Getting started the right way?

[Suijin]

I think you're a long way away from buying a boat, for the simple fact that the longer you put it off the better educated you'll be about what you really need and how to evaluate prospective purchases.

Don't think that owning a boat that you live on will be a slam-dunk on savings over renting an apartment. Besides things like paying for a slip, utilities, insurance, there are the costs of boat maintenance which are likely much higher than you imagine them to be right now, depending on the size of the boat, your location, etc. If your primary motivation in all this is to save money, you might find yourself disappointed.

A basic sailing class would be good, but definitely contact the yacht club and look into racing opportunities. They likely have a board there where available crew can post notices. Even here in Annapolis, one of the bigger racing communities in the country, boats are always looking for crew. In fact Spinsheet hosts a crew finder party in the spring and it attracts literally hundreds of skippers and folks wanting to crew on their boats.

There is an ethic among racers to teach newcomers how to sail and race. Much of it has to do with wanting new crew taught the RIGHT way lol.

If you enjoy it, develop some competency, and find its something you want to pursue, then there are always opportunities to crew offshore on passages and races. I served on the Annapolis to Bermuda Ocean Race committee and a consistent challenge for skippers is having enough crew, either for the race or the return trip. Things come up, people have to drop off, and they are left scrambling to fill spots.

[bvisailing32]

strongly recommend joining a sailing club, and apply yourself to an accredited or well established learning to sail program.

That means studying the texts, several different on board. evolutions, written tests, check outs, systems classes, coastal piloting and navigation, marine weather, single handing, rough weather sailing, night sailing, fog procedures, reefing and sail changes, emergencies at sea, fire fighting, anchoring methods, docking under sail on all different lengths of boats.
Also mooring pick up and drop off procedure.

Plus, radio procedures, knot trying, points of sail, sail trim. running and standing rigging. Rules of the road, parts of the boat. marine engines, all vessel systems, and a whole lot more.

There is so much to learn and master. You can do that by joining a sailing club/school, that uses 27 to 30 footer for basic classes, 30 to 33 for intermediate, 35 to 45 for advanced lessons. You will gain experience on several different types of vessels, and also as you progress, get checked and sail these boats on your own.

Start off with harbor and close proximty,day sails, then coastal sailing and other harbors, and maybe some intenational flotilla sailing, in the BVI with your sailing club friends..share the costs for a two week island cruise.

Also, since you are sailing many different boats, you learn what vessels you like, and what type of boat you want to purchase for your adventure. All of the above with minimum cash outlay.

Never underestimate the power of mother nature, the ocean, winds, currents, etc. Learn seamanship, and become proficient and knowledgeable as a skipper.

read your arm chair adventures as well, written by cruisers....


Self taught in a dinghy is not going to work for water sailing">blue water sailing. And again, the above is only part of a good training syllabus.

OPB ( other peoples boats) keeps life easy, and saves on cash out lay.

[Jim Cate]

Self taught in a dinghy is not going to work for water sailing">blue water sailing.

Oh, RATS... that means I gotta quit cruising and go to some classes or such. I hate it when that happens.

Jim

[Don C L]

Originally Posted by Jim Cate

Oh, RATS... that means I gotta quit cruising and go to some classes or such. I hate it when that happens.

Jim

Yeah I was kinda wondering about that too... know any good classes for old farts?

[JPA Cate]

Another benefit to crewing on club racing boats is that you'll start learning about which vessels have to maintain course and speed, and which to give way. Racing rules follow the Colregs for shipping, with local variations. Learning that way, can sort of be like osmosis, the knowledge filters in, you don't have to cram it in.

Ann