Sailing tips and advice

Emily Newman77 said:Hey everyone, just checking in here with zero experience under my belt...

So, I was wondering if it’s actually doable to join a sailing club as a total newbie if the end goal is competitive racing? Like, you know, doing the whole school thing, training, all that jazz...

I guess I should mention I'm a little over 14 years old. 😢

Oh, absolutely. Why wouldn't it be possible? I don't know the exact setup for Seattle, but I'm pretty sure there are yacht clubs right there in town, so you could just head down and ask them directly.

Maybe try a quick Google search first; most of them have their own websites with all the details anyway.

Harold Morales said:Hey man, honestly, that actually caught me totally by surprise.😉

So, when you're talking about that guy... are you thinking about what happened last summer, or more like the time before that? I guess it depends on which version of him we're dealing with, maybe.

I guess it was all just a dream, honestly... I was out on the water, maybe on a first date or something, and we were just stuck there drifting because the wind totally died on us. We were just sitting there in the dead calm, so I suppose we ended up getting pretty buzzed to pass the time.

I skip a fair amount of stuff, honestly, and I guess that’s basically how I get by, though I don't exactly work for a charter company or anything like that... it's more along those lines, but I really shouldn't be out here trying to plug or advertise anything, I suppose.
I don't really get out to many regattas, to be honest—just a couple this year, I guess—but I suppose I should brag a little bit about that recent one in Seattle... ended up taking first place in my class.

I really wanted to hit up that big masquerade party out in the suburbs this past weekend, but man, the flu absolutely wrecked me.

Whenever I actually find a spare second—which, let's be honest, is basically never—I try to get out on my board, though I've been feeling a bit stuck lately. I’ve still got this old-school setup from back in the day in Europe, but I’m thinking about maybe picking up a new Laser for the summer, if I can swing it. I'm sitting at a light 165 pounds right now, so I guess that should be enough to make it work, maybe.

I was there for this last one, if that makes sense... I wasn't really around for the one before it, but yeah, before that, I think I showed up like three or four times in a row.
The last time I hit up that little UFU 22 meetup, our group ended up taking second place. It was honestly such a close call—we were right there on the edge of grabbing first, too—but I guess I just wasn't riding with a crew that had that intense, high-octane energy you need to really clinch it. 🙂

I guess I used to spend most of my time out on the water with the crew on the Majestic, the Babaloo, and the Comet, but honestly, the vibe in that group has kind of fizzled out lately. It’s a bit of a bummer, really. We'll just have to wait and see how this upcoming season actually plays out, I suppose.

I mean, I’ve basically cruised the entire coastline from the Florida Keys all the way down to the Gulf Coast, like, countless times.
Man, I really miss that. Now I guess I'm just gonna have to start grinding a bit harder to make up for it. 🙂

I mean, I only really got into skiing like two years ago, mostly just a way to scrape together some extra cash for my college budget, I guess.

So, yeah, the board, the Laser... honestly, it’s more for messing around than anything serious. I’ve got this old MTA bus pass I’ve been playing with, just kidding around, but last summer I actually took the board out for a real session. One of the perks of this stuff is that you don't really need a whole crew to get out there and sail, which is nice. But then again, a regatta is still a regatta, I guess. 🙂

Jesse Cooper97 said:I was in this last one, not the one before, and before that I did three or four in a row.
The last time I hit a small regatta back in '22, we finished second in our group. We were so close to taking first, honestly, but I wasn't sailing with one of those super intense, high-strung crews. 🙂

Mostly, I used to sail with the Majesty, the Babaloo, and the Comet. But lately, the vibe in that crew has kind of fizzled out, so I guess we'll see how this upcoming season shakes out.

With those guys, I’ve cruised the whole coast, from the New York area all the way down to the Gulf, countless times.
Man, I miss it. Now I really have to grind to make things happen. 🙂

As for kiteboarding, I only really got into it about two years ago, mostly just to pad my college budget a little bit.

I do boards, Lasers, stuff like that—mostly just messing around rather than being super serious. I have this old Zest boat I joke around with, and last summer I even went windsurfing. The good thing about that gear is you don't need a whole squad to get out there. But then again, a regatta is still a regatta. 🙂

Personally, I can't stand those hyper-intense crews; it's usually just constant screaming at each other, and I don't know how people deal with it! I much prefer sailing with my semi-pros. For me, having a good time is the priority, and the results come after.

