I want to get into sailing, as a crew on large yachts. With the goal to build skills, become member of crew to go around Australia and eventually around the world.
I know, it sounds naive and optimistic.

I am 38 y.o. Had a powerboat for a few years. NSW Maritime Boat Driver license. (I've been on a sail yacht only couple of times casually.)
Pwerboat experience and license should count as something?

1)
Is it possible and appropriate to start training right away on a yacht? I imagine some will tell me that I need to learn to work the dinghy first?


2)
Second question is - should I look for sailing school and pay money for training, or look for crew position on a sailboat? There seem to be crew positions available around, even with no experience, demand for crew members seem good.

I live in Central Coast NSW, The Entrance area. My research shows around Central Coast there' s Gosford sailing club, Lake Macquarie Yacht Club, Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club.

I found two clubs with "Crew seeking yachts" pages.
One is at Newcastle cruising Yacht club www.ncyc.net.au/2-sailing-division/yachts-requiring-crew-crew-seeking-yachts/
And list of crew seeking yachts www.ncyc.net.au/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/CREW-seeking-NCYC-YACHTS-2012-01-0612.pdf goes back as far as January 2011. Which makes me think it's either crew not removed from list ever or those crew never found any positions on yachts.

Another one is Lake Macquaire sailing club.
http://www.lmyc.com.au/site/crew-register
register shows boats seeking crew. However there are quite a few boats that seem rather small. And they require commitment in order to take you on.


3)
I would prefer to be on a larger boat rather than smaller. Boats under 40 feel cramped to me. Is that a silly and arrogant thing to say? Do I really have to "earn my way from the bottom" and start on smaller sailboats?

4)
On the forum there seem to be distinction about Racing vs Sailing. I couldn't find clear definition of how those differ. I suppose that racing is high-speed competitive style, I pretty much would enjoy that.
However that seem to require lot more experience.
And with racing style boats I suppose it's bare minimum of amenities, not for leisure, long-term trips?


Are there any good Australian forums or resources about sailing, like this forum?

Anyway, any comments or suggestions on where to start are welcome! Especially if you have local knowledge about NSW Central Coast.

Being on a crew racing a 43 foot division one yacht is exactly how I started out in sailing, but to work your way up through the various positions you'll have to commit to attending every race for several seasons as there's a lot to learn to get the yacht to perform at 90% and you'll never stop learning how to get that extra 10%.

Short course races are extremely exciting and you'll constantly be busy. Bluewater races you'll just sit on the side for hours on end.

All that said I now sail a landyacht and a small cat

MorningBird said...
When people crew with me they get to do the lot.

Says Captain Bligh the slave driver.