Anyone in the PNW Seattle/Tacoma area able to show a newbie to sailing the basics?

[Shane anthony]

Hi, looking at taking a 26M out for the first time at some point. I have minimal boating experience and zero sailing experience. Any recommendations would be appreciated, I checked out sailing courses locally and clubs. But haven’t decided which way to go. I’m use to just going out and doing it when learning new stuff but realize that’s not always the best way to go. Thanks

[NiceAft]

Hopefully someone will be able to oblige you; either way, sign up for a class. Sailing is more then handling a boat. There are rules of the water which are essential to know. You don't want to end up being a statistic.

[Shane anthony]

Hopefully someone will be able to oblige you; either way, sign up for a class. Sailing is more then handling a boat. There are rules of the water which are essential to know. You don't want to end up being a statistic.

Sure, I have spent some time on the water and learned most rules of the water and basic common courtesy and etiquette. But have no classroom qualifications. Washington State requires a boaters card to operate anything on the water so I took the test for that and received a card in the basics. But yes I’ve seen my share of statistics and being a bit clumsy hope I never become one. Thanks

[pitchpolehobie]

Try the "seattle sailing club" i knew some guys that used to be members.


https://seattlesailing.com/

[Shane anthony]

Try the "seattle sailing club" i knew some guys that used to be members.


https://seattlesailing.com/

Thanks, I’m figuring out a club is good place to start. Though I’m super close to the Puget Sound Sailing Institute was going to check into lessons.

[rsvpasap]

Three suggestions and a couple of tips.

1. If you're not familiar with the basics of sailing, take ASA 101, which generally includes 12 to 15 hours of on-the-water instruction covering the basics of how to rig the boat, trim the sails, tack, jibe, dock, operate an outboard, etc., usually done on a boat about the same size as a Macgregor. https://www.pugetsoundsailing.com/basic ... tails.html

2. Crew on other people's boats. This was how I learned to sail, crewing on other (larger) boats over the course of a summer in a number of races, I eventually got to do almost everything, including manning the tiller around the marks and flying the spinnaker. I found this experience invaluable and massively confidence building. Corinthian Yacht Club, Tacoma, does Wednesday night races, generally 5-9 pm. They continue racing all the way into August. https://www.meetup.com/cyct_racing/

3. Keep your boat in the water (marina or mooring), at least for the summer, with the mast up and the sails attached. You are much more likely to go sailing frequently, even just for a couple of hours, if you don't have to go through the whole trailer-sailer hullabaloo every time.

- Oro Bay and Filucy Bay are particularly nice anchorages in your area. Protected, interesting, beautiful, with dingy access to government-owned property where you can go ashore.

- If you don't already have them, get the following apps: Navionics, Tide Charts and Windy (red, on the paid version the forecast is available in one hour increments and HHHR is updated four times per day). You're going to want all three of these in the Sound. Also sign up for Cliff Mass weather blog. If you are unfamiliar with boating in the area, Waggoner's is helpful. https://www.waggonerguidebooks.com/stor ... Guide.html As you probably know, Washington State has at least 40 saltwater state parks with buoys and docks, the State Park websites are a great resource. Some buoys are currently out of the water for maintenance, such as Fort Flagler, check online for updates.

- Clovos Passage always flows north, regardless of the tide. https://www.google.com/search?q=colvos+ ... +direction

- Blake Island is actually as good as everyone claims it is. Better to get a mooring ball on the western side, the east side catches wakes from ship traffic.

- There's no fuel in Gig Harbor. There is fuel at Zittel's. I have waited out 50 knts for days in Blakely Harbor, an extremely useful anchorage across from downtown Seattle.

- An autopilot changes everything. https://www.google.com/search?q=raymarine+ev-100

I'm mostly based around Port Townsend. One of the best things about sailing in this area is you can have it almost entirely to yourself from the beginning of October through the end of April. I hope you have awesome adventures.

Here's a photo of the approach to Sequim in January.



And here's a photo from just north of the north Vashon ferry terminal, looking west, also in the middle of winter.

[Shane anthony]

Three suggestions and a couple of tips.

1. If you're not familiar with the basics of sailing, take ASA 101, which generally includes 12 to 15 hours of on-the-water instruction covering the basics of how to rig the boat, trim the sails, tack, jibe, dock, operate an outboard, etc., usually done on a boat about the same size as a Macgregor. https://www.pugetsoundsailing.com/basic ... tails.html

2. Crew on other people's boats. This was how I learned to sail, crewing on other (larger) boats over the course of a summer in a number of races, I eventually got to do almost everything, including manning the tiller around the marks and flying the spinnaker. I found this experience invaluable and massively confidence building. Corinthian Yacht Club, Tacoma, does Wednesday night races, generally 5-9 pm. They continue racing all the way into August. https://www.meetup.com/cyct_racing/

3. Keep your boat in the water (marina or mooring), at least for the summer, with the mast up and the sails attached. You are much more likely to go sailing frequently, even just for a couple of hours, if you don't have to go through the whole trailer-sailer hullabaloo every time.

- Oro Bay and Filucy Bay are particularly nice anchorages in your area. Protected, interesting, beautiful, with dingy access to government-owned property where you can go ashore.

- If you don't already have them, get the following apps: Navionics, Tide Charts and Windy (red, on the paid version the forecast is available in one hour increments and HHHR is updated four times per day). You're going to want all three of these in the Sound. Also sign up for Cliff Mass weather blog. If you are unfamiliar with boating in the area, Waggoner's is helpful. https://www.waggonerguidebooks.com/stor ... Guide.html As you probably know, Washington State has at least 40 saltwater state parks with buoys and docks, the State Park websites are a great resource. Some buoys are currently out of the water for maintenance, such as Fort Flagler, check online for updates.

- Clovos Passage always flows north, regardless of the tide. https://www.google.com/search?q=colvos+ ... +direction

- Blake Island is actually as good as everyone claims it is. Better to get a mooring ball on the western side, the east side catches wakes from ship traffic.

- There's no fuel in Gig Harbor. There is fuel at Zittel's. I have waited out 50 knts for days in Blakely Harbor, an extremely useful anchorage across from downtown Seattle.

- An autopilot changes everything. https://www.google.com/search?q=raymarine+ev-100

I'm mostly based around Port Townsend. One of the best things about sailing in this area is you can have it almost entirely to yourself from the beginning of October through the end of April. I hope you have awesome adventures.

Here's a photo of the approach to Sequim in January.



And here's a photo from just north of the north Vashon ferry terminal, looking west, also in the middle of winter.

Thank you for all your insight and pictures, looks and sounds like an amazing new adventure. I’ve been dragging my feet on this since I was 20 and asked my girlfriend (now wife) if instead of us getting an apartment we could buy this 20ish’ sailboat parked by her parents house for sale and live on it and sail together. She promptly told me to get lost, and now I’m 56 and looking at future retirement and hoping this will be a peacefully consuming part of my life. So thanks again for giving me a heads up with your experiences, I’m hoping I’ll figure it all out this summer and finally get started!