[CapTim]

I think you've got the right idea.. find a couple of classes. And I'm betting that a week or two in the BVI in the middle of december might be a heck of a way to take them... maybe not the most cost-effective, but it'll certainly be a nice break from winter, eh?

Certainly there are a few good ideas around here, and a good book or ten never hurt.. but dude! You are right on Lake Ontario, and maybe 200 miles from Erie? You've got a ton of sailing resources right out your back door, my friend!

Here's a few.. I don't know them from Bob, but a quick internet search spit them out:

Lake Joseph Yacht Club
Toronto (416) 222-5477 Ontario

Lake of Bays Sailing Club
Oshawa (416) 922-7875
mailto:schaal@sympatico.ca Ontario

Lake Ontario Hunter Sailing Association
Kanata (416) 323-9030 Ontario

Lake Ontario Racing Council Toronto Ontario

Lakeshore Yacht Club
Toronto (416) 255-9259 Ontario

I would be flat out amazed if you couldn't go sailing every weekend just by getting involved with one or two of those. Find the bigger ones, preferably with a 'crew wanted' section. You'll be surprised how many boats don't leave the slip due to want of crew.

There are thousands of opinions on which boat is best, what safety gear is mandatory as opposed to important as opposed to useful as opposed to silly, where to go, how to learn, what to say.. and you'll muddle through them and then add to them, just like the rest of us.

But for now.. make a new friend and go sailing! Can't beat it with a stick.