The Call of the Sea

[TheRedPill]

It's a growing monster inside me.

First, it was a fascination with sailing adventure stories online. Now, I'm starting to buy books like Sailing Alone Around the World and A Voyage for Madmen.

I want to take the next step and start learning to sail, for which I have no experience save what I learned from that old Kurt Russell movie Captain Jack.

I looked into a formal class at the local community college, but it's pretty expensive and I want something more hands on than Sailing For Dummies. Can anyone suggest some more cost effective ways to learn to sail?

Thanks in advance.

[smackdaddy]

Originally Posted by TheRedPill

It's a growing monster inside me.

First, it was a fascination with sailing adventure stories online. Now, I'm starting to buy books like Sailing Alone Around the World and A Voyage for Madmen.

I want to take the next step and start learning to sail, for which I have no experience save what I learned from that old Kurt Russell movie Captain Jack.

I looked into a formal class at the local community college, but it's pretty expensive and I want something more hands on than Sailing For Dummies. Can anyone suggest some more cost effective ways to learn to sail?

Thanks in advance.

Hey Pill - welcome to SN dude.

Do you mean "Captain Ron" on the Kurt movie? If so - that's all the training you need. Remember, if somethin's gonna happen, it's gonna happen out there.

Seriously, we started by finding a 1/2 day charter by a guy that would teach you the basics of sailing while you were out. It was a great deal.

[captbillc]

are there any sailing clubs in your area? quite a few sailors can use an extra hand & will show you how. check with marinas, us sail & power squadrons. etc.

[JimB517]

practically everyone needs crew.

[josrulz]

Welcome to SailNet. Where are you located? In many places where sailing is somewhat popular there are places that offer sailing classes, from small boats to big boat sailing, basics to highly advanced sailing. Often they are ASA classes, so there's a specific curriculum, test, and resulting qualification to be had. You might want to see if any of these are available.

This part is just a personal opinion, but I would recommend starting on smaller boats. They are very simple in terms of operation, and they allow you to focus specifically on learning to sail, rather than things like electrical systems and engines. You can always move up to larger boats once you have the basics. Again, just my two cents...

[TheRedPill]

YES Captain RON! That's the one

I live in the Portland, Oregon Metro Area.

Sailing clubs sound fun, but I immediately start thinking of membership requirements. The 1/2 day charter sounds intresting.

Everyone needs crew? Does that include crew that has no experience?

Is it as simple as driving down to a Marina and checking the cork board?

[bljones]

two words:
rail meat.

Yes, it is as simple as driving down to the marina and checking the bulletin board- or check in with some of the people on here from your area.

[wind_magic]

Originally Posted by TheRedPill

but it's pretty expensive and I want something more hands on than Sailing For Dummies. Can anyone suggest some more cost effective ways to learn to sail?

How about just getting a cheap/free boat and give it a shot. There are plenty of people here to ask questions to, and there are certainly plenty of cheap boats out there looking for homes. Just try not to crash into North America with your boat.

[smackdaddy]

Originally Posted by wind_magic

Just try not to crash into North America with your boat.

I can't wait to crash into St. Maarten.

[GaryHLucas]

It's a sad fact of life, no one ever seems to have crew when you want to go sailing. I have an open invitation to sail every week with a guy I met through the C22 newsgroup while working on an old C22 I had. He has Capri 22 and was badly hurt in an aouto accident so he won't sail alone. I supply the muscle.

I've sailed in the Seattle area, in Florida, in upstate NY, just about anywhere I travel, with people I've found over the internet. Now that I have a boat I hope I can return the favor.

Gary H. Lucas