I want to learn how to sail. I have no boating experience at all. I live in Miami. Where do I start?

Question

I want to learn how to sail. I have no boating experience at all. I live in Miami. Where do I start?

Answer 1

In the Bay of Biscayne area, many Yacht Clubs will have a "Learn to Sail" program which you can join without becoming a member of the club.

Secondly...you can post your interest on a bulletin board at the marinas and clubs. Maybe get crewing.

Thirdly, you can charter a boat with a skipper and pay attention.

Fourthly, You can take the US Power and Sail Squadran courses.

Fifth...find an outfit nearby...maybe a hotel, that rents small sailboats...it usually includes a half hour instruction for newbies.

And lastly...plan your next vacation at a resort that has a setup like #5 above.

Good luck

Answer 2

Join a club and crew during that clubs outings.  Or find a marina that caters to sailors and find someone who is willing to take you on as crew.

The club method works best but will be the most expensive.

And there are classes in South Florida, usually can find them listed in the classified section of Sail magazine or Cruising World.

Answer 3

try down by dinner key i was there last year the yacht club has some small boats .ask around the docks ...

Answer 4

go to one of those places that lets you rent a boat and an instructor will help you to learn

Answer 5

My grandparents lived on a lake in Wisconsin where I took sailing lessens at the local yacht club when I was 16. I also joined the sailing club in college, where I did some sailing on Lake Michigan, but never got into racing.

You might look for a local yacht club which may have lessons or where you can help crew a boat and learn sailing terms.  Sailing can be anywhere from leasurely relaxation to exciting when the wind starts blowing.  It can be intimidating at first until you realize the more the boat tips, the more wind spills out of the sails and it reaches a limit.  You can actually sail into the wind within about 45 degrees of where the wind is coming from.

Just look out if someone says "jibe" because that means the boom and sails are going to swing quickly to the other side.

Once you learn the ropes (or sheets in sailing terms) it should stay with you like riding a bicycle.  I probably have not sailed in over 20 years, but if someone had a sailboat, I could jump in and take off.

Answer 6

buy a boat.

Answer 7

Check with the local Coast Guard Auxiliary. They offer sailing courses for free. Your only cost is the textbook.

Answer 8

Start somewhere other than the auto section!