out unsupervised, while by level three the sailor should have enough skill and experience to supervise others at sea.

Those with experience, and their own boat, can hire an instructor in a similar way to a driving instructor. They will accompany you out to sea in the boat, so you can gain experience with the reassurance of a qualified expert on board just in case.

If you catch the sailing bug, and want to gain further skills and experience, you might decide to join a sailing club or take part in competitions or races. Some clubs make an effort to make sailing accessible to those who might not be able to afford their own boat, and run classes at all levels of expertise. There is also the attractive social aspect, although bottles of rum onboard are heavily frowned upon these days.

A sailing course is almost like a mixture of a class, work and a holiday. Those not in reasonable physical condition, or who just want a relaxing few days away, might be better off looking elsewhere. Everyone has to pull their weight on board a boat, and too much “swinging the lead” might cause your fellow crew members to dislike “the cut of your jib” and lead to suggestions you “walk the plank”. Also worth remembering is the unpredictable year round weather off the Irish coast, but that is all part of the adventure. Playing your part in a successful sailing trip can bring a real sense of achievement.

A sailing course offers the opportunity to spend some time outdoors, meet interesting people and learn new skills. There is still something romantic about embarking on a seafaring voyage, even if you are only heading a few miles up the coast. So you might consider hoisting the mainsail, tacking to starboard and setting off at a rate of knots to a sailing course provider near you*.

*Warning – the author is a landlubber who may or may not be using these nautical terms correctly.