Best place in U.S. to learn sailing/sailboats for ~1 year before sailing away?

[Jim Cate]

There's a big difference between "here's how I did it and it worked for me" and "I know better and here's how you should do it." Latter is condescending and invariably how CF elite present themselves. It's condescending. Sorry, but it is.

So, who are these "CF elite" that you know so well and who invariably condescend to newbies? How about some names...

I think that there has been a considerable body of non-judgemental advice to start small, advice that does not claim that it is t he only good way, but that it helps avoid expensive and perhaps dangerous outcomes as one gains experience.
,
I'm not claiming that all the "small first" advice is well reasoned or well expressed, nor that it should be slavishly followed... but it is a well documented path and not inherently condescending. However, absolute dismissal of such advice is, well, kinda condescending to those who have advocated the path.

We've been around the long term cruising scene for quite a while. During that time we've met all sorts of successful fellow cruisers, many of whom did the start small route. And yes, there have been those who jumped in at the deep end, and some of them were doing very well out in the deep blue. But there were some who most assuredly were not doing well, leaving a trail of dirty wake and damaged neighbors. It is a path that works for some but not all newbies... and the cost of learning that cruising ain't for you is high on that road.

Jim

[Eyeswideorange]

Originally Posted by ranger58sb

You might consider the Chesapeake Bay. Maybe even Read Michener's book while you think about it.

Home base could be waterfront cities and larger towns (Norfolk-Portsmouth, Hampton, Annapolis, Baltimore), or smaller towns (like Deltaville, Urbanna, Kilmarnock, Solomons, Chesapeake City, Deale, Cambridge), or relatively tiny villages (Galeseville, Rock Hall, Oxford -- that last being where Michener bunked as he was writing).

-Chris

We’re VERY likely moving to Chesapeake Bay by August 1 given all the glowing review. It seems like the perfect balance of everything we want! Wild though it’s a 4 hour drive between Norfolk and Annapolis — bigger than we thought. We’re looking to start off in a “smaller city” that has a great sailing community and potentially open, affordable slips. Deltaville looks beautiful, but does it potentially meet the criteria?

[sck5]

I would vote for Chesapeake Bay if you want to anchor out a lot. Far longer sailing season than New England and many many places to anchor out.

Anchoring out in Florida can be dicey as local authorities often dont like it because it spoils the view from the million dollar vacation homes. It is also hot as hell in the summer. Parts of the spring and fall too, nowadays.

[sck5]

If you want a small town on Chesapeake Bay it is almost always cheaper on the Eastern Shore because it is farther away from all of the major cities. That can be a plus or a minus depending on what you want. Boat services tend to be cheaper there too.

[jhall767]

Originally Posted by sck5

If you want a small town on Chesapeake Bay it is almost always cheaper on the Eastern Shore because it is farther away from all of the major cities. That can be a plus or a minus depending on what you want. Boat services tend to be cheaper there too.

Two pretty decent small town places on the eastern shore are Rock Hall and Crisfield. Rock Hall has more boat slips than residents.

[Say10]

Originally Posted by sailorboy1

better to learn to cruise on a ...........................cruiser

anchoring, sail handling etc etc etc is no big deal to learn

I now say bye to the topic

Well Sir, there is only ONE correct opinion. (/end sarcasm)


Why is this place so toxic?

[Statistical]

Originally Posted by Eyeswideorange

We’re VERY likely moving to Chesapeake Bay by August 1 given all the glowing review. It seems like the perfect balance of everything we want! Wild though it’s a 4 hour drive between Norfolk and Annapolis — bigger than we thought. We’re looking to start off in a “smaller city” that has a great sailing community and potentially open, affordable slips. Deltaville looks beautiful, but does it potentially meet the criteria?

Deltaville is big sailing location in southern chesapeake and it is cheaper than norfolk (or anywhere in hampton roads). Lot of out of towners store their boats in and around Deltaville. Urbanna for example has a huge number of boats for it being a tiny town. All of Hampton Roads is built up, the cities have grown together, oceanfront lands is valuable.

We have slip at Little Creek (four of five marinas there). As far as location it is great 15 minutes from the slip to the Chesapeake Bay but it is relatively expensive and the only nearby boatyard is Cobbs which is decent but again not the cheapest.

