How do I learn to sail a small sailboat without ASA lessons?

Question

I'm going to purchase something like a Zuma 13' sailboat and want to learn how to really sail it. However all the lessons out here (long beach, ca) are all 'certification' courses and cost 500 - 700 dollars and you pretty much have to join their 'yacht' club... It seems like a little bit of overkill. Where can I learn to simply sail a dinghy in my bay without learning how to sail a 25' keel boat and learn navigation etc.. it seems like that should come later as I grow learning how to sail?

Is there an online source to get me started so I can just jump in and cruise around and experiment? I'm already reading a decent book.. What are the real advantages of spending that kind of money on a school at this stage?

Answer 1

As someone who had minimal instruction in how to sail, I cannot stress enough how important it is to have proper instruction, especially if you are going to be sailing anywhere near any other boat, power or sail. You have to have enough confidence to sail the boat in any direction, in a lot of conditions, and how to apply the rules of the road at the very least (hint: sailboats don't *always* have the right of way). While joining a yacht club to learn to sail *is* excessive, you should be able to find a community sailing program to help you out. If you go the 'teach yourself' route, choose days when the winds are moderate and traffic is low, wear a lifejacket, and pay attention to what the boat is telling you. If you feel like you're getting beat up on the water, then you're probably doing something wrong.

My last piece of advice - don't make the beginner's mistake of sailing downwind away from your dock first until you're sure you can sail upwind efficiently enough to get back. Otherwise, you're in for a looooong day :)

Answer 2

You've basically got three choices:
- Learn by yourself
- Find someone to teach you
- Take a class

Actually, there are a lot of us that went the first route. In my case, it was in a canoe I converted to sail.

SWSA can help with the second method. It's mainly a matter of finding someone with the time to help you.

With regard to classes, I suggest you try the Center for Wooden Boats at the foot of Lake Union. They have a program called, "Sail Now," that probably costs half of what you've been quoted for the ASA courses. Typically one instructor and 3 students go out at a time in one of their sloops. CWB also offers individual instruction, but I'm not sure of the cost.

Once you're qualified, you can rent their boats. Or, for every 3 hr of volunteer labor you contribute, you get a free hour of boat rental. You can go down to the Center, spend a few hours helping out with the boat livery, boat maintenance, or office work, then take a boat out for a spin. You've spent a nice afternoon helping a worthy cause and it hasn't cost you a cent.

CWB is also a great way to get exposed to a wide variety of small boat types. They have cat rigs, sloop rigs, jib-headed rigs, gaff rigs, lug sails, you name it. They have keel boats and centerboarders, round hulls and sharpies. If you've read about it in a book, you can probably experience it at CWB. This exposure is really great for finding out what kind of boat you really like before you buy one.

Answer 3

There are books in the library that could help. You could look on Amazon.com for sailing books to buy if you wanted to go that route. Good luck, but I think if you are going to buy a sailboat/board, learn from a pro or experienced sailor.

Answer 4

http://msxml.excite.com/info.xcite/search/web/how%2Bto%2Bsail%2Ba%2Bboat

Might help