How to get sailing experience when you don’t have a boat
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Sailing is one of the most fun, peaceful, exciting, terrifying, adventurous things you can do out on the water. If you’re keen to try it but don’t know anyone with a yacht how do you get to give it a go?
Drive past any Marina full of expensive boats (or watch the America’s Cup) and it’s easy to write off sailing as an elite sport. But here’s some good news — it’s not! While some people will join posh yacht clubs and spend a fortune on gear and boats (many don’t leave the marina often), there are plenty of world class yachties and cruisers around the world who learned to sail without a lot of money, or owning their own boat straightaway. Regardless of your background, everyone starts as a beginner, and there are plenty of ways to give sailing a go.
You just need to know how to get started — and that’s what you’ll find here.
Below you’ll discover the basics of what you need to learn and 9 ways to build your sailing experience. Discover the best ways to meet other boaties, set yourself up as crew and begin a new sailing adventure — one that suits your lifestyle and budget.
Contents
1. Learn the Basics: Sailing Fundamentals
6. Volunteering and Work Exchanges
7. Social Media (Without Dodgy DMs)
1. Learn the Basics: Sailing Fundamentals
As with any new sport or skill, you’re going to need to learn a few basics of the game first. Understanding the fundamental concepts will help to keep you safe onboard so you can enjoy putting it into practice on the water. Below are extra articles to help you learn about types of boats, sails and simple nautical terms. Knowing these will go a long way to getting onboard someone’s boat as crew!
Types of Yachts & Types of Sails
Sailboats come in various sizes and types, but they all share some common features. Learn the parts of a sailboat, including the hull, mast, rigging, sails, and various lines (ropes) used for controlling the sails.
There are different angles to the wind that a sailboat can sail, known as points of sail. These include upwind (close-hauled), reaching (beam reach), and downwind (running). Understanding these points of sail is essential for getting the boat moving in the right direction!
Familiarize yourself with essential sailing terminology, such as port and starboard, bow and stern, tacking and jibing, and more. This knowledge will help you communicate effectively on board.
2. Learn to Sail Courses
One of the best ways to gain sailing experience is by joining a local sailing club and/or enrolling in a learn to sail course. Learn to Sail courses are designed to take you from a beginner with no experience to a safe sailor with the necessary skills and knowledge to continue on as crew or maybe buying your first boat!
Typically, you’ll start to develop safety, seamanship and navigation skills:
Safety at Sea: Learn about safety equipment, procedures, and protocols, including how to handle medical emergencies and man-overboard situations.
Seamanship Skills: Seamanship encompasses various practical skills, including knot tying, anchoring, docking, and handling emergencies. Take the time to practice these skills, both on land and at sea.
Navigation Skills: Learn how to use navigation tools such as charts, GPS, compasses, and electronic navigation systems. Understanding tides, currents, and weather patterns is crucial for safe and successful navigation.
Local Sailing Schools:
Many coastal areas and lakeside communities have sailing schools that cater to beginners. These typically provide hands-on training, classroom instruction, and opportunities to practice on the water. Search for local options online or check out your nearby marinas — there are usually staff around or regular boaties who can give you some pointers on a good place to join.
Online Sailing Courses:
Nothing beats learning on the water, but if you're unable to attend a physical sailing school or prefer a more flexible learning approach, online sailing courses can be a fantastic option too. These courses cover a wide range of sailing topics and often include video lessons, quizzes, and forums for interaction with instructors and other learners. Of course the next step is to put it into practice for real!
Certification Programs:
Some sailing schools and online courses offer certification programs recognized internationally. Certificates, such as those issued by the American Sailing Association (ASA) or the Royal Yachting Association (RYA), can be valuable for extending your skills and demonstrating knowledge to potential sailing partners or employers.
3. Join a Sailing Club
Joining a sailing club is an excellent way to get to know people in the sailing community, learn to sail, access boats, and pick up skills from experienced sailors. Here's what you need to know about becoming a member of a sailing club.
Benefits of Sailing Clubs:
Access to Club Boats: Many sailing clubs have fleets of boats that members can use.
Education and Training: Clubs often offer free lessons and workshops for members.
Social and Community: Sailing clubs can be a great way to meet new people and make great friends. There are plenty of people who need an extra set of hands onboard and are happy to take new crew out.
Regattas and Events: Clubs frequently organise races and social events — on and off the water.