Oh, and man, I totally fell in love with surfing. It's incredible when you're out there catching some 20-foot swells somewhere in the middle of nowhere—bodyboarding style, obviously. Just the ocean, the wind, the salt, and nobody bothering you. It's wild, you feel like you're actually part of nature; the wind just carries you, and Poseidon is basically flirting with you.
Kiteboarding is starting to get a bit boring, though. Most people don't even get why they're doing it; they just show up because it's trendy now, kind of like how everyone used to sail around the coast.

I'm trying to pull some strings to move over to those 60-100 foot motor yachts. You work hard for a bit, then you just lounge around, and the money is incredible.
Plus, it leaves you plenty of time to go sailing whenever the wind is actually decent.🙂

Harold Morales said:I'm really not into those super intense, high-strung crews, you know? It's just constant shouting most of the time, and I don't know how people deal with them. Personally, I much prefer my group of semi-amateurs; for me, having a good laugh is way more important than the actual results.

Yeah, I end up traveling back and forth to different regattas too... and I haven't been down to the Gulf Coast in quite a while either.
Man, those races are really just meant for having a good time. 😁

The whole thing is cool because when you're sailing, you're actually sailing. You give it everything you've got. But when you're docked, well, then you can just relax and take it easy. 😁

I could also tell you that there's a special feeling being the first one to reach a landmark or finishing in the top five at a major race... though honestly, an even better feeling is finishing a regatta and realizing both you and the crew gave it your all and everything just ran like clockwork.

Harold Morales said:Oh man, I absolutely love surfing. It’s so great when you're out there, maybe twenty miles from nowhere, just hitting a wave—on a clothing-optional beach, obviously. Just the ocean, the wind, the salt, and nobody bothering you. You basically become part of nature; the breeze just caresses you, and Poseidon is practically flirting with you.

Yeah, I know exactly what you mean.
I'd get way more serious about it if I actually had the cash to buy a decent board.
As it stands, I'll probably just spend the whole summer out on a board for a few hours every day, but it won't be the same.
The board I'm using right now (which isn't even mine) is this massive thing, like 120 or 130 liters, and it's honestly falling apart—it's basically waterlogged and beat up.

But hey, one step at a time. I'll get there eventually; I'll wait for the right moment and then I'll go out and buy one.

Harold Morales said:I'm starting to get a little bored with being a skipper. Most people don't even seem to realize why they're there; they just show up because it's trendy now, kind of like how we used to sail along the coast.

I know, I know... :|

That's honestly the worst part about being a skipper.
The kind of people who end up on your boat... I mean, sure, some are decent, but there are so many clueless people who have no idea anything about the ocean or basic boating etiquette. They do all sorts of stupid stuff, and you just have to grit your teeth and deal with it. Sometimes it feels so draining, like I'm the one suffering and the ocean is just being difficult for no reason. It's just... yeah.

Harold Morales said:I've been pulling some strings to maybe switch over to those big 20-30 meter motor yachts, you know? You basically just flex a few muscles and then spend the rest of the time just chilling, plus the money is honestly incredible
and you'd have plenty of downtime for sailing all over the place🙂

Yeah, I actually know someone who works on a massive yacht owned by one of those huge companies out of Atlanta🙂. The pay is great and the hours are decent, but even then, it’s not quite perfect.
It's better than being a standard skipper, but you still gotta put in the work, I guess. 🤷

Just bumping this thread, maybe someone else will chime in

BTW, I'm heading to the coast tomorrow—got a transfer coming through in a few days, yippee! Just hoping my health holds up long enough to enjoy it

Does anyone happen to have any used gear for Europe, or perhaps an entire vessel available for sale?

casualfox9 said:Does anyone have any used gear for Europe, or maybe even an entire boat for sale?

What exactly are you looking to do with it? If this is just for leisure, I recall the yacht club over by Central Park in Chicago had some older vessels available, and if my memory serves me right, there was a Europe model floating around too. I can shoot you a contact if you're interested.

feralmarlin132 said:What are you planning to use it for? If it’s just for recreation, the yacht club over by Central Park had some older boats, and there were some Europas around too, if I remember correctly. I can send you a contact if you're interested.

I know, I know—it's actually that Europa at the club near Central Park they want to fix up. It's basically a bare hull right now; it lacks almost all the gear, and honestly, I'm not even sure if the mast is still around somewhere.
The goal is to get it fully rigged so the girls can actually go out sailing.

Otherwise, I might look into picking up an older Europa myself, maybe spending a max of $500 to haul it down to the coast.

casualfox9 said:Look, I know the deal. The club wants to fix up that Europa boat over by Central Park, but they’re basically starting from scratch. There’s zero equipment, it’s just a bare hull at this point—I wouldn't be surprised if even the mast is missing somewhere in a shed.
The whole idea is to get enough gear together so the girls can actually get out there and sail.

