Well, learning to sail appears to be some kind of a hobby activity for retirees who already sold all of their golf clubs. Well, not quite. This is probably one of the easiest activities you could incorporate into your weekend.
First of all, this is an activity that makes you focus on the moment, forgetting about your e-mail inbox and the bills you have waiting for you back home. The chance to get away from your daily routine and let the brain rest deserves more than money invested in it. Your therapist will be grateful to you 😅.
Try finding a local sailing club and taking a basic keelboat course. These are always provided in two-day ASA 101 classes for around $300-$500. Not too much compared to one night in Manhattan. Not kidding. You will get to know the basics about points of sail, knots and how to do a perfect tack without going into the water. The threshold is really low.
Sailing clubs such as Manhattan Yacht Club, Chicago Sailing and Marina del Rey’s Bluewater Yacht Club offer beginner classes for people who cannot call themselves athletes except walking to a bar. Nobody will judge you. The boats they use are J/22 or Catalina 22, which are really easy to sail once you learn the basics.
There is one information you will not hear before you take a course. The first day of yours will be really crazy. There will be lots of tangled lines, you will call the boom “a stick thing” and accidentally point the boat towards a nearby dock. Do not panic. The learning curve will be really steep during the first three hours but then everything will become clear for you, and you will feel like a king of the waves.
Once the course is done, find a beer can race series. Yes, that is how they are called. Races on Wednesdays in the evenings when experienced sailors need someone to crew with them. In exchange, they will give you some tips and help you gain crew experience. As a bonus, usually the drinks are free there. This is the best networking event you could join and nobody will sell you a business idea.
The equipment needed for this activity is very simple: non-marking shoes, sunglasses with a retainer strap, sunscreen and layers. Patagonia sells nice things, but honestly, even a regular raincoat will work fine. Forget about the Rolex until you make more money.
Also, there is a side effect of joining this activity which should be mentioned. Once you start sailing, you will meet a number of really interesting people, lawyers, artists, techies, teachers and others united by the common idea of trying to control the wind. The community is really friendly, especially if you bring some snacks to the dock.
The trick is simple. Go to a local sailing school right now. Take a weekend course before you try convincing yourself you do not have time or it is too expensive. Take the course and agree to sail with other sailors who will invite you as a crew member afterwards. Make your weekend a skill that will stay with you forever. Have an impressive hobby that does not require any marathons or ice baths 🚤.