Much dinghy sailing is on lakes and reservoirs and so the dangers of the sea will not be a great concern when learning to sail. However, if sailing on the sea, a major consideration is understanding the effects of the tide and learning how to assess the sea state and the ever changing weather. Once the techniques are mastered they can readily be transferred to any dinghy and situation, whether it be your own boat, with a crew or on an organised race. Within the bounds of safety and common sense, there is nothing stopping you from enjoying dinghy sailing, no speed limits and, currently, no compulsory qualification though proper training is sensible. On most stretches of inland water and many coastal locations you will find sailing clubs that undertake dinghy training and run race programmes throughout the year.
Clubs welcome new members and can be as much fun off the water as on.
In recent years the sport has become more dynamic, and some would say, more exciting, with the introduction of a number of very fast and fearsome craft like Laser 400s. As with all water sports there is an element of danger and dinghy sailing is no exception. All sailing schools will stress safety over and over again, and it must be your prime consideration at all times. You only need to read the annual reports of the sea rescue services to see how often people are rescued who are using boats for pleasure. Wayfarers are steady and safe and are ideal for learning to sail in.