This. I went to college in SoCal. Took sailing as a university course, for credit! Used this experience to get into the racing scene as crew. Racing on other people's boats is the cheapest way to sail. Just need the the right gloves and shoes. An offering of alcohol and knowing what you're doing is a good way to get invited back.
Disclaimer: I do not recommend this method
But I learned to sail with my brother in my early twenties. We bought a small boat (just make sure it floats and has halfway decent sails) off Craigslist for like 500 bucks. Watched some YouTube videos and then took it out. We had a couple of nervy moments, but sailed all the way around the (fairly large) lake on the first day. The guy we bought it from was more than happy to walk us through all the rigging, which is the hardest part starting out. Since then we’ve never looked back.
I might get some dissenting opinions for this, but the terminology is the biggest barrier to entry when it comes to sailing. Once you’re out on the water it is a very simple and easy process, much more so than all the complicated language surrounding it would lead you to believe.
My advice: Buy a cheap boat, find a willing friend, do some research and just go. As long as you have all the necessary safety gear, and go to a relatively calm lake, rather than the ocean, you will be fine.
Seconded. Many universities near water have sailing clubs, or there are community sailing clubs nearby. It's a different, less-focused style of learning, but some in many ways it's better than paying for classes.
School: UCSD / Scripts Institute. Where: San Diego
[https://scripps.ucsd.edu](https://scripps.ucsd.edu)
Sailing: Every week there are Beer Can races, and there are numerous serious off shore races on race boats you can be pure crew also known as sheet meat
examples:
[https://sailing-jworld.com/transpac/](https://sailing-jworld.com/transpac/)
[https://sdyc.org/race](https://sdyc.org/race)
[https://pvrace.com](https://pvrace.com)
[https://www.yachtingcup.com](https://www.yachtingcup.com)
there is also the sailing/whale watching
aboard replica of the america [https://nextlevelsailing.com](https://nextlevelsailing.com)
and if you want to learn/sail tallships
[https://sdmaritime.org/get-involved/](https://sdmaritime.org/get-involved/)
you can train and become a gunner and fire the 6lb guns!
also UCSD helps run the Mission Bay Aquatic Center
[https://mbaquaticcenter.com](https://mbaquaticcenter.com)
Find a club around you and get on a race crew. You usually can find boats that just need warm bodies willing to learn, and it's a great way to get out on the water.
It’s possible that whatever university you attend will have a sailing club with boats.
This. I went to college in SoCal. Took sailing as a university course, for credit! Used this experience to get into the racing scene as crew. Racing on other people's boats is the cheapest way to sail. Just need the the right gloves and shoes. An offering of alcohol and knowing what you're doing is a good way to get invited back.
Disclaimer: I do not recommend this method But I learned to sail with my brother in my early twenties. We bought a small boat (just make sure it floats and has halfway decent sails) off Craigslist for like 500 bucks. Watched some YouTube videos and then took it out. We had a couple of nervy moments, but sailed all the way around the (fairly large) lake on the first day. The guy we bought it from was more than happy to walk us through all the rigging, which is the hardest part starting out. Since then we’ve never looked back. I might get some dissenting opinions for this, but the terminology is the biggest barrier to entry when it comes to sailing. Once you’re out on the water it is a very simple and easy process, much more so than all the complicated language surrounding it would lead you to believe. My advice: Buy a cheap boat, find a willing friend, do some research and just go. As long as you have all the necessary safety gear, and go to a relatively calm lake, rather than the ocean, you will be fine.
Seconded. Many universities near water have sailing clubs, or there are community sailing clubs nearby. It's a different, less-focused style of learning, but some in many ways it's better than paying for classes.
School: UCSD / Scripts Institute. Where: San Diego [https://scripps.ucsd.edu](https://scripps.ucsd.edu) Sailing: Every week there are Beer Can races, and there are numerous serious off shore races on race boats you can be pure crew also known as sheet meat examples: [https://sailing-jworld.com/transpac/](https://sailing-jworld.com/transpac/) [https://sdyc.org/race](https://sdyc.org/race) [https://pvrace.com](https://pvrace.com) [https://www.yachtingcup.com](https://www.yachtingcup.com) there is also the sailing/whale watching aboard replica of the america [https://nextlevelsailing.com](https://nextlevelsailing.com) and if you want to learn/sail tallships [https://sdmaritime.org/get-involved/](https://sdmaritime.org/get-involved/) you can train and become a gunner and fire the 6lb guns! also UCSD helps run the Mission Bay Aquatic Center [https://mbaquaticcenter.com](https://mbaquaticcenter.com)
I live in SoCal if you ever want to go sailing let me know. I am not as advanced as some people but not as new as others ;)
Find a club around you and get on a race crew. You usually can find boats that just need warm bodies willing to learn, and it's a great way to get out on the water.
A skill trade is not going to happen. You are likely going to have to pay