That said, I might consider picking up an older Europa myself, maybe spending no more than 500 bucks to haul down to the coast.

There should be plenty available—honestly, I picked up my Laser for about that much, though I'll admit it's seen better days. You could always check with the club to see if they have any MTA transit passes or similar stuff left over for cheap, if they even have any...

Do you happen to know if anyone at the club has a spare rig for a Laser? Even an older model would work fine.

feralmarlin132 said:There should be some left—I spent my cash on my own Laser, though I'll admit it's seen better days. You could always check if they’re still selling MTA passes at the club for cheap...

Do you know if anyone at the club has an extra Laser case lying around? Even an older model would work.

I don't care about the MTA; I want Europe. 🙂
There are still two MTA passes at the club, but only one is actually set up for use.

As for the cases, even the ones for the current Lasers are missing or in terrible shape.😢

Yesterday, I spent some time sailing and swimming at Central Park 🙂

Harold Morales said:Sure, why wouldn't it be possible? I'm not exactly sure about the situation in Seattle, but I know there are sailing clubs over there too. You could always head down and just ask around.
To start with, maybe try a quick Google search—they usually have their own official websites anyway.

Yeah, yeah... I've already scoured Google, but there’s nothing in Seattle—not even near the local sailing schools—that offers anything for "older" students, if you catch my drift.

First off: the local community center only takes kids up to 14, and everyone else is a no-go.
Second: those agency-run programs don't really do much for me either.
Third: I highly doubt some seasoned sailor is just going to grab a total rookie on board and let them shadow them to learn the ropes.

But whatever... it is what it is. 🙂

Emily Newman77 said:Yeah, tell me about it. I did a quick Google search, but I couldn't find any sailing schools for "older" folks in Seattle or even anywhere nearby...

First off, the local community center only takes kids up to 14; nobody else seems interested.
Second, those agency-run programs don't really do much for me.
Third, I highly doubt some seasoned sailor is just going to grab a total rookie on board and start coaching them on the fly.

But whatever, it is what it is. 🙂

For beginners, there are actually two solid paths you can take:
- If small dinghy courses aren't available, there are plenty of beginner classes for keelboats—for instance, check out the programs at the local yacht club near the Great Lakes. It’s absolutely worth investing in a week-long intensive course; you'll hammer home the essential fundamentals.
- Or, sign up for a course using Lasers in Chicago over at Central Park (www.ycz.hr). Unfortunately, that's currently the only club in the US offering that specifically for adults. 😢

Once you've done that, you should be able to join a crew as a novice and learn the ropes on the job...

Alternatively, you could just pick up a used small sailboat and practice on your own!

You can still submit a short story for our "how I got into sailing" contest over on the blog:

Have all the sailors passed away, or is everyone just out on the water right now? 🙂

Just got back from the IMS races out in the Hamptons and the Easter regatta... honestly, the Hamptons was a total sweep, five for five. It’s such a shame the organizers didn't open things up to more crews to reward all that hard work...
But then there's the Easter regatta over in Miami... man, that one has gone completely downhill. What used to be a legitimate, high-level regatta has devolved into this glorified bonfire party for wealthy types who think they're big shots just because they chew on a $33 cigar... As far as the skill level goes, I have to give credit where it's due... kudos to the winners (Gringo II) and even some of the other crews who clearly put in the sweat equity and the cash, both for their boats and their training... But as for the organization? Zero points. Total zero. Dealing with knotting issues, a complete lack of respect for the actual sailors... they even rejected an entry because of some minor branding issue on the hull... I'll be writing more about that later... anyone who actually follows the sailing scene in America pretty much knows exactly what kind of mess we're dealing with here...

casualfox9 said:You can still submit a short story to the contest on the blog—the theme is "how I first got into sailing":

Just a quick call for votes on the competition (though entries are still being accepted):

Finally! Someone actually remembered how to sail 🙂
For now, the only sailing I'll be watching is some boat show in Miami, haha
But hopefully, I'll get out on the water myself pretty soon...

Chris Miller6 said:Woohoo! It’s about time someone brought up sailing 🙂
Right now, the only sailing I'm seeing is at the boat show in Miami, haha
but hopefully, I'll be out on the water in my own boat soon...

What kind of boat? 🙂

Jeep Wrangler Rubicon
I might be interested in picking one up. Is this still available?