Where to Move to get into Sailing

[Jim Cate]

IF the driving factor is really sailing, you should consider going the other way: IMO, the San Francisco area has the best year round sailing conditions in the USA. Lots of activities on the water in all seasons, good winds, challenging currents and lots of racing at all levels.

But then, we left anyway...

Cheers,

Jim

[MSN-Travelers]

Why move at all? If you are just getting into sailing, why leave Detroit. You have Lake Erie to the east and Lake Huron to the north. Great location until you learn to sail and really know what you want to do. Both Boston and Wash DC are high cost areas to live in.


If you want year-round sailing . . . head for Florida or a location on the Gulf.

[Group9]

Move down to the gulf coast or Florida. Once you get about even with Orlando, you have 12 months of boating.

I used to live in Annapolis and the sailing there was great, for the three or four months it was warm enough to do it.

I also lived in Miami and New Orleans, and now live on the Mississippi gulf coast. If you really live to boat, then living down south means living twice as long, at least, in boating years.

[tartansail]

Welcome to CF!

I live outside of Boston and sailed out Hull at the south end of Boston Harbor for many years. We've moved our base to Rhode Island which has been great, but not better than Boston Harbor.

You mention "getting into" sailing. I'm going to infer that that means that you and your wife are planning to learn. Boston has a couple of excellent ways to learn sailing without breaking the bank. If you're completely new to the activity, Community Boating on the Charles River is a good way to learn the basics in small boats. If you're beyond that (or once you're beyond that), the Boston Harbor Sailing Club Boston Sailing - Schools Lessons Certifications - Boston Harbor Sailing Club - Sailboat Racing Moorings Rentals Charters has a range of cruising boats that members use for day sailing out into Massachusetts Bay and chartering for longer trips. Many years ago, my (not yet) wife made the transition from crewing for her Dad to sailing her own boat at BHSC and still has friends from the experience. If you live in Boston, the sailing is close enough that weekday summer evenings are a viable option for lessons and short sails.

The Boston Harbor Islands are a well kept secret since Boston Harbor was once best know for its well-named "Dirty Water" by the Standells. Thanks to massive cleanup, it's now a great place to sail and swim (if you like the cold temperature).

Once you're out on your own, there are excellent cruising grounds from Maine to Block Island that are extremely varied and have kept coastal sailors engaged for a lifetime.

[Joel H.]

Chicago!