Great learn to sail article in news

[cwyckham]

Nice to see a decent article about learning to sail by the Associated Press.

My favourite quote:

"Even in Iowa, at a little sailing club, just go down and be friendly. Someone will ask you if you want to go. ... It's an adult social sport."

[Greenhand]

Everyone says to "just walk the docks," but the docks are usually gated, if not the driveway to the parking area. Is disregard for private property supposed to be the hallmark of a good sailor?

Has anyone here picked up crew this way? Has anyone here gotten on a boat this way? Is it old advice from an age when only posh clubs were gated?

[cwyckham]

I got picked up that way - for racing. I don't know if it would work for a pleasure sail

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[David M]

Strangers walking the docks for no apparent reason are always suspect at my marina.

[Pilot Rob]

I agree with David M, people walking the docks in my marina were suspect so they put up cctv cameras at the gates to try and stop theft but it doesn't stop people coming in by boats of all sizes and shapes looking for something in particular.

[denverd0n]

Originally Posted by cwyckham

I got picked up that way - for racing. I don't know if it would work for a pleasure sail.

Me too. I also like that they point out "even in Iowa..." We frequently see people on this board who say something along the lines of "I live in Iowa (or wherever), so of course there is no place to sail..."

I beg to differ! I first learned to sail in Nebraska. There are lots of little lakes in almost every state in the United States. True, you aren't going to get a chance to sail a 40-foot, ocean going cruiser in very many places in the Midwest, but so what? You can learn everything you need to know about sail trim, points of sail, tacking, and gybing on a little daysailer just as well as you can on a larger boat (better, I would argue).

[tbodine88]

Originally Posted by Pilot Rob

I agree with David M, people walking the docks in my marina were suspect so they put up cctv cameras at the gates to try and stop theft but it doesn't stop people coming in by boats of all sizes and shapes looking for something in particular.

It all depends, in San Diego and San Francisco and LA there are high numbers of riff raff who can easily reach the docks by mass transit, for the rest of the US this often isn't true.

I got my first ride on a boat in Antigua by following this advice. You can also easily crew on a boat during races at the Austin Yacht club which leaves the gate open for anyone who wants to come race on weekends. But then to get there you must walk 15 miles from town or have a vehicle

Don't try this in Honolulu though