I live in Florida and am interested into meeting people that sail with the intent to be a hand on a sailboat for the experience and training. I know nothing about sailing nor do I know anyone that is into it. How can I get into the scene to meet people and feel things out?
Go get your basic keelboat cert to lock down the basics. Then do a bunch of beercan races until you’ve got the hang of it.
Volunteer to crew anywhere and everywhere.
You’ll be a salty dog in no time.
you’re definitely going to want to get on the Sailing Anarchy forums
i did the basic free course at nauticed.com and got a boating license for my state and that was enough to buy and sail a racing dinghy 8 hours up a river my first time out. Sailing is a blast you’re gonna love it! You can get a dinghy on craigslist for less than the cost of lessons so if you’re into DIY it’s a fun inexpensive way to go.
Join the Navy and tell them you want guaranteed placement as a bosun. You will save money by never wanting a boat of your own.
Plus you get a whistle!
Contact your local sailing club/yacht club. They often have classes and rental boats. Even if they don’t, you can sometimes find someone with a boat who is willing to teach a beginner.
Yacht clubs often have Wednesday afternoon sailing races and those crews often need extra folks on board. I learned sailing that way when I was in university. An inexperienced reliable crew is member is better than an experienced unreliable crew.
I don’t have any personal experiences with any of these crew finder sites but I know lots of people who’ve used them. The catamaran designer I *apprenticed under met his wife through one. She had no prior sailing experience but was willing to learn, and he needed crew to do a Caribbean crossing, and that’s how the story began for them like 25+ years ago. They still sail together all over the world.
The other advice is good too. Just walk the docks and ask around. People love talking about their boats.
See if you can find a 3 hour tour to get you started
Could just get a personal size boat to get accustomed to the feel of it. Be aware of the boom when you turn with the wind (jibe if I recall the term) lest you get whacked out the boat.
