Maiden Voyage Advice and Tutoring UK

[Adie]

I'm currently looking at buying a Mac 26M. My main experience was dinghy sailing, Topper and Enterprise and the odd hire sail when on holiday. I was also the 2IC of a sailing club with access to several pool boats in Gosport. The area sailed was mainly the South coast and the Solent so the tidal pulls around Portsmouth and a bit of rough sea isn't a worry. I'm looking forward to calm warm waters for a change!!

The primary use will be trailer sailing as I live in the midlands (UK). The family want power, I want sail, so the compromise is the 26M.

The getting to know the boat may benefit from the experience of a seasoned Mac sailor. Are there any sailors that would be interested in coming along on the maiden voyage and providing advice and guidance on the boat? This would be in the UK, probably the Welsh coast as it is the closest to sleepy Shropshire.

We also like the idea of rivers and canals and this shouldn't be a problem (I've owned a river cruiser previously). Leave the mast and sails at home and motor a few miles to the rivers or canals sounds like an excellent idea. I just need some suitable slipways.

The aim is to get used to the craft both sailing and motoring, eventually take it across to Europe and head for the Med. I get 13 weeks off a year so time's not a problem at the moment.

When I retire in ten years I want to sail around the Med then head off further afield for a few years. By that time my sailing skills should be honed enough to head out to sea with the required skillset. I will of course be doing the RYA certification and have a larger boat to live aboard and handle the sea conditions.

Any advice in this area would be appreciated.

Regards,

Adrian

[yukonbob]

Sounds like you've already made up your mind Update your profile with location. There are a few Mac owners in your area, and the thread progresses it is easier just to look at you location rather than read back through everything to find it. I don't think you're gonna find any 'bad' reviews here on the boats other than that they are a bit tender sailing and don't point supper well, but pretty sure everyone here is more than happy with their purchase.

[kitcat]

Oh yes, that's what dreams are made for and I think you are absolutely right to think of a Mac to get onto the next step of the ladder.

Whilst this forum is populated by some great people, and I really mean that, it may also be useful to make contact with the UK Macgregors Owners Association, just Google it. I know there are members in and around the area in which you will sail, and I'm sure they will be only too happy to take you out and if you get your boat, spend some time with you whilst you are learning the ropes.

You don't say if you are thinking of buying new or secondhand, but, if new, the new importers for the UK are a company called Marlinspike Marine on the south east coast somewhere. They don't have a website yet, but I notice they are hoping to exhibit at the London Boatshow, held at the Excel centre in a couple of weeks time.

If you ever get down to Devon/Cornwall in the summer and want a sail out on the Tamar in my 26M, do PM me, I'd be only too pleased to take you out, otherwise don't hesitate to get in touch anyway if you feel I can be of help, having gone through the same process 3 or 4 years ago, I know what it's like.

Paul.

[NiceAft]

Adrian,

This is what I sailed for twenty-six years. It is fourteen feet of fun on the water.


In 2005 we purchased an . All of your dinghy sailing will help you with the . Just take it slow, and build up your confidence. The boat is self righting, and I doubt you can sink her I jumped from a 14' dinghy to a 26' gem of a boat, so can you.

If you let it be known where you are, there just may be others who are accessible, and willing to give you a ride on their Mac's.

Ray

[DaveB]

So Thats were your Nice Aft came from?
Just came back from a 5 day Cruise in Biscane bay, FL and all I saw was big Nice Aft waves in 23-28knot winds.
Along with 3 other WCTSS members.
Also another Canadian with new M showed up. Jean
Dave

Adrian,

This is what I sailed for twenty-six years. It is fourteen feet of fun on the water.


In 2005 we purchased an . All of your dinghy sailing will help you with the . Just take it slow, and build up your confidence. The boat is self righting, and I doubt you can sink her I jumped from a 14' dinghy to a 26' gem of a boat, so can you.

If you let it be known where you are, there just may be others who are accessible, and willing to give you a ride on their Mac's.

Ray

[NiceAft]

So Thats were your Nice Aft came from

?

Nice Aft came from Calf., just like everyone else's. The Phantom came from Edison, NJ.

The years of sailing on that Phantom taught quick reaction to a heeling boat, and real respect for the power of wind and water.

When I got the , the biggest challenge I had was the size. Sailing it was a dream. I had to get used to looking down at people, instead of looking up.

Adrian, just get out on the boat and sail it to get experience. If you feel it heeling too much (I have had it heeled in excess of 45 degrees. It does not sail we'll then, but it's fun.). Just release the main sheet, then keep on sailing. Also, any questions you may have, ask them here. There is a good chance someone has already experienced that same thing.

Ray

[133bhp]

+1 on the UK site. sure someone will help out. Complete newb, I did a gathering with them on the easy coast in aug, v freindly, had a great time. (my first real sail in effect)

Been out a few times since then even in advertised gale warning winds, on a small patch of headsail, and will cope with some fairly big beam on waves etc. but probabaly best advice I would give is unless sure of fairly benign conditions, reef in and stay thay way. as gusts will have it over quite hard in an instant. (as I learnt yesterday) They sail hull speed in wind on the reefed jib alone anyway. Other thing would have been priceless for me, was to have to someone show or explain the chaarcxtersistics of docking in wind etc. No two days are the same!

[Adie]

Thanks guys,

I was thinking of a bit of large pond sailing to get used to it, take it out on the lake on a fair day and get used to the feel of it. The shallow draft means I'll be able to launch at my local lake although it will look odd next to the dinghies. It is a very small lake but gets some good wind at times.

Rigging I'll practice on dry land when there's little or no wind to protect the sails and boom.

I'm also on macgregorowners.org.uk and sailnet.com. Lots of excellent advice and support which is what the community is all about.

Regards,

Adrian

[FinallySailing]

Hi again, Adrian.

Definitely, +1 on Macgregors.org.uk . It's not just a forum or a web site but a proper RYA class assosciation. Some really fun people there, and you might well find somebody closer to Telford. If you want to try your new boat on fresh water in one of the most beautiful places in the UK first without tides and currrents, spend a few days on Rutland Water. I did my first sailing post Topper there. Very helpful people at the watersports center who also provide the safety ribs and keep an eye on you if you need assistance. They will also for a fee provide tuition and haul your boat in and out. When I moved "Rockhopper" away from there, there were still some Classics and Motorsailer Macs there.

Best wishes,

FS

[FinallySailing]

PS : If you are looking for slipways, have a look at

http://www.boatlaunch.co.uk/

Pan into you area of interest and you'll find links to pictures and reviews of a variety of public and private slipway.

[Catigale]

Adrian...good luck..you have a perfect boat for canals, lakes and near coastal cruising in the

The build quality on the is sometimes an issue for new customers..don't expect a perfectly built boat. That being said, there are the same issues with boats costing 2x more.

My roots are in the West Midlands btw...Salop is one of the mot beautiful green places in the world IMHO

[mastreb]

Do budget a few thousand pounds in upgrades and mods. Even though the boats come complete, they're very bare and you will doubtless want to upgrade some of the stock hardware. My "post purchase" spend was $4000 to get to a "complete" boat (Dinghy, upgraded anchor, stern rail seats, various hardware improvements, wind sensor, engine cable, chartplotter, etc.)