Mentorship: Experienced sailors are usually happy to share their knowledge and help less experience members learn the ropes.
Finding and Joining a Club:
Search online for sailing clubs in your area or the area where you'd like to sail. Contact them to inquire about membership requirements, fees, and benefits. Some clubs may require you to complete a basic sailing course before joining.
Club Membership Types:
You’ll find different types of clubs all around the world, and each have different levels of resources and facilities. Some aren’t flashy and are run by volunteers with a relaxed membership, others have employed staff, or a waitlist for joining. Most will offer various membership types, such as family, individual, or junior memberships. Find one nearby that suits your comfort level, sailing goals and budget. Volunteering at a local club (even as a newbie) is a fantastic way to get to know people, give back to your community and get onboard a boat pretty quickly too!
4. Crewing and Racing
Another way to gain sailing experience is by becoming a crew member on a sailboat. Crewing not only allows you to get on the water but also provides opportunities to learn from seasoned sailors and participate in racing events.
Crewing Opportunities:
Look for ‘crew-wanted’ advertisements at local yacht clubs or online sailing forums
Attend club races and events to network with boat owners looking for crew members
Join online platforms dedicated to connecting sailors looking for crew positions
Participating in Regattas:
Regattas are competitive sailing events that take place worldwide. There are plenty of ‘give it a go’ sailing regattas where you can join as novice crew for the weekend. This is super fun and an awesome way to gain hands-on racing experience. Many regattas welcome novice sailors, especially as crew members — although it can be quite intense! If you want to join an event, definitely read more about everything you need to know to prepare for your first regatta.
5. Charter a Sailboat
Chartering a sailboat allows you to experience sailing without the long-term commitment of boat ownership. Here are different charter options to consider.
Bareboat Charters:
With bareboat charters, you rent a sailboat without a captain or crew. It’s unlikely you’d do this without any personal sailing experience, as to charter a boat independently, you'll usually need to provide proof of sailing experience and complete a check-out sail with the charter company. However, you may have friends with sailing experience that you could do a joint trip with, which is a great way to practice your skills and gain confidence as a sailor.
Crewed Charters:
Crewed charters are all-inclusive experiences where a professional crew handles the sailing, cooking, and other tasks. While you won't be at the helm (unsupervised), you can still learn a lot by observing the crew and asking questions.
Preparing for a Charter Trip:
Research charter companies and read reviews
Plan your trip itinerary, taking into account your desired sailing destination
Pack appropriate clothing, including wet weather gear. Read more about what to wear sailing
Bring essential personal items like reef safe sunscreen, hats, and sunglasses
Familiarize yourself with the boat's systems and layout during the charter orientation
Hire a small sailboat off the beach:
If you live or holiday near the sea, you’ll often find small sailing dinghys or Hobie Cats available for hire. These are perfect for having a play on — you’ll get some basic instructions from the hire company — and then you’re on your own! It’s a fantastic (and affordable) way to get a feel for how the wind affects the sail. They’re small enough to manage and big enough to take a friend with you so you can have a laugh together.
6. Volunteering and Work Exchanges
If you're passionate about sailing and willing to exchange your time and skills for experience, consider volunteering or participating in work exchange programs in the sailing community.
Sailboat Crew Volunteer Programs:
Some sailboat owners offer volunteer positions aboard their vessels in exchange for assistance with maintenance, repairs, and crewing. This hands-on experience can be invaluable in building your sailing knowledge and network. For example:
Spirit of Adventure (NZ)
Greenpeace (Global)
Work Exchanges in Sailing Communities:
Certain sailing communities, such as those in exotic or remote locations, offer work exchange opportunities. You may find positions as crew members, maintenance staff, or even in hospitality services in exchange for room and board.
WARNING: If a position sounds too good to be true, it probably is! Research any positions you find online very well. Ask for testimonials, speak to previous crew and ensure there is a high-level of safety for staff and integrity with how the boat is managed. Ensure the role is well defined and ask for a contract that outlines what each party is agreeing to.
Find a crew position:
Sailing as a Way of Life: Superyachts
If you’re looking for a complete lifestyle change you may be in the position to make a career of living and working on one of the 10,000+ superyachts, traveling the world as you go. It’s hard work (and long hours) but it’s an awesome way to make money and see beautiful countries at the same time! While this needs planning and preparation, it can be incredibly rewarding for those who embrace it. To enter the workforce, you’ll need to complete yacht training and medic courses — check out the Maritime STCW’2010 course which is a week long and about $1000 (depending on your country).
