How to Get Started?

[tgabriel]

One more $0.02 - Here in Raleigh we have a United States Power Squadron chapter. They have basic courses for non-members and then if you join there are lots of courses, several that are just sailboat oriented, and opportunities to associate with nautically minded people. The squadron here is about evenly split between sail boats and power boats.

I just did a quick search on the national USPS site and found a bunch of chapters in the DC area, as you might expect. Here is the national link: http://www.usps.org/newpublic2/index.html

Fair winds...

[SailinJay]

I don't know about Annapolis Sailing School or J World, but after you take classes at Chesapeake Sailing School, you are qualified to charter for a half-day or a full day their Tanzer 22s, the same boat you learn on. As a past student you also get a discount when chartering (unless they have changed this policy in the past few years).