Interested In Learning How To Sail -Where To Start ? Classes , Orgs , Groups , Day Cr

[dncohen2016]

Hi! I am in the San Francisco/Bay Area and I am dying to get into sailing!

I know of a few different schools and the certs are super expensive. I have also heard of friends joining dock message boards and volunteering for day trips.

Any and all advice would be so much appreciated!

[Captivy]

Try a local yacht club, many racers are short crew and will take volunteers.

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by dncohen2016

...
I know of a few different schools and the certs are super expensive...

There are plenty of self taught sailors out there, so that is viable option, but good training can dramatically reduce your learning curve and give you good, broad foundation for building additional experience.

[Charlie]

the Cal Sailing Club Cal Sailing Club - Cal Sailing Club \| Windsurfing and Sailing Lessons \| Berkeley Marina - San Francisco Bay is half the cost of a latte a day for a month. (30 x $5.00 = $150 for latte's CSC = $75 for three months plus two hours of volunteer work). Friends have had good results there. It is a great place to network. Also read a few books so you understand what is happening.

[denverd0n]

Lessons can't hurt, but as has been mentioned, if you show up at the local yacht club on race day there will almost always be a number of skippers who are glad to take on an extra winch-monkey. Can't beat that sort of experience.

[rtbates]

You need TWO things.
1. A SMALL sailing dingy
2. "Sailing for Beginners" book

Then go at it...

For the next 15 or so years I learned something new EVERY TIME I went out.

After 34 years of sailing it's a little less frequent! The learning not the sailing...