We started sailing only a few months ago also. We took a couple of lessons from someone we saw on gumtree and that worked out well. You can also put yourself down for crew at your local yacht club which is usually no charge I think.
I wouldn't recommend the sailing schools myself as I tried one, got a load of rubbish about what I was going to learn and what certificate I would get and actually learnt more off another guy who was on the crew like me. And they are very expensive. However I am sure they are not all like that and maybe I just got a bad experience...
We then went out and bought our own small sailboat and taught ourselves (along with plenty of advice from anyone who would talk to us??). The internet is also a great place to learn about the boat itself and what part does what etc.
Happy sailing!

G'day Destine,
The RYA competent crew course I'd recommