Early retirement then sailing!

[24mdsiemer]

Hello,
I am trying to craft a financial plan that will let me "retire" in about ten years and then sail for about half the year and work for about half the year.

Right now I am trying to figure if I want to sail, what boat I want, what I want on the boat, how big, etc.

If anyone has any recommendations on how to get sailing experience other than classes and charting a boat, or how to try out different boats I'd love to hear it.

Thanks for the help!

MD

[RedHerring]

Find an active small (trailerabLe) sailboat racing club in your vicinity, come to the dock an hour before the first start, find anyone who is getting ready to race and tell them you are looking for a boat in need of a crew. Become a reliable (as in "shows up on time for every race") racing crew. Best way to learn sailing without having to spend any money.

[24mdsiemer]

Thanks, I hadn't thought of that. How often do racing clubs usually meet? I am originally from Florida but currently live deep in the heart of Texas. It would take me about 3 hours or so to make it to gulf coast so that is a lot of travel for a gamble to get sailing.

[RedHerring]

Usually, it's every Wednesday night, and then there is a regatta somewhere nearby most weekends during the season.

When looking for clubs, don't think "coast", think "lakes near me". E.g., my racing is mostly done on a square mile reservoir within a large city in the middle of Canadian prairies.

[24mdsiemer]

Hunh, I am sure there a plenty of lakes near me. Thanks.

[barnakiel]

Get a beach boat and sail it till you are competent in 'any' conditions.

Normally, after 10000 hours one gets into the grove.

Cheers,
b.

[RedHerring]

Yup. What racing provides is a compelling reason to get out on the water at least once a week

[chuckr]

suggestion from someone who was in dallas when we first took a sailing lesson - we had never been on a sailboat and went to clear lake and took a lesson, asa 101. we liked it so much we went to fla and took two more and chartered for a week - it was a great experience.
we chartered a couple of more times and bought our first and only boat, a Jeanneau DS40, in 2003 brand new.
suggest you take the asa course and see if you even like sailing then a couple of more and get a bit of learning under you - there are some lakes north of you that have some nice boats on them and maybe charter - and of course spend your vacations in say the BVIs chartering and learning to see if it the lifestyle that appeals to you -

as for small boats - well we never sailed one as our first and only boat is a 40' - and we kinda made it around a bit -

as for cost I publish our cost in the dollars and cents forum here and it now 6 years of cost data for an idea of what we spend -

good luck