Would absolutely store the boat in Deltaville if it wasn't so far away. Of course if it wasn't so far away it wouldn't be cheap either.

[sailorboy1]

Originally Posted by Say10

Well Sir, there is only ONE correct opinion. (/end sarcasm)


Why is this place so toxic?

to get useful advise from those that have done it and a place for others to post "stuff"

[ranger58sb]

Originally Posted by Eyeswideorange

We’re VERY likely moving to Chesapeake Bay by August 1 given all the glowing review. It seems like the perfect balance of everything we want! Wild though it’s a 4 hour drive between Norfolk and Annapolis — bigger than we thought. We’re looking to start off in a “smaller city” that has a great sailing community and potentially open, affordable slips. Deltaville looks beautiful, but does it potentially meet the criteria?

Can't speak directly to Deltaville; we've been near there, but we're further north, typical cruising from Solomons to the south of us to Havre d'Grace to the north of us, and Chesapeake City/Delaware City/Lewes/Cape May on the C&D Canal and at the mouth of Delaware Bay. On the Chesapeake, we've mostly leaped from Solomons to Crisfield or Onancock on the eastern shore, or straight to Hampton or Norfolk/Portsmouth.

Large cities: Norfolk/Portsmouth, and probably Hampon.

Small cities: Solomons. Cambridge, but it's a ways up the Choptank River. Annapolis.

Towns and villages: Everywhere else.

I should have mentioned earlier that it's not uncommon for folks from here to sometimes sail north to New England in summers, too.

-Chris

[Eyeswideorange]

Originally Posted by ranger58sb

I should have mentioned earlier that it's not uncommon for folks from here to sometimes sail north to New England in summers, too.

Thanks for the info, Chris! Looking at the Eastern Shore at least for the first month, but still narrowing down the search. Would love to find a place near some good DIY boat yards and/or cheaper (still beautiful) marinas!

When people go from Chesapeake Bay to New England, do they often cut through Back Creek and then out through Delaware Bay?

[Say10]

Originally Posted by sailorboy1

to get useful advise from those that have done it and a place for others to post "stuff"

Wasn't my intent at all.

[Kettlewell]

Depends on where you are in the Bay, but heading through the C&D Canal to Delaware Bay is a good option. Just avoid the bay when a strong wind opposes the strong current unless you like square waves.

[ranger58sb]

Originally Posted by Eyeswideorange

Thanks for the info, Chris! Looking at the Eastern Shore at least for the first month, but still narrowing down the search. Would love to find a place near some good DIY boat yards and/or cheaper (still beautiful) marinas!

When people go from Chesapeake Bay to New England, do they often cut through Back Creek and then out through Delaware Bay?

Eastern shore living might depend on how close you want to be open Bay. And if you really want to be living on board, or living nearby.

Up near the northern end....

For living on board and not too far from open water, maybe places like Rock Hall (small), Oxford (tiny), Crisfield (larger but economically challenged), or Onancock (tiny). Cape Charles, maybe, but we've not been there yet.

Or larger towns like Easton can support life ashore while the boat lives in places like Kent Narrows, Oxford, St. Michaels, etc.

"Back Creek?"

Our route is north from near Annapolis to the C&D Canal, across to and then down Delaware Bay to either Lewes or Cape May... latter being more in line with the idea of a New England follow-on.

-Chris

[sailorboy1]

If you want to be a cruiser and liveaboard there is no reason to "be" anywhere. You can start in New England and cruise to the Bahamas, learning sailing along the way just as well as being in 1 spot sailing. Better probably.

[dannc]

Originally Posted by Eyeswideorange

I read Get Real, Get Gone by Rick Page and he says, “buy a boat somewhere nice, where it is cheap to live, that has lots of easy sailing and move aboard.” But where in the U.S. is best to start such an adventure?...

Before buying a boat, I would suggest spending some times living on boats via charters. It is one thing to look at boat plans and visiting boats for sale or at boat shows, versus actually living on the boat for a week or so. You will learn which features you like or dislike on a boat.

You don't say, or I missed it, regarding your sailing/boating experience but I would strongly suggest taking classes if you have not done so since a good instructor will kick start your leaning. Some schools teach while you live on the boat which is educational itself.

Getting some time on various boats will help deciding what size boat you want/need AND which feature you want, need or want to avoid.