Find a superyacht job:
7. Social Media (without dodgy DMs)
Lots of sailors spend time sharing their adventures and experiences online. Facebook has plenty of communities to connect with and sailing opportunities — but your time in these groups should be authentic and not spammy. Find an online space that suits the type of sailing you’re interested in and people you’re comfortable with. It’s good group etiquette to spend time positively contributing to discussions before you offer yourself as crew. You’ll get plenty of digital eyerolls if you just spam the group straight up asking to be taken out — and you may end up with some dodgy DMs, if you don’t do your research well.
ADVICE: Be genuine, take care and spend the time to build real sailing connections.
Places to connect:
Sailing Forums and Communities:
Participate in online sailing forums and communities where sailors discuss their experiences, share advice, and post opportunities. These platforms are excellent for learning from others and discovering crewing positions, events, or sailing schools.
Social Media Groups and Pages:
Facebook groups such as Women Who Sail, Instagram, and YouTube dedicated to sailing are rich sources of information and inspiration. Follow these accounts, engage with the community, and reach out to sailors for advice and potential sailing experiences.
Connecting with Experienced Sailors:
Don't hesitate to reach out to experienced sailors you meet online. Many sailors are passionate about sharing their knowledge and may be willing to mentor you or offer opportunities to sail together.
8. International Sailing Opportunities
If you're looking for a more adventurous sailing experience, you could consider exploring international sailing opportunities. However, if you’ve never sailed before, it’s highly recommended you give it a go closer to home. That will help you know if A) you actually like sailing, B) you get horribly seasick, and C) you want to invest further time, money and effort into an overseas trip.
I do not recommend that you crew on a small boat doing an offshore passage as a complete novice. Most experienced skippers look for competent crew to undertake an offshore passage — those who will be safe onboard with good sailing skills, can take shifts on watch and respond quickly and appropriately in an emergency event.
Having said that, there are some international sailing tallships and voyage experiences that cater specifically for taking volunteers and new sailors on adventures. To these, I say go for it!
Sailing Adventures in Different Regions:
Joining a crew for a voyage like those found on Windseeker can be a life-changing experience. Each region of the world offers unique sailing experiences. Whether you're interested in cruising the Mediterranean, exploring the Caribbean, or navigating the fjords of Scandinavia, there are sailing adventures waiting for you.
NOTE: Keep in mind that international sailing may involve visa requirements and customs regulations. Research the entry and exit procedures for the countries you plan to visit and ensure you have the necessary documentation.
9. Build Your Sailing Resumé
As you gain sailing experience, it's crucial to document your trips, certifications and accomplishments. Aside from keeping this for your own personal records, you’ll need evidence of your experience if you want to do a Barefoot Charter, and especially if you want to gain particular maritime certifications or pursue a career in the marine industry (such as becoming a captain or skipper). Most international sailing certifications require you to have logged a certain number of miles and time at sea.
Keep a Sailing Log:
Maintain a sailing logbook where you record details of each trip, including dates, locations, weather conditions, crew members, and any noteworthy experiences. A logbook serves as a valuable reference and proof of your experience. This can be a written log, or a digital one (such as on a Google Sheet), or both.
Record Accomplishments:
Take note of your sailing achievements, such as completing certification courses, participating in regattas, or crewing on longer trips. These accomplishments can enhance your sailing resume. They also communicate your experience as you seek further crewing or sailing opportunities.
Continuing Education:
Sailing’s a lifelong learning process. There’s always something new to learn, or a skill to develop more. Once you start your sailing experience, there will be all kinds of opportunities to pursue. Consider advancing your skills by taking advanced courses or specialised certifications in areas such as offshore sailing, navigation, or marine first aid.
In Summary
Sailing is not just a hobby; it's a lifestyle that offers endless opportunities for adventure, personal growth, and connection with nature and like-minded people. There are a wide range of options to choose from to give sailing a go for the first time. It’s ok to feel a bit nervous about getting started but once you do, you’ll kick start a whole new adventure on the water. And trying new things — that’s what life is all about right?
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Don’t miss this upcoming documentary on the remarkable life and sailing career of legendary sailing icon — Buddy Melges.