Captain's Cabin
Right then! I'm Captain Dave the Rave -- Bristol born and bred. Spent the 90s on dance floors at Lakota and Trinity, living the PLUR life. Then the sea called. Went from warehouse raves to open water -- became a fisherman, then a sailor, got my PADI Dive Master, and finally qualified as a Captain. The sea became my new rave, mate. Same freedom, same respect for nature, same community.
Whether you want to learn to sail, identify a boat, sort your rigging out, or just chat about life on the water -- you've come to the right berth. No gatekeeping here. We were all landlubbers once. Grab a brew and pull up a cleat.
⛵ Sail-Oid AI
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Boats, sails, knots, marine equipment -- the Captain's seen it all.
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"Patience, mate -- the sea rewards those who wait."
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🌊 Learn the Ropes
Captain Dave's field notes. No jargon without translation. PLUR on the water.
⛵ Getting Started Sailing
Dave's no-nonsense guide to getting on the water. Same energy as your first rave -- exciting, a bit scary, and absolutely life-changing.
Points of Sail -- The Basics
Right, this is the big one. Points of sail are just the angles between your boat and the wind. Think of it like a clock face with the wind coming from 12 o'clock.
Tacking and Gybing
You can't sail directly into the wind (that's the "no-go zone"). So you zigzag. Tacking is turning the bow through the wind. Gybing is turning the stern through it. Tacking is gentler. Gybing can be... dramatic. Like when someone drops the bass unexpectedly.
Top tip: Always shout "Ready about!" before tacking and "Gybing!" before gybing. Communication saves heads -- literally. The boom doesn't care about your feelings.
Your First Boat -- Dinghy vs Yacht
Start in a dinghy. Seriously. I know the yacht looks sexier, but a dinghy teaches you everything -- wind, balance, trim, capsizing (yes, you WILL capsize, and that's proper good fun). A Topper or a Laser is perfect for learning. Once you've got dinghy skills, moving to a keelboat or yacht is natural progression.
Budget: A used Topper dinghy starts around 500 quid. An RYA Start Sailing course is about 200-300 quid for a weekend. Best money you'll ever spend.
⚓ Know Your Boat
Parts of a Boat -- The Essentials
Types of Boats
Maintenance -- Keep Her Happy
A boat is like a DJ set-up -- neglect the maintenance and it'll let you down at the worst moment. Rinse everything with fresh water after saltwater use. Check your standing rigging yearly. Antifoul the hull. Service the engine.
Golden rule: The best time to fix something on a boat is before it breaks. The second best time is in the marina, not at sea.
🤿 Safety & Diving
Dave's Number One Rule: The Sea Doesn't Care About Your Plans
I've been out in force 8 when the forecast said force 4. The sea is beautiful and she will absolutely kill you if you don't respect her. Same as the rave scene -- know your limits, look after your mates, and always have an exit plan.
Safety Essentials
-- Lifejacket: Wear one. Every time. No exceptions. Auto-inflate 150N minimum for offshore.
-- VHF Radio: Channel 16 is distress. Get your Short Range Certificate.
-- Flares: Check expiry dates. Keep them dry. Know which colour means what.
-- Man Overboard: Shout it, point at them, throw the danbuoy. Never lose sight. Practice this.
-- Weather: Check the shipping forecast AND inshore waters forecast. If in doubt, don't go out.
Coastguard & Emergency
-- Dial 999 or 112 and ask for the Coastguard.
-- VHF Channel 16: "MAYDAY MAYDAY MAYDAY" for life-threatening emergencies.
-- Pan-Pan for urgent but not immediately life-threatening situations.
-- Download What3Words -- the Coastguard uses it to pinpoint your location.
-- File a passage plan with someone ashore. Tell them where you're going and when you'll be back.
PADI Diving -- The Underwater Rave
Diving is the closest thing to a proper rave I've found. Weightless, surrounded by colour and life, in your own little bubble.
-- Open Water Diver: Entry level. 4 days. Certified to 18 metres.
-- Advanced Open Water: 2 more days, 5 adventure dives. Gets you to 30 metres.
-- Rescue Diver: How to manage emergencies underwater. Changed how I think about safety.
-- Dive Master: Professional level. You can guide dives and assist instructors.
⚓ No Daft Questions
"No shame in asking, mate. The shame is in NOT asking." -- Captain Dave
What boat should I start with?
+How do I learn to sail?
+Is sailing expensive?
+What's the difference between a yacht and a dinghy?
+What safety gear do I need?
+How do tides work?
+What's the best sailing area in the UK?
+Can I live on a boat?
+Who is Captain Dave?
+⚓ Ask Captain Dave
Chat with the Captain directly. Sailing, boats, diving, tides, gear -- anything from the water. 24/7.
Captain Dave the Rave
Bristol Raver - Captain - Dive Master - Online
Safety always matters. Captain Dave will always encourage proper qualifications and preparation.
🧭 Captain Dave's Locker
Honest recommendations. Gear I've used, books I've read, kit that works. No sponsored rubbish.
⛵ Starter Kit
📖 Essential Reading
📱 Essential Apps
-> Navionics -- chart plotter, depths, tides, marina info
-> Windy -- wind, weather, and wave forecasting
-> PredictWind -- offshore weather routing and forecasts
-> What3Words -- Coastguard uses this for rescue location
-> Magic Seaweed -- swell, tides, and sea conditions
⚓ The Marina Code -- Community Rules
+1. Respect the sea. She's beautiful and she will absolutely end you if you don't pay attention.
2. Respect the crew. Everyone on board matters. Listen, communicate, look out for each other.
3. No gatekeeping. Sailing isn't just for posh people with trust funds. If you want to sail, you belong here.
4. Leave it better than you found it. The sea, the marina, the boat, the community.
5. Share knowledge freely. What you know could save someone's life -- or just make their day better.
6. Welcome the weird. Neurodivergent, odd hours, strange questions, ravers-turned-sailors -- all welcome. PLUR on the water, always.
🧠 Got a Noisy Brain?
ADHD? Autistic? Both? Welcome home, mate. The founder of the -Oid villages is AuDHD himself. Sailing is one of the best things for a noisy brain -- the sea is the ultimate sensory reset. The wind, the water, the rhythm of the waves. It's like the best ambient set you've ever heard, but it never ends.
-- Hyperfocus on knot-tying? That's a proper superpower here.
-- Need constant stimulation? Sailing is non-stop micro-decisions. Your brain will love it.
-- Overwhelmed by crowds? Solo sailing. Just you, the boat, and the horizon.
-- Autistic joy in weather patterns? The shipping forecast is your new special interest.
-- Need routine? Tides are the most reliable clock on earth.
⛵ Support the Village
Sail-Oid is free forever. Coffeeware model -- use it, love it, donate if it helps. Every penny keeps the lights on and the kettle boiling.
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