Wanting to fulfill a life long dream of learning to sail in 2011

[annrose]

I am absolutely fresh to sailing and would like some advice on how to get started. I have always stood on the Quay staring at the boats or watching them in the harbours and bays and dreamed of being on deck. Well my goal of 2011 is to fulfill that desire of stepping aboard and learning how to do it

[rockDAWG]

Welcome to Sailnet. you will find lots of good info here and many good souls.

The fastest way to learn to sail is to join a local sailing club and take some lessons. Reading sailing books helps to reinforce the concept.

Good luck.

[annrose]

This will prove how new I am to sailing...Where or how would I locate a sailing club in my area?

[JBIZZ]

The best thing to do is meet sailors in your area, either through a sailing club, on the docks, or on here. Most are more than happy to teach one to sail. Many also need crew for sailboat races but races can get stressful at times & involve some knowledge in sailing.

I would suggest to search here & the web for basic points of sail info. (the direction of the wind & sail trim) & sailing terminology. Once you get on a boat several times you'll know if its right for you or not, then you can buy a small sailboat to practice before stepping up to a larger boat.

[rorider]

Originally Posted by annrose

This will prove how new I am to sailing...Where or how would I locate a sailing club in my area?

Start here...
Pictou Yacht Club in NS, Canada

Your local yacht club could steer you to instruction if they don't offer any themselves.

[jackdale]

Annrose

Here is a list of Nova Scotia Yacht Clubs

CYA Member's Area

Pictou has a Yacht Club Welcome To The Pictou Yacht Club


Nova Scotia Sailing Schools

CYA Member's Area

Hopes that gets you started.

Jack

[capecodda]

Nova Scotia one of our favorite destinations because of the great people. We've been as far as Cape Bretton, but have not been up in your area. Try calling the Pictou Yacht Club, and tell them of your interest.

Have a great 2011, excellent resolution!

[Minnewaska]

I would first ask myself what I was going to realistically want to do over the next couple of years. As a gross generalization, small sailing clubs seem to teach on single sail dinghies (not all), which is probably the best way to get started. If you plan to sail a very small boat for the next couple of years, that's a good way to start.

On the other hand, if you want to be out there with the offshore cruisers and will be buying your own 30 footer, I would suggest a fast track cruising course. Don't over estimate your skills upon completion, but you will be jump started into the sport for sure. Those schools often use boats that have been designed to demonstrate and instruct all the sail systems of larger, typically sloop rigged, sailboats. I've seen my wife go from zero experience to a fairly good offshore mate in six months.

Don't tell her I called her the mate.

Since you have an internet browser, just do a search for sailing schools and start there. If you can afford the time and admission, I think learning in warm weather over the winter is the way to go. Some courses are as short as a week with zero prior experience. It will be sailing season shortly after you acquire your new skills and you're ready to get out there.

[BubbleheadMd]

Congratulations, and welcome to the insanity. After checking with your local YC, get to know the people there and offer yourself up as crew to the ones you learn to trust.

Sailing on a variety of boats will make you a well rounded sailor and you'll have a blast.

[sailjunkie]

I'll start by joining everyone in welcoming you to Sail Net.

Jackdale gave you part of the answer when he suggested a list of CYA clubs in the Pictou area. FYI, CYA is short for the Canadian Yachting Association, and visiting their web site would give you a good list of local sailing schools. My bet would be that they are all in the Halifax area, but you know Nova Scotia better than I do.

The Canadian Power and Sail Squadron is another excellent training source, though they emphasize classroom work more than practical, on-the-water training. Their Basic Boating course is excellent for learning chart work and piloting. Your timing is great because most local squadrons have 12 or 13 week courses that start in January, meaning that you'll be ready for boating season. If you go to their national web site, you can find out about squadrons in the Pictou area, and when their courses start.