Interested in sailing from New York to Florida to the Caribbean - how do I go about it?
I am interested in learning how to sail. After doing so, I would like to use that experience to sail from New York to Florida to the Caribbean.
I'm not hard core - I don't mean to do it without a couple of engines, lots of practice, and safety equipment. My question is, what kind of boat - that isn't too expensive - would be best suited for this purpose?
And where might I go online to start learning about what I need to learn about?
thanks!!
2007-07-20T13:25:08Z
I am getting a real kick out of these replies.
Zipperhead2007-07-22T11:37:05Z
Favorite Answer
I learned how to sail in Oceanside CA on a little Lido 14. Stick with the smaller boats (26 ft or less) to learn. They are much more responsive in the wind and you have to pay attention to everything. Go to your local "US coast guard" and ask them about "power squadren" certifications and classes to learn the rules of the road, so to speak. Then, before you get involved in buying a larger boat, I would crew for some people who own their own boats. You can learn volumes from other peoples situations before you invest in your own. I sailed on a 41' ketch with one other guy from Cairns Australia up to Guam. Had a great time... learned alot. Six months on board in the tropics with stops in New Guinea, Truk Lagoon, and a few other places. Contact me if you want some leads or further info on how to go about it. Nothing like being in open water.
Instead of going on line you'd be better off finding someone that does sail, pay them a few bucks to take you out for a while to get the general ideas of sailing with actual experience. As for buying a boat suitable for this about anything will work if you day sailing in calm seas near land and staying on shore at night, but if you're going to stay on the boat it'll cost to get one with living quarters.
You will be traveling through one of the shipwreck capitols of the world near Cape Hattera's North Carolina , if you value your life and safety I recommend riding in a small sailboat pulled down the highway behind a ford f-350 seriously : )