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Boats
We have about 70 boats at Bardowie Loch that can be used by members who are capable of sailing independently (RYA NSS2 / YSS3 standard). If you are not sure what boats might be best for you, please ask the steward on duty or an instructor.
If there is a problem with a boat, please let us know so the Bosun can make sure it is resolved.
Rigging boats
Some boats are easier to rig than others, but hopefully this information will get you out sailing quicker.
The RS Feva is a double-handed dinghy that is popular for youth sailing. The boats at Bardowie are Mark 1.
The Laser 1 s an Olympic class single-handed dinghy ideal for race training. We have both a standard and radial rig.
The Optimist is a small, single-handed dinghy that we use for teaching our younger members to sail.
The RS 200 is a two-handed racing dinghy that lets you experience the excitement of hiking out.
The RS Tera is a single-handed dinghy designed for young sailors, and is appropriate for both learning and racing.
The Topper is a single-handed dinghy for youth sailing that is popular for racing events because of the ease of transporting it between venues.
The RS Quba is typically used at Bardowie as a single-hander by adults and youth sailors.
The RS Zest is a beginner-friendly dinghy that is often sailed single-handed by an adult but can also be used by a pair of youth sailors.
To get one ready for sailing:
- Make sure the hull you have picked does not have an out-of-order sign attached at the rudder mount point.
- Make sure the rudder is up so it will not be damaged when moving the hull.
- Move the hull so the bow is pointing head-to-wind, not blocking the path to the slipway.
- Take off the cover, bundle it, and store it safely where you can find it later.
- Visually check the boat condition (for example, the tiller extension)
- Ideally find someone to help you with the mast.
- Get the mast with its highlighter-yellow sail from the racks on the right side of the boat shed.
- Lay the mast over the hull so that its base is ready to drop into its slot (the step) and the top is pointing backwards (astern).
- Have one person direct the base of the mast into its slot, while the taller one moves forward from the back of the boat, pushing the mast up.
- Once the mast is securely upright in the step, with its black rings sitting in the collar, use the strap to pull the collar gate closed, so that holes for inserting the pin are aligned and the locking button pops up.
- If the locking button does not pop up, trying rocking the mast slightly to release it.
- Insert the pin that is at the end of the strap through the aligned holes for the collar and its gate.
- If the pin has a rotating end-piece, use it to secure the pin by turning it to 90 degrees and centring it.
- Rotate the mast so that the metal D-ring near the base is pointing astern.
- Prepare the boom so the outhaul is on top and the sheets are below.
- Attach the boom to the mast, popping the claw onto the collar, before laying the other end gently on the hull.
- Find the plastic hook on the bottom of the sail and release the strap from it.
- Always keeping the back corner of the sail (the clew) in one hand or the other so the wind does not catch it, pass the clew around the mast to unwrap as much sail as needed.
- Use the strap at the clew to lead it astern to the metal hook, on top of the boom, which belongs to the outhaul.
- Attach the hook to the reinforced eyelet (cringle) at the clew.
- Tighten the outhaul using the cleat on top of the boom.
- Clip the block for the kicking strap onto the metal D-ring near the base of the mast, and tighten as appropriate.
- If the mainsheet is not already prepared, run it forward through the front block on the boom, then back through the remaining blocks (bridle block, aft boom block, mainsheet block), before tying a figure-of-eight.
With experience, this process can be done in minutes.
To reef the sail for windier conditions, simply leave some of the sail wrapped around the mast.