By the way, Misty, that was a great article. You hit the nail right on the head.

I grew up sailing, I traveled and raced sailboats competitively for decades and sailed at a DIV 1 varsity sailing team. I taught sailing for about five year and I have various and sundry certifications from Canadian Sailing Association and US Sailing, so FWIW I may be biased in favor of lessons.

Sorry that your instructor was such a horrible blowhard, but in my experience (which I would immodestly say is ample) some very basic lessons are ESSENTIAL. Sailing is dangerous; don’t let anyone tell you differently. It is the one activity that has the highest possibility of getting you killed out of all watersports, especially on the open ocean. While I understand the romantic thrill of just doing it, the uninitiated face a very real learning curve as actual boat handling is the very MINIMUM that you will learn in any decent sailing course. More importantly, familiarity with tide, weather systems, wind “characteristics”, and your own personal safety-zone of competence are the real advantages of sailing classes. Boat handling (think steering and trimming sails) is the bare baseline of seamanship. To be competent and safe on the water, proper instruction is simply essential.

Again, just my $0.02.

I was in Mexico in February, having a drink in a local cantina, when an old salty fella trolled by and offered to buy me and my pal another round. Of course we were in!

Over cold Pacificos, he shared with us how he was finally living his life-long dream in his mid-60’s. He’d sold everything he owned and bought a sailboat–one that was about 45 ft–and he was just beginning the first leg of his new life path.

Now, this man had never sailed before purchasing his big ole boat and he was dead delighted at his choice. He invited us out to his vessel the next day for a bit of snorkeling and we were excited to see what he’d gotten himself into.

We spent the next day snorkeling off coral reefs, diving around wrecks, lounging in the sun, and listening to his hysterical tales of life on the water. He’d somehow managed to make it from Florida to Cuba to Mexico by the seat of his pants–learning along the way–and was about to leave for Guatemala for the upcoming Hurricane season.

As we watched him putter around in his dinghy and don cumbersome snorkel and dive gear, we just laughed and swam in circles around the boat. It was one of the most enjoyable days ever and at the end of the day, as we were all showering off the stern of his boat, he said…”So, girls…do you think I did the right thing? Do you think I’m crazy for doing this/learning this so late in life?”

We couldn’t help but slap him with mad props for living life in the biggest, most bad-ass way possible. He was so happy that someone across the board didn’t think he was nuts for not knowing a damn thing before he set out. This cat is now in Guatemala (yes, he made it with flying colors), on the Rio Dulce, living off about $200 a month and waiting on Hurricane season to pass so he can go diving in Belize. He’s happy as a clam, a sassy sailor now and full of immense confidence that he pulled it off! He has now become the teacher, instead of the student, all because he gave it a go.

I guess what I’m trying to say is that everyone learns a different way. Some peeps don’t care for lessons in the manner you describe. Some just like to do it different…go a bit more rogue if you will.

Whatever works for you…and in the meantime, I can’t wait to catch up with the captain in Guatemala and have a drink–toasting those in the world who see things a little off-color. What a lovely way to taste that thing called “chance”.

The best way to learn to sail without expending much cash is with a local sailing club, or by taking classes at a local community collage where sailing is offered. If you don’t live near the sea, or a lake where people sail, then take a couple of weeks course at some place that gives a week or two intensive teaching in sailing dingys. You learn fastest in very small sailing boats and your mistakes only get you wet, not killed.

You will learn fastest in a small sailing dingy as part of a structured instructional program.

Next move on to crewing on larger boats, just to find out how they work. When crewing you are learning, and some one else is paying the fright. You can also crew for different skippers to find out the different ways of running a boat. There are lots of ideas that you can learn from different skippers, who may all have there own way to do things. Everything from how to coil a rope through how to deploy an anchor or put in a reef. Ask lots of questions. Ask why all the time.

Then you may have an idea of what sort of boat you want to purchase. Stop right there. The one thing the author got right was starting with a boat under 26′ in length. For a first yacht you should aim for something very simple, with few working parts, that is 25′ or less in length. Sail it for a session or two.

Then you is one.