Thanks so much for the advice, everyone. I stopped by the local club on the Sunday before last, and chatted some folks up during the 420 round robin they were holding. I got the scoop on the Wednesday races they hold, and folks told me that was the best time to find an empty spot on a boat.
On Wednesdays, they race Lasers, Mariners, J22s and there's an open class for all other private boats. Long story short: I got invited by an exceptionally friendly skipper to crew on his Oday 322, and had a blast manning the jib sheets. I'm definitely going back whenever I can, and soaking up some good stuff.
Oh, and I only whacked my skull on the boom twice
