How to Get Off the Couch and Go Sailing

Are you an armchair sailor, dreaming that someday you’ll take off on far away bareboat yacht charters? Do you wish you could add sailing to your weekend activities and family fun? Does the voice in your head keep saying someday instead of today?

If you want to make your dreams into a reality it’s all about taking one step at a time. It’s not that hard to begin sailing, and before you know it you’ll be ready for that amazing bareboat sailing charter you envision. There are a wide variety of ways to start learning; formal or informal, small boats or big boats, with or without a certificate of course completion—sailing is all around you if you’re willing to look. In the world of Google, there are no excuses.
Take a Class
Sailing classes exist at all levels of expense and expertise. Many options offer easy-to-learn classes through local organizations, and some may include certifications from nationally accredited organizations.
American Sailing Association (ASA) and US Sailing are the two largest nationally recognized organizations offering instruction and certification by experienced instructors that adhere to national guidelines and curriculum. Instructors with these credentials can be found from small to large operations—but they aren't a must in order to learn to sail.
Local Sailing Schools
If you live anywhere near water it’s fairly easy to find a local sailing school. You can find schools that teach the basics and advanced sailing. Some schools offer instruction by the hour, or they may have formally set classes meeting several times a week during evenings and weekends, to accommodate work schedules. These classes may even be accredited and can help you gain certifications.
Local Recreation Centers and Sailing Centers
Sometimes local sailing centers are affiliated with recreation centers in your area. Take a look at your local recreation center schedules and you may find offerings for adult and children’s sailing programs. These courses are all designed to get you out on the water and may be more economical than taking a formal sailing school program. Weigh your options and see what offerings may be available, so you can choose the best course of action to get out sailing.
Go Racing with Sailing Clubs
Local sailing clubs may be affiliated with yacht clubs, recreation centers, or standalone clubs that get together at varying levels of organization to race and socialize. If you’re interested in learning informal sailing and racing basics, you can contact local sailing clubs and see what their policies are on newbies coming out to go for a sail. Often this may be a free option, but with no experience you’ll likely start out as rail-meat—novices used as ballast on the windward rail, to keep the boat from capsizing.
Yacht Clubs
Yacht clubs have a variety of offerings from junior sailing programs to formal racing schedules. Often times you don’t need to be a member in order to partake of organized lessons or join in on the racing and learn a few tips as you go.
Sailing Vacations
This may be a more expensive option, but it may also be a more enjoyable route to take. There are many groups and companies out there that offer sailing vacations with a sail-and-learn element as part of the trip. Some even offer certifications. This is a great way to immerse your self in the sailing experience, while enjoying a vacation in an assortment of locations.
Rent a Sailboat
Once you get your feet wet, both figuratively and literally, it’s time to up the ante and get some practice on your own. But buying a boat is a big financial commitment, so you may want to consider the pros and cons of renting a boat to gain more experience.
Whether you go the informal route of a couple of hours sitting on the rail during a race, look at more formal instruction, or dive into a sail-and-learn vacation, you’ll find a fun easy way to ease yourself into sailing—and right off the couch.
Leah Kaiz, a former sailboat captain, is also a PADI dive instructor and an avid traveler. She has sailed all over the Caribbean on education vessels and worked in charter, and also traveled around the world on various adventures. She currently runs her own marketing company on land, Blue Gypsy Inc., and writes on a variety of topics for her diverse clientele. Future plans include buying a catamaran and sailing around the world.