Where would you go live to learn to sail?

[JensenJourney]

I know that I can take sailing classes just about anywhere. So learning to sail isn't a location specific event, but...

My wife and I are looking to learn to sail with hopes of perhaps becoming liveaboards eventually.

We have no home currently. We are unhappy where we are. So we are looking to move anyway. We are not in a coastal state, and never have been. There is no employment considerations, so we can go anywhere we want. We do have a bunch of kids at home still. With a goal of sailing, we'd like to go somewhere where it would be quite easy to familiarize ourselves with the culture and activities. Where it is easy to visit marinas, boat shows, find crew opportunities, meet and befriend other sailors, etc. We'd rent rather than buy.

So if you could go anywhere to do that, where would you go? We are looking into East Coast of the US, but I'd love to hear about other worldwide locations. (Be specific if you can... so rather than saying South Carolina, give me the name of the town and why.) What sailing school/instructor? What yacht club, etc?

Cheers!

[john61ct]

Tortola

[Breaking Waves]

South coast of England/Cornwall - from the Hamble.

The training and courses are typically better there than in the us, the weather and tides/current likely to be a bit tougher (good for learning). And it is a fun and interesting and attractive place to sail.

[acem]

Chesapeake Bay, st petersburg florida, Kemah texas. Good luck! Thx-Ace

[HiAndDri]

Originally Posted by Breaking Waves

South coast of England/Cornwall - from the Hamble.

The training and courses are typically better there than in the us, the weather and tides/current likely to be a bit tougher (good for learning). And it is a fun and interesting and attractive place to sail.

Yes, and the instructors are excellent

[Island Time O25]

New England in the Summer, Florida Keys in the Winter.

PNW is a good choice too except the water temps are not conducive to swimming, if swimming is your thing. Same for California.

If you can work remotely then sailing offshore route from FL to NE in the late Spring (late April/early May) is usually a blast. Going back in the Fall is a bit trickier due to possibility of Hurricanes and just nastier weather in general but ICW is your friend if you have the time to use that going South.

[Paul Annapolis]

I have specialized in training and coaching on the Chesapeake Bay for four decades. For a variety of reasons, it is a top choice for both cruising sailors and for learn to sail opportunities. You say you have a"bunch of kids at home" which raise a lot of questions, so perhaps you could clarify. There are many criteria for choosing a sail training or sailing school opportunity. What is more important--the location? The boat? The coach? The curricula? The plan or goal? The cost? When a family is involved or wants to do this together, this can of course impact the decision and process.

[Pete7]

Originally Posted by Breaking Waves

South coast of England/Cornwall - from the Hamble.

The training and courses are typically better there than in the us, the weather and tides/current likely to be a bit tougher (good for learning). And it is a fun and interesting and attractive place to sail.

Absolutely, take a 6 month rental in Hampshire do the sailing course from any of the dozens of schools and then consider buying the boat and "do Europe" for a few years.

this is a property search for the County of Hamsphire to give you a flavour of what is available and the costs for typical 3 and 4 bed houses and flats:

Linky

Pete

[rmesfo]

San Francisco Bay. It has it all!

[tarian]

Although I refer to my cousins south of the Border with there excellent advice, coming to Scotland and sailing and living will give you some of the best sailing in the World , diverse landscapes and sailing and also cheaper accommodation , cheaper sailing and OFC nice people.

[peterbeale]

Sailing Academy in Cowes Isle of White. You will really learn, encounter tough conditions, practice in depth navigation. radio, engine maintenance, fire fighting etc.

[dennismenace111]

Originally Posted by JensenJourney

I know that I can take sailing classes just about anywhere. So learning to sail isn't a location specific event, but...

My wife and I are looking to learn to sail with hopes of perhaps becoming liveaboards eventually.

We have no home currently. We are unhappy where we are. So we are looking to move anyway. We are not in a coastal state, and never have been. There is no employment considerations, so we can go anywhere we want. We do have a bunch of kids at home still. With a goal of sailing, we'd like to go somewhere where it would be quite easy to familiarize ourselves with the culture and activities. Where it is easy to visit marinas, boat shows, find crew opportunities, meet and befriend other sailors, etc. We'd rent rather than buy.

So if you could go anywhere to do that, where would you go? We are looking into East Coast of the US, but I'd love to hear about other worldwide locations. (Be specific if you can... so rather than saying South Carolina, give me the name of the town and why.) What sailing school/instructor? What yacht club, etc?

Cheers!

Miami/Biscayne Bay..Really fine private schools, awesome shopping, great restaurants and probably the best sailing in the Southeastern U.S. The US Olympic sailing teams train here.



Its a multi cultural, mostly Hispanic city... Coral Gables and Pinecrest are fantastic towns just outside of Miami proper. Lots of Marinas, one of the worlds biggest boat shows every year. and the weather is awesome.

[tiopirata]

Auckland, New Zealand, the city of sails. If you have the option New Zealand is the place to go.

[taxwizz]

Originally Posted by tarian

Although I refer to my cousins south of the Border with there excellent advice, coming to Scotland and sailing and living will give you some of the best sailing in the World , diverse landscapes and sailing and also cheaper accommodation , cheaper sailing and OFC nice people.

How is the sailing in winter?

[jmh2002]

I posted a comment in another thread a while ago which echos the thoughts of some members in this thread:

http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...ml#post2950274

Originally Posted by jmh2002

...I think that the RYA instructors in the UK are the best at this stuff.

They do it with wind, they do it with tide, and they do it well. Personally it's not my favourite place to sail, but at least there is normally a good pub at the destination to try and make up for it.

However if you really want to learn or hone skills I couldn't suggest anything better than doing some RYA practical courses in the UK. Preferably in winter when it is additionally unpleasant, cold, wet, and difficult.

Why? Because they focus on real, practical skills. You actually have to do it. Like the video above but with wind and tide. Or hunting down an unlit post on a sand bank through blind DR navigation - you are below navigating, and issuing instructions to the helmsman on deck (Bramble Bank anyone?).

After that type of learning experience most things will seem much easier by comparison.

And I used to give similar advice to younger deck crew: "If you just want the piece of paper go and do it where it is cheapest and easiest - but if you actually want to learn something, go and do it in the UK".