Getting some basic feel and experience

[cptnandy]

You might check meetup.com for sailing opportunities in your area. If you were in the bay area I'd invite you to join my group and come out https://www.meetup.com/Adventure-Sailing/ as I sail a lot and take tons of new people out.
In Los Angeles there are 11 sailing groups on meetup that I see with a quick check.

[sv Stella Maris]

Fireant, you wouldn’t be a current or former fireman like me would you?

I’m trying to talk my wife into hosting people aboard, not a charter per say, just asking them to donate what a hotel/food would cost them while aboard.

We are a family of 8 living aboard our Lagoon 450F, currently in Martinique headed north.

Kids aged 10 and under. Ideally we would show interested couples, either parents or grandparents (since so many kids are aboard) what life with a family is like...for real. I love to teach and share common passion for all things mechanical and challenging. Some things like diving our anchor, stripping a windlass, checking weather, clearing into a new country, making water, swapping a water pump...are not in the typical sailing or cruising course that I’ve found, but stressed me out the most. I don’t like surprises if I can be trained on them beforehand.

I am from Huntington Beach, Southern California as well.

I am not a licensed captain and therefore can not solicit for commercial charter, nor am I interested. Just want to share this lifestyle with other well mannered, family oriented, accountable individuals.

Anyone feel free to personal message me for further discussions.

{Sorry for the CF upside-down photo issue...solution?}

I mean, yes, multihulls can indeed capsize!

[OkiMike]

There’s an app called GoSailing that people can post in when they’re going out if they’re ok with or looking for tagalongs. There’s also CrewFinder, but that’s more serious.

[Tillsbury]

“donating what a hotel/food would cost” is called chartering. Make sure your licence, insurance, and local authorities all give you their blessing to do this.

[exMaggieDrum]

We have a lot of charter companies here in Anacortes. You can hire one of them to take you out with one of their skippers on a charter boat. They give lessons also. I don't know if you have something like that close to LA.

[fireant]

Been looking at some boats here for sale. Something under 5,000 so its easier to sale later on and it would be easier to practice on a smaller boat. Still I want something big enough for us to go on a two or three days trips, Maybe a week or longer if we feel up to it.

Alex

[fireant]

SV Stella thanks for the offer but I'm ready to fly out for a while.
Work keeps me busy all the time.

[Lihuedooley77]

There is a heck of a lot more to sailing than to see if you might like it.

Totally agree with joining a sailing club.... Windard is good outfit, in Lido Village, Newport Bay.

But if you are up in L.A or long beach areas, you might want to check out Marina Sailing.

they have several bases in ports all along the socal coastline. And, after your lessons, and passing check outs and written tests, you can have access to vessels at all of their offices, in all of those marinas. Might take a look at their websites.

Both of you should take the lessons together.

For many years I was an instructor and charter capt, in Newport Beach, and have sailed a good part of the planet.....

You can start you basic lessons and you will find very quickly if sailing is for you.
You can bail, or continue on, sail many different vessels on your own, or with share a sail with other club members. You will, also learn what boats suit you and yours, and not make a huge mistake on a purchase.

Have fun

[TurquoiseTiger]

Hi Fireant, I'm in a similar situation as yourselves. Wanting to get some experience before buying my first boat. I joined a club last year and that was helpful. Got to sail with club members. Even if you dont yet have a boat, if its like here, the clubs are glad of an extra pair of hands to help with lift out day or to build a wall. This gives you a chance to get chatting to folks and learn, and get a sense of what kind of boat/sailing may be for you. Also as others have mentioned lessons are a really good idea. Over here if you can get you RYA (Royal Yachting Association) qualifications, you will be well trained, and can feel a bit more confident in your abilities to handle a boat. Also getting trained may well help with your insurance costs. It does here in Scotland.

[GordMay]

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, gilgrc, and TurquoiseTiger.