I want to get involved in boating/sailing.What is the best way to get started?

Question

(I will be doing it on my own or with one other)

Answer 1

also, take the safe boating course offered by the US Power Squadron or Coast Guard Auxillary....they not only teach you the basics, but get you started meeeting other sailors and boaters......

Answer 2

find a boat

Answer 3

Join a local sailing club they often have club boats you can use until you decide which is best for you,Single handed include,OKs,Finns,Lasers.or crewed,Enterprise,GP14s,Wayfarer,Firebal...

Plus whilst sailing they usually have a rescue boat on the water in case of capsize etc,Enjoy.

Answer 4

Find a local sailing club.  they often have open days where new members can try out different sorts of boats and see what facilities are on offer.

try searching for local sail training associations and the such

Answer 5

I believe the single most important thing is to make sure you can swim reasonably well, at least before you get in a boat.

Answer 6

You can't go wrong with a Laser for a singlehanded dinghy. You can learn to sail in a Laser, and if you learn to sail a Laser really really well you can sail a Laser in the Olympics. As for doublehanded boats, my personal favourite is the Wayfarer but there a quite a few good ones out there. In any case, start with dinghys. If you learn to sail on a keelboat, you will never have the same grasp of the basics that dinghy sailors have. Learn on a Laser, then crew on other people's keelboats (much cheaper that way;)if you want the big-boat experience.

Answer 7

buy a boat?

Answer 8

getting a boat would help !!

Answer 9

The cheapest and easiest way to get into sailing is to go to the various yatch clubs in your area and sign up on the crew list. Most skippers are always looking for new crew to help them cruise or race each season. Getting yourself on the list will help get your name out to the poeple who actually have sailboats and who are looking for people to help them sail. Most will be willing to teach you the basics to get you started. I suggest getting yourself on a racing crew to really learn the fundementals of sailing. You'll go through every possible maneuver and situation in a single season.

If you do have the cash, your local aquatic center will offer sailing classes. They're generally a series of classroom and on-the-water classes. the benefit of taking these classes is that you'll learn everything from the different types of boats, to wind direction and how to set your sails, and even how to set your anchor. Most mportantly, you'll learn the "rules of the road". Most weekend boaters out on the water aren't even aware that there are right of way rules and traffic rules out on the water as well.

Good luck with it.