How can I break into sailing? Links, books, advice..?

Question

Small boat sailing on lakes for the most part but I really want to learn the basics of the art in general. Advice from experts would help a lot.

Answer 1

Local sailing club offers lessons just search for sailing lessons and your state name and you should get an Idea of the sailing clubs in your area. My lessons were for 200.00 bucks for a weeks worth of lessons it was a good investment.

Answer 2

The best way to learn how to sail is to take a small boat out on your own; get away from the dock and get back (Make sure to wear a life jacket). Pick a safe waterway, and a nice day.

  The best sailing school hands down is J World sailing school. Their instructors are full time sailing instructors and sailboat racing coaches (they promise to be the best). For about $1,000 they spend a week with you on a good 24-26' boat (No engine) in a challenging seaway and make a sailor out of you. If you want to learn in the most challenging arena, J World San Francisco is situated on SF Bay where you'll encounter some of the most challenging conditions and breathtaking seascapes. The SF instructors are amazing sailors and a great bunch of guys (and girls) and they will definitely point you in the right direction.  If you are up for the challenge they even offer a Transpac class where students race a J 120 from San Francisco to Hawaii !

  As far as literature on the subject. It is important to learn sailing terminology and foil principles early on. North U puts out a great series of books by Bill Gladstone and some of their other coaches all about sailing dynamics and boat handling. Also reading the articles in Magazines like Sail magazine and Sailing World allows a view into what's happening in contemporary sailing and is written by up and coming, competition sailors.

Answer 3

start small with something used that you can easily transport,  llifejacket, and paddle.  About 11-13 feet long there are some plastic covered foam boats that are nice.  Then start on a small lake < 1mile diameter.  Get a small book on sailing and learn some of the language.  Then get out and sail.  On the small lake if you have trouble turning you can always go into the shallows and turn the boat manually.

Answer 4

A hands on sailing school would be best bet.

Usually get a certificate & not pick up too many bad habits  as you might from a buddy with a boat.

For reading material & other recommendations... your local coast guard auxiliary.

The area I used to sail in ( just gave up the old tub) is great but with very changeable weather & water conditions.

As you wisely pointed out it is an "art" as well as science & a sport.

Advice?...Sail as much as you can w/ instructors or an experienced hand in different weather conditions.

It's not always "smooth sailing" & knowing what to do if it gets bumpy is essential.

The main thing is to enjoy all of it safely

Learn well ...you won't regret it.

Best regards

Answer 5

Check on your local sailing clubs and, before buying any boat, see what classes are they racing on. Even, if you want to cruise it will be good to start the sport thru it's competitive side. It will give you lots of strong points and self confidence you need to start and keep going.

Videos are helpful as well, but you must watch them over and over again.

If you can attend to sailing lessons, do it. Let them teach from the very basic, it will be a huge difference if you learn from someone experienced.

If you are on a remote area go and buy an small dinghy locally. Something like a Sunfish or similar and learn to rig it properly. Don't use a keelboat to learn.

Answer 6

I bought a small (about 16') sail boat that I could carry in my pick-up and bought a book on sailing. Then I went out and made my mistakes. You might dump the boat and what not. That's how you learn. The book helps but experience is the best teacher. That was about twenty five years ago. Go for it you'll have a ball!

Answer 7

UK or elsewhere?

In the UK, the RYA (see http://www.rya.org.uk/Activities/DinghyS... is probably the best place to start. They organise sailing schools across the country, where you can learn in a weekend, a week, or a series of evening courses.

Then join a club - the closer to you the better.

The club may have some boats they hire out to members, and will also have lots of people with lots of advice :-)

Join the club, sail with someone else or get a boat the same as other people at the club have.

There are many books on starting to sail - but they can only teach the theory and sailing is all about the practical.