How do I go from never sailing, to be able to sail to other countries
Posted by Sea_Sorbet1012@reddit | sailing | View on Reddit | 134 comments
Hello, question is in the heading. I have never sailed before but love the idea or just getting on a boat, and travelling for 6 months or so.
I could probably afford something like the picture but don't know where to start. What's the best way to get into it, and what sort of boats should I be looking at.
I'm reasonably fit and capable, good with navigation (air and land) and not short of courage. Not rich but doing ok.. still need to watch the dollars in and out but you only live once and I've always wanted to do this.
Am I being reasonable and realistic?
Thanks in advance. I live East Coast Australia for reference and would likely be going alone (or one other).
murmurat1on@reddit
Go sailing
Sea_Sorbet1012@reddit (OP)
Would you recommend joining a club? Litterly looking for advice on the best way to get into it..
Pomme-M@reddit
Sailors don’t litter :(
murmurat1on@reddit
Yeah sorry m being a twat.
I'd forget about buying for now. Pop down to your local (if it exists) yacht club and ask if anyone needs some green crew. You should always be able to get a sail.
Racing is a good option too, you'll learn a. Lot quickly.
Spend some time learning the ropes, maybe a course here or there if you fancy it.
A word of warning, buying a boat is easy, maintaining a boat is a PITA.
Individual-Score-661@reddit
And selling one is even harder 😢😅
Pomme-M@reddit
but knowing that, you can always start by thinking about what is more likely to resell when you‘re in the market to buy... it’s not just what’s priced well will sell, but what it is that is priced;)
Considering boat ownership can be looked at as somewhat akin to Isreal Sack’s “The New Fine Points of Furniture” ( aka Good, Better, Best ) which is a book written to lead those new to antiques to look at what makes things progress in value. So if you consider boats that way with an eye to eventually trading up you’ll be better off when you do sell.
casablanca_1942@reddit
Boats priced well sell. Boats not priced well do not sell. The market is different today, then a few years ago.
Project boats are easy to find. If you want to avoid them, seek an owner that took care of their boat.
Individual-Score-661@reddit
Boats priced well sell in a good market, boats priced low sell in a bad one.
I had to sell in a bad one, got many people to look at it, all of which had the same thing to say “I love it, I want it, but can I do payment plans because I don’t have the money right now”.
To find someone with the disposable income to buy the caliber of boat I was selling, I needed to take a hit. And that was after actively listing it for over a year
-smartcasual-@reddit
As the old saying goes, you can get the same experience standing in a cold shower ripping up fifties.
But it's an 800k sub, so what can I say, there are a bunch of us who are into that!
Fornicate_Yo_Mama@reddit
To add to that; with anything older than 3 years old the price of the boat should reflect the cost of yearly maintenance. With an older boat you are likely saving the owner a lot of money even if they give you the boat for free. You are buying a debt more than an asset.
Keep these facts in mind when making an offer on any boat. Owners have odd attachments to their vessels and often overestimate their value without considering this math. Always ask them for the last year’s costs and what the latest yard periods were and what got done/upgraded. These days you need a survey to insure anything that isn’t brand new and they are good to have. Spring for one on any boat you are seriously considering.
But that’s all a couple years down the line. Like so many said; for now, just go sailing… a lot.
WillingnessLow1962@reddit
Boats, a hole in the water to pour money into. Lol
Sea_Sorbet1012@reddit (OP)
Thank you.. I get it. Throw myself into it is the obvious answer. I guess I'm not too proud to ask advice in the interest of streamlining learning
wkavinsky@reddit
Throw yourself into sailing though, not owning a boat.
Sailing is mostly free by crewing in yacht clubs.
Owning a boat is an expensive hobby that stops you sailing.
WillingnessLow1962@reddit
Yes, I had friends that lived on a small sail boat, They often would crew on other boats, They were fixing up their boat, and after 20 years they weren’t sure if it would make it out of the marina.
I don’t sail, but my biggest fear would be missing, But that is more of an issue if you were trying to hit Hawaii than India
jheez17@reddit
You can join Facebook groups where people make posts that they’re looking for crew and where they’re sailing from/to or you can download the SeaPeople app. The people from Sailing La Vagabonde helped develop it and it’s basically made for exactly what you’re asking about
JaseTheAce@reddit
Definitely ask advice. Sailors LOVE to tell you what they know
One_Loquat_3737@reddit
You have a whole new world to learn. Sailing is all about hundreds of simple things done well and a few complicated things that need to be done well. You can learn a low level of competence quite quickly but for deep-sea sailing you need to know a hell of a lot and be confident to use it, including things like patching a hole in the hull and dropping down to a fly jib and rigging a sea-anchor if the wind goes hurricane force.
This is a lot of fun but you don't pick up elite skill levels in a few weekends of sailing. Safe long-distance sailors know a vast amount - it's learnable but you do have to learn it.
I went the route of doing (RYA) competent crew, then day skipper then coastal skipper and with about 5,000 sea miles of experience I don't consider myself anywhere near ready to do an continent-continent passage yet. I'd personally strongly recomment doing at least competent crew training and then sailing a LOT with others to build skills.
kavinsails@reddit
Start on a dinghy so you can get into the hobby pretty cheap. Monohull, compare whether trailering/haulout is cheaper for you regarding storage. Practice on a dinghy to get the physics & fundamentals down. Seeing as you frequent rbrisbane try not to get chomped by a bull shark when doing a capsize recovery!
mike9941@reddit
HAH!!! good on your for owning it and then giving good advice... :)
alliefm@reddit
Two years ago I started sailing, and recently completed my final US Sailing certification (Offshore Passage Making).
The short answer to your original post is that the main determinant for you will be insurance.
There are a number of sailing associations with certification levels similar to each other (RYA, ASA, US Sailing). US Sailing starts with Basic Keelboat, then Basic Coastal Cruising, then Bareboat Cruising; once you get Bareboat you can get the International Proficiency Certificate which allows you to charter boats around the world.
I'd recommend either doing some training/certification and/or getting some crew experience. I sail in the San Francisco bay and have met plenty of folks enamoured by the idea of learning to sail then sailing around the world, then abandoning that dream once they experienced 25 knot winds, heaving seas, marine toilets, and always fixing stuff.
I went through all the certification to get good exposure to sailing in various conditions, including rough conditions at sea. I have a much greater understanding of gear, rigging, and boat design. Scary to think about crossing an ocean without that knowledge.
Sea_Sorbet1012@reddit (OP)
Yeh thats a fair point mate.. at this stage I'd probably think of sticking to semi coastal and short passage stuff like island hoping between Indonesia, Thailand etc.. but like you said its a long term goal and I'm not in rush to buy a boat and set sail immediately. I think doing all the courses is a great way to start.. will probably meet like minded people through that anyway.
yogert909@reddit
You could take a few classes then look for jobs doing boat deliveries. You'll get a lot of practical experience multi-day sailing with people more experienced than you.
Sea_Sorbet1012@reddit (OP)
Thats a good idea.. thanks mate
No-Transportation843@reddit
I took sailing lessons. There was classwork and practical experience.
Think-Hospital761@reddit
My wife took ASA100 and I watched YouTube videos. We keep a logbook to track lessons learned and record experiences, good and bad. We bought a dingy and have since moved up to a 21 foot Precision. I’m a tinkerer and can fix nearly anything so I actually look forward to boat chores and upkeep. We are 4 years in and still sail a nearby lake. Soon we will try the Chesapeake. It’s a wonderful journey!
standardtissue@reddit
I would recommend first taking good lessons, then joining a club and getting hours under your belt under a wide variety of conditions, then looking hard and asking lots of questions about boat buying, then sailing locally for several years under varying conditions and then, finally, considering sailing across oceans. But thats me, I'm a stickler for not dying.
DysClaimer@reddit
This is what I did. Bought a cheap. 20' sailboat about 3 years ago, and joined a local sailing club. That's the best way to get to know people who do this, and start to learn. In the summers I race on the boat of another guy in the club just as a way to get better at it.
The boat is going to cost you more than you think in the long run, so start with something cheap.
RustyEscondido@reddit
Sorry about that guy giving you a completely unhelpful answer in the form of a thinly disguised insult. I’m also sorry that it’s the top comment. Unfortunately you’ll find that this type of arrogant, dismissive attitude is exceedingly common, especially among older sailors (Boomers especially) who for some reason have forgotten that they also had to learn how to sail at one point in the distant past, and seem to have zero patience for newcomers.
I’d strongly recommend taking an ASA introductory sailing course if you have any available near you. Not only will you learn essential skills, but you’ll meet other sailors. Sailing is not a solo operation; you’ll rely on a community for almost everything you do, and now’s the time to start building those relationships.
Another option is to reach out to yacht clubs in your area and ask if they have any racing crews looking for a newbie to lend a hand. Skippers are always looking for crew, and you’ll get the benefits of learning some skills while meeting people in the community.
Eventually, you’ll have enough confidence and enough of a community to buy a boat and start skippering yourself.
murmurat1on@reddit
Calm down
barefoot_sailor@reddit
Check the Internet for sailing classes in your area. Once you start there you can make friends with like minded people and probably befriend someone who owns a boat.
I would avoid buying a boat until you really get the hang of it. Sailing is easy* but being comfortable doing it and being comfortable doing it in the ocean is another thing altogether.
There are plenty of great books and YouTube channels that can help you get info on better understanding a sailboat and what it's like to do large crossings.
Not sure if that is helpful or not but just search the Internet for sailing lessons in your area and see what you get.
Sea_Sorbet1012@reddit (OP)
Thanks mate. It is helpful.. all the responses are.
ExcitingSpirit@reddit
Join a small boat club. Learning sailing small boats. Takes 3 months to get good at.
Then buy, sail and sell a mid size boat. Think 30ft or less. 10k usd or less. You get to know slip fees, maintenance, rigging systems, understanding and creating crew dynamics. And, of couse will put you on hours of youtube and reddit and all. You will learn a lot. Do this for 9 months to ideally 15 months.
I think on the way you will do different things like racing. Some overnigbt distance journeys,.
At this point, you will have the knowledge to sail across oceans but not necessarily experience.
Find a partner who is more experienced in ocean voyage and do your first cross atlantic sailing. !!
phuzzo@reddit
I mean, I just bought a boat and did a lot of things wrong. Someone took pity on me and taught me. No regerts
coffee-and-adventure@reddit
typical reddit response
Genoss01@reddit
Wow, who woulda thunk it
jfinkpottery@reddit
Sailing is the easy part of sailing. They teach it to 7 year olds.
What you need is seamanship. Making decisions that keep you safe while you get where you’re going. Fixing stuff when it breaks. Knowing when it breaks, knowing what broke, and knowing when to fix it. Cooking well enough to keep yourself healthy and happy, and stocking food to cook. Knowing how hard a thing can pull on a line, and how to handle that line safely.
If you’re sailing to other countries, you should know every inch of your boat, what it does, and how to take it apart and put it back together.
YellowFlare555@reddit
This Plus navigation.
Plus maritime law. You don't want to be arrested for illegal entrance when you reach your first harbor because you didn't stop at the appropriate port of entry (no pun intended). Or other such stuff.
The waters you will be sailing. Weather patterns, how well are dangers marked, do you need to cross a TSS, and more
Depending on the length of the voyage, how to keep yourself busy. (Atlantic crossings are cool, but after 5 days you've taken the boat apart and put it together again)
showtheledgercoward@reddit
You forgot Pirates
Pomme-M@reddit
Arrrr!!
flyover_father@reddit
Can confirm. My 7-year-old can sail. They toss them in those bath tubs with masts, and let them go to town. Loads of fun!
Deep-Parsnip4773@reddit
Go crew before you buy or charter
johnatsea12@reddit
And don’t go posting my dream boat again
Sea_Sorbet1012@reddit (OP)
Haha well mine too... they want about $150k Australian for this..
entropy413@reddit
Owning a yacht is ~1% sailing and 99% other duties as assigned. I love it because I love suffering, I guess.
If you want to be a coastal cruiser/offshore sailor , you can start with an ASA or RYA class. They’re not cheap but you’ll learn a ton.
I think if I were to offer you advice on buying a boat, I’d tell you to get a 16ft catamaran. They’re cheap, they’re fast, there’s tons of race clubs for them and they offer maybe the purest sailing experience you can get.
I think back to sailing when I was a kid and I can still remember what it feels like to be out on the trapeze with my buddy, flying a hull in 16 knots of breeze. Dolphins playing in our wake. Heading toward an empty beach on the Gulf Coast.
Good times.
Sea_Sorbet1012@reddit (OP)
Thanks mate.. I would like to buy a small boat to train. Ill look at these smaller cats
sebastianBacchanali@reddit
Wow I had this exact boat and sold it for 15K during covid when I thought I was going to lose my job
TheVoiceOfEurope@reddit
They're idiots. The second hand market went stupid after COVID, but now we're seeing a return to normal. That boat should not cost more than 99K AUS. And even then.
gerbilshower@reddit
lol right?
love what i ended up with (Cal 28-2). but... yea, a catalina 42 mk 2 was the 'dream'. definitely couldnt keep one at my local lake. but nonetheless, that would be the one.
Spartyman88@reddit
Congrats, for your spirit of adventure. Take small engine repair, lots of navigation classes, sailing classes, set your vessel upright with redundant safety measures and takeout a big insurance policy with the correct riders and estate plan. God Bless!
Sea_Sorbet1012@reddit (OP)
Thank you... I will do all that.
noknockers@reddit
I was in a similar situation to you.
Been on boats before but never owned one myself. However I've surfed my whole life and used to fly planes, so i had a bunch of prerequisite understanding about oceans, weather, navigation etc which really helped.
I spent a few years slowly researching what I wanted (and due to covid closing borders) while looking at a bunch of boats to get familiar with what i liked and didn't like, and what a family of 4 could comfortably live on for extended periods.
Ended up finding what I wanted in Thailand (Australian registered catamaran) while there on a business trip, so needed to figure out the logistics of how to buy in a foreign country and what i needed to do so.
Long story short, sailed to Malaysia (Langkawi) and purchased her there, which was also a handover sail from the old owners to me.
We've been living on board for more than a year now and loving it. Sailed Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia. The learning curve is steep as there's a lot of things to familiarise yourself with in a short period, but once you get over that hump and start feeling more confident then it all becomes very fun.
We're currently hauled out in Thailand, getting her ready to head over to Indonesia in a month or so. Then we'll head back to Australia by the end of the year.
All the best.
Yeahnotquite@reddit
Start a YouTube channel. Then a Patreon. I see these all over the sailing channels on YT. I’d love to follow in your adventures
3 kids, but wife is 100% against it because they need school (3, 6, 8). I’m 47. I’ll be buying a catamaran when I retire in 10 years, and doing the thing when the youngest goes to college, or into a job. With her or without her, it’ll be her choice at that point.
TheVoiceOfEurope@reddit
Don't fall for that trap. For every single one that makes some kind of revenue out of it, there are thousands (and I mean thousands) that try it and get zero traction.
Yeahnotquite@reddit
Sure- but he’s sailing already anyway. Could be nice additional content considering it would open the idea up to people with kids.
I’m not aware of any channels (except the one where they blatantly take advantage of the kids) that show this can be done with a full family.
TheVoiceOfEurope@reddit
You need a cute girlfriend who is not afraid to monetise her cleavage.
Yeahnotquite@reddit
Link to that account, for research purposes?
TheVoiceOfEurope@reddit
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-w1d5VdGOoE
This was pre covid. The majority of popular (sailing) vlogs have one thing in common: one of the main characters is easy on the eye and flaunts it.
noknockers@reddit
Yeah it's pretty saturated for sure.
noknockers@reddit
I really don't understand how people can make a 20 minute YouTube video every week. We have so much footage but just no time to edit it. I wish i could but the adventure takes priority.
My wife has an Instagram which she keeps updated. It's sailingmalallo if you're interested. Not sure if I'm allowed to link it here; https://www.instagram.com/sailingmalallo?igsh=YjYzZzN4aDl3Yndo
TheVoiceOfEurope@reddit
It's their job. Their full time occupation. This is when you turn your hobby into your source of income, which means it is no longer your hobby.
Sea_Sorbet1012@reddit (OP)
Thats epic... good to hear you've done it and more importantly love it. Gives me a lot of hope.
noknockers@reddit
I'm not an experienced sailor by any means but feel free to fire through any questions you have.
arodinpa@reddit
My gf and I booked a charter by the cabin trip to see if we could handle sleeping, eating and staying on a sailboat for a week. This was so we didn't let the "idea" of sailing lure us into something that turned our stomachs and emptied our wallets in the process. Couple years and some ASA classes later, we love it and even joined a local SailTime last season to get more skipper time for us both. Doing ASA114 in another month. Make sure you enjoy every minute of the process!
Sea_Sorbet1012@reddit (OP)
Thanks mate.. I'm going to do exactly this. There's some great sail holidays around
Kayanarka@reddit
I started in a 16 foot dingy and I can not recommend this enough. You really get a feel for everything involved in a small boat that can flip over easy.
Entire-Ambassador-94@reddit
Start by being crew on someone else's boat. Most clubs are always in need of crew. Once you've made friends with other sailors, they'll likely be happy to help you look at buying your first boat, and help you sail it. At first, I couldn't sail my Santana 30 without at least 2 other people helping, preferably 3.
Ar7_Vandelay@reddit
Ten years ago, I bought a boat with no experience. Joined a yacht club and started racing with my teenage kids. Started cruising, bought a bigger boat, and raced and cruised some more. As someone else posted. learn every inch of your boat and how everything works and how to fix things. Crew on a boat doing a blue water trip. You will know when you are ready. I've done a few short hops in the ocean, you want good crew and a solid boat for blue water
PM_YOUR_SANDWICH@reddit
About 30k miles under my belt. US to South Africa so far over last 6 years. "Sailing" is the easy part you need to be a MASTER at improv, you need to be an electrician, a plumber, ability to sew, etc etc. keeping the boat afloat is HARD work. The instagram idiots don't show real life.
Sunsplitcloud@reddit
A lot of Dramamine.
FarAwaySailor@reddit
I started by taking a few courses: RYA competent crew (5 days live aboard), RYA day skipper (5 days live aboard) and Yachtmaster theory (10 weeks night school, 3 exams). Then I paid (food and fuel only) to crew on the ARC across the Atlantic. Once you've crossed an ocean you are aware of the capabilities required.
Rene__JK@reddit
I came from motorboating , took 2x 3 day sailing lessons , bought a 47ft sailboat and we (family with 2 kids) took off and stayed gone for 6 years sailing europe, crossing a few oceans etc
Can highly recommend
Branch_Live@reddit
Did you read about the dude 100 years ago with no experience sailed from Australia to USA in an 18ft boat !
ckeilah@reddit
Just do it! Get a boat that’s 1/10 which you can afford, because it’s going to end up costing you 10 times as much! 😜 Start sailing in a Bay. Take sailing classes. Meet other sailors. Take those other sailors out sailing. When you get comfortable and they get comfortable go do some coastal sailing. When you end up with a few very close friends, head offshore a bit and sail around. Go sailing and heavier and heavier weather. Basically: Just start now and start sailing. Then take baby steps toward more and more adventurous sailing. You may find out that you don’t like being offshore. Most don’t. Good luck and happy sailing!
Sea_Sorbet1012@reddit (OP)
Good advice.. cheers mate
Wander_Globe@reddit
I was in your situation 2 years ago. Really wanted to sail but had never done it. Never even owned an outboard motor. So I took a 5 day course with certification. 6 months later I was laid off from work so I took my severance package and bought a sailboat. Sold everything I owned, moved on board and spent the the 8 months living on the hook and sailing around coastal BC. It's nerve racking at first but then you realize that putting up one sail, and then the next, becomes second nature. Even anchoring was pretty easy. Docking in a marina and being around other boats is the hard part.
You could start with dinghy's or get a trailer sailor or even a small sailboat. The main issue seems to be moorage these days. Once you have a boat and you know the motor works well then just start using it. I was two weeks before putting up the head sail but I didn't care. I rocked along with the mainsail at 2 knots and thought it was the best. Just don't go planning ocean crossings anytime soon. Take more lessons, practise more, try something new each time you go out like heaving to. Be safe and have fun.
Sea_Sorbet1012@reddit (OP)
Thanks mate... thats inspiring.
desr531@reddit
Join a sailing club learning to sail a dinghy well will give you a great start in the UK lots of courses that will build your skills do them all competent crew day skipper, coastal skipper and volunteer as crew while you are doing them, Lots old people need some one to sail there boats RYA will get you there. You will meet some great people and have loads of fun.
troubleshot@reddit
Are you me!? I live in Melbourne and did a bareboat trip W wife and kids for a week in Whitsundays in 2023, it was truly amazing and now I just stare off into the distance wishing I could do it for a month or more...
Sea_Sorbet1012@reddit (OP)
Haha I have looked at those holidays lots. Its on the plan to get the wife on board
troubleshot@reddit
You can do it with a bit of study and common sense, but definitely the advice in here is better, join a sailing club and offer up to help and learn.
JustPlainRude@reddit
Take some classes before dropping a wad of cash on a boat. There are likely multiple clubs near you that offer classes on basic sailing, cruising, nagivation, etc.
permalink_child@reddit
I would attend a set of sailing lessons. You will get the feel of sailing and learn something and then have an idea if the whole concept appeals to you. Maybe fly to a warm tropical spot for such.
Liesthroughisteeth@reddit
Besides sailing, read everything you can get your hands on. Doesn't matter if it's navigation engine and systems maintenance, meteorology, boatbuilding and design. At least then you'll come to understand just how much you do not know and how crucial some or all of this information is to a passage maker.. :)
Table-Playful@reddit
The hardest part is "Stepping out the Door" The condition of the boat is unimportant. You need to "Step away"
robotobonobo@reddit
I did this, had a dream in 2013, sailed for 9 months from Wellington NZ, throughout New Zealand, New Caledonia and Vanuatu in 2018 with my wife and 10 year old daughter. The plan looked like this:
2013: Learn to sail course, do some racing
2014: Take wife to Bay of Islands and sail a Great Escape adventure (2 days tuition, 3 days cruising alone) wife gets Level 1 cert. Do Cruising Crew and Cruising Skipper Course
2015: Get Day Skipper certification and buy 30 footer and do some week long trips and day passages
2016: Get Boat Master Certification and RYA Coastal Skipper Certification, sell 30 footer and buy 40 foot offshore cruising boat
2017: Prepare Cruising boat $$$$$ and do a delivery Auckland -> Noumea with an experienced crew
2018: Do the big trip - a life changing experience
2019: Save money to go again
2020: Liveaboard in lockdown and have dream destroyed....
2021: Coast sailing around NZ
2023: Sell boat
Shimshang@reddit
I'll take "start sailing" for 400 Alex
Shimshang@reddit
Start sailing
IamCaileadair@reddit
Professional sailing instructor here, and school manager. Here's what I want you to do.
Find a local boat club. Learn to sail on small boats. Sail a lot. I mean a whole lot. Get used to flipping over, get used to how the boat moves. If you're in a cold place, this is a two to three year plan. In a warm place it's a 1-2 year plan. IF you sail a lot. Could be a lot longer.
Now you'll be ready for a big boat. You see, boats have a motion and a rhythm. You won't learn how a boat moves and feels on a big boat. I mean, you will, but it is harder and you won't learn it as well. You need to start on a small boat, and then move to a large boat. Small here means under 16 feet or under 4.5 meters.
Now you want to find a big boat. Start anywhere you like, it's all fine. You just need to sail, sail, sail. You might consider a school.
Look especially for schools teaching the Yachtmaster series. It's a very good series and if you end up with you Yachtmaster Ocean you will be good to sail anywhere in the world. They do a pretty good job of checking up on the programs that offer the Yachtmaster series, so you can be reasonably certain you're getting a good education. Still, never sail with anyone you don't trust (Not like, trust). If you do their whole curriculum, it will take you at least two years. And if you do that, you will be ready to sail anywhere.
Sure, you don't have to do that. You can just go get a boat and go. But that's not what you asked, you asked how to do it right. This is how to do it right. Get a few thousand miles under your keel in small boats and in Learn to Sail, and then go for it.
1Sagittarius1@reddit
Gorgeous🌟
rguillen@reddit
Sail clubs, take lessons, charter, then if you are still hooked then buy
Current-Brain-1983@reddit
Join a club, sail dinghies and keelboats. Read all you can when not sailing.
hello_three23@reddit
Start out on like a Catalina 27
Gmac513@reddit
Try not to die. Everything else is easy.
sailorknots77@reddit
It isn’t too hard. Dive in, listen to experienced folks. Feel free to PM me. It’s awesome and totally worth it. We had some great friends sailing the same boats.
Until_then_again@reddit
How old are?
xxxpzest@reddit
I live in Brisbane and I’m in the same boat as you, no pun intended, I have 0 experience. I’m gonna to a local club and try meet some people and go from there
Mal-De-Terre@reddit
The best path I can think of is to move to a town near an international border. Then you can sail to another country on a Sunfish. I recommend Finland.
Hell, I'd recommend living in Finland and sailing Sunfish regardless of context.
RakuRaku@reddit
There's a bunch of certified courses you can do from barefoot sailing all the way to large commercial ships including licenses for different water ways e.g Mediterranean.
Did some research and courses a few years back just as a hobby but from learning the basics of the boat which includes maintenance check-lists, course planning/navigation, emergency protocols/exercises, radio/communications etc.
Just wanted to see if it was for me (it definitely is, once my kids are out of the house I'll be last spotted leaving Fiji heading towards Townsville).
spookyjibe@reddit
The first thing to do is buy a boat. Don't really about which one, any old boat will do. The more run down the better so you can save money for other things. Don't worry about getting a survey, just a waste of money. If there are fixes to do, you can do them easily, just a little DIY and boat parts are cheap.
Next, just set sail, it is fairly intuitive so you can just wing it. I wouldn't even bother spending much time learning how the boat works, buy a couple books and read them while you sail. Maybe spend a day or two sailing around the harbor before your ocean journey, mostly just practicing your radio skills; there is always someone to talk to on channel 16.
Docking is the only challenging part of it all but you can cheat a bit as you get used to it by sliding along the boat next to yours in the slip. The other captains won't mind, they had to start somewhere too.
Now you are ready for your big adventure. Stock the boat with lots of fresh veggies and fruit in the icebox, it stays cold in those for weeks with only a single bag of ice.
Start the day like a true sailor with a bottle of rum Get good and tipsy before taking the boat out to really live the life. If you get tired, just leave the boat sailing or motoring in the direction you need to go, all will be well.
-Credit card captain
Redfoxtrot82@reddit
Get a 20 footer
Yeahnotquite@reddit
For 5 people?
gnomegnat@reddit
Start small. 12' to 16' use it and learn the lines as well as other small things which can save you and your passengers lives. The waters and seas have been waiting for you, get out and sail.
Windmill-inn@reddit
So first of all you have the right idea because sailing is cool AF and one of the best things you can possibly do in life. Don’t let anyone gatekeep you because the wind and the water belong to everyone.
You’ll love it
IAintShit@reddit
You could do what I did. All I ever did before was take ASA 101 course then I bought a 43 foot ketch and refitted it and took off to Mexico. No sailing experience besides that course, although I do have my captains license 50 ton masters so I’m very familiar with everything aside from actual sailing.
zebostoneleigh@reddit
Sign up for classes with ASA or RYA. And then practice.
Highly recommend sailing in other people’s boats before bothering to look at buying your own. Lots of opportunities to do so. Definitely worthwhile. And soooo fun.
Thevanabondtales@reddit
If you want to liveaboard for 6 months, there's no reason this has to take years and years, but setting sail from Australia might be ambitious. Heaps of liveaboards doing what you're talking about in the Mediterranean.
As others have said, get some experience sailing dinghies at a local club under your belt to understand the fundamentals of sailing. Study the theory component of RYA's competent crew and skipper courses.
Fly to Croatia and take some practical courses at a RYA registered school, there is an accelerated day skipper program you can take in two weeks. Buy a starter liveaboard for €25,000.
Pay someone to come aboard and practice on your boat if you're not yet confident; most importantly, docking and anchoring safely, using the engine, and getting your sails up and down. You can practice the rest as you go.
Spend the next 6 months bopping around the Mediterranean, especially the Adriatic, (usually) gentle winds, no tides, reefs, or shallows to speak of, and lots of islands to explore / take shelter.
Learn as you go and keep a log, take more courses, coastal skipper and yachtmaster are the next steps if you decide you don't want to come home and would like to keep sailing.
If you can work remotely, you can work as you go and save a lot more money than you would living in Australia
We planned to just live on a boat for 6 months; we have spent the last three summers sailing between Croatia, Montenegro, Albania, and Greece. We will do one more season there before heading for the Carribean.
CatsAreGuns@reddit
Join a sailing club, get a small sailing dinghy. Sail a lot with them/in that. (2 years at least)
Then you can start looking at buying a big boat, you'll have had some time to see what you like and don't like in a boat, and you'll know what to look for when purchasing said boat.
I'd also advice doing some longer (days/weeks) trips with a more experienced sailor (you get to know those at the club) before setting of on your own.
You'll know when you're ready, start as soon as possible.
Mehfisto666@reddit
I respectfully disagree with this. I'm sure sailing a dinghy can help a lot with gathering confidence with the winds, but if the goal is to sail to other countries you are not going to learn much about navigation, rules of way, charting, instruments, etc etc.
If you can afford it, which i assume you do due to the goal, imo the best thing to do is to get as soon as possible on keel boats between 22 and 28ft. You can see how it is to live aboard and learn everything a bit at a time
LameBMX@reddit
everything at the end of your first paragraph applies to dinghys also. (except instruments, but the car they drive to the club has instruments) just because they are in a dinghy, they still have to know and follow the same laws and regulations that a bigger sailboat does. if they are racing, the should be charting their courses so they know their heading from mark to mark. what's faster than trying to spot a mark? looking at a compass.
the human mind learns faster when the feedback is faster.
though I'd agree a nimble trailer sailor would fit the bill also. but by 28ft, the response is so muted, delayed and absorbed by the mass, it would slow learning.
n0exit@reddit
There's nothing to afford about getting yourself on keelboats, except probably your own life jacket, some decent hardware store gloves, and appropriate clothing for the weather.
Sszaj@reddit
Make sure you're a good swimmer, or at least good at floating before you get in the dinghy.
Get a hat that floats so when you drop it in the water or get in the head mid tack you don't lose it forever, some lightweight gloves that protect your fingers from ropeburn when you need to let out the sail to avoid capsizing, and some wetsuit shows with decent grip.
AdExciting337@reddit
Start with taking some lessons then see if anyone will take you on as a race crew member
vertical_letterbox@reddit
A fuckton of money would be pretty helpful.
pcsweeney@reddit
Same way you get to Carnegie hall.
Then-Blueberry-6679@reddit
Do what I did…I documented it on YouTube sailing Haldis
indimedia@reddit
Jump on somebody else’s boat who’s already traveling. There’s websites for Crew finders. Don’t buy your own boat before doing this
indimedia@reddit
Jump on somebody else’s boat who’s already traveling. There’s websites for Crew finders. Don’t buy your own boat before doing this
djlofly@reddit
Start an RYA school somewhere, we have here in Lagos Algarve a few instructors, theres a club and also sailing lessons privately.
woodworkingguy1@reddit
Sailing is easy, docking is hard! 🤣 Make friends with people at the marinas. There are always someone who needs an extra hand.
Footshark@reddit
I read "sailing for dummies". Actually super helpful. Then I went racing with someone who had a boat and a ton of experience and then I bought a dingy sailed once it twice a month for years. I'm still hesitant to lose sight on land. Maybe one day.
Sszaj@reddit
Am I reading your post correctly?
You want to solo sail to another country from Australia with no prior experience?
That sounds like fun, but also pretty dangerous.
Sea_Sorbet1012@reddit (OP)
Yes and no... more like how do I go from no experience to being able to do it. What sort of boat would I need, what courses etc
vancouverymuch@reddit
Don't worry about the boat yet. You will find that out by getting out on other peoples' boats as crew and learning what works and what doesn't
Sea_Sorbet1012@reddit (OP)
Thank you to everyone commenting. I'm currently doing a decent drive but will 100% read and take in everyone's advice.
freakent@reddit
RYA Competent, then RYA Day Skipper Theory, then RYA Day Skipper Practical, plus as much time on the water as you can get.
Far-Midnight-3304@reddit
Get as much time on the water as you can with experienced sailors and learn seamanship along with navigation with charts and gps. Do deliveries with captains,usually looking for crew.
No-Tension6133@reddit
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eggplantpasta@reddit
Go crew for someone at a club. There’s thousands on the east coast and many boats are often short of crew (I am but I’m over in East Fremantle). Clubs often have a board to put your name on to say you’re looking to crew. Make sure you specify you want to crew on a keelboat. You could also just go down on the day the keelboats are racing before the race starts and ask around. After a season of crewing and a course or two (often run by the club) you’d be right to get out on your own. You won’t be competent to cross oceans but you’ll know enough to have a go.
Sea_Sorbet1012@reddit (OP)
Thanks mate... ill start doing this
Ok-Science-6146@reddit
Asa.com. Take classes. It's probably the best way other than racing with experienced skippers for years
Lurk5FailOnSax@reddit
Awesomeness is within reach from there. They say you only live once but you live every day... until you don't. If you can afford it, and you have the urge, do it. Nobody lives inland in Aus anyway. You're a coastal country despite the size. Get thee to the wet bit ply some salty seadogs with Tooheys and they will point you in the right direction. Good luck and have fun.
wobblyoutput@reddit
Okay, yeah. What they said…. But is that an old Citroen surgically attached to the cockpit of the boat behind the Catalina?
nonsense39@reddit
Read, take sailing courses, hang out and help around boatyards and marinas etc, befriend people who own sailboats, start small and local, and save money (you'll need it). BTW it's a great life.