Learning to sail in Ct

[rperret]

I second Sound Sailing Center - as I live in Fairfield. Unlike other sailing schools - it is not a social hour - their instructors are tough and put you thru the ringers. So you learn to sail - they are very thorough.

Best advice is to take a course there - then find someone who has a boat and get lots of sail time.

I also HIGHLY recommend racing and crewing. You will learn more racing in one year, then in 5 years of day sailing.

Racing has honed my skills- it has given me an opportunity to race in all conditions - light air - 25 knots SCA conditions - it FORCES you to become proficient...

Good luck.

Originally Posted by Dihydro77

Thanks Mike,


You didnt have to do all that work!! Some very good points to consider though. I will be going down to talk to the Sound sailing guys next week. Right now I want some good solid training and a chance to gain experience.
I have been fighting the urge to buy that boat and hauling the family and friends all over the sound. You know lives to consider and all that stuff I have looked closely at the fractional path but the wife, kids and I want a boat that will be like a piece of vacation property to spend time out on the Sound, LI, Cape cod, Boston, Block Island and Vineyard. (no more traffic, driving and taking ferries )We also enjoy the islands but that sailing will happen in 3-5 years, hopefully some charters before that if all goes well. I have been lucky enough to have a family that loves to explore new places and be on the water. Not much time for sharing and scheduling use of a boat with that kind of a summer schedule. My feeling is a fractional would allow some time during the week on the water but only a occasional weekend. I can't have that since I am off most fridays and every weekend.

Jeff

[ReverendMike]

Jeff

You're quite welcome. I'm not very experienced or mechanically inclined, but since i did learn to sail in Norwalk, posting on this thread is probably the most appropriate thing i've ever done here .

I second the recommendation to find someone to race with. The OPYC (Other People's Yacht Club) is a large and useful organization . Read everything in the 'Buying a Boat' section here, and don't be in too much of a rush. If you do timeshare, it might be a good idea to check out the options, since there seem to be a few right in Norwalk (SSC, Windpath, and Sailtime are all there?). If one has different boats that you can rotate onto, that might be a good way to see what features/attributes you like/need/want on your future 'hole in the water'.

Cheers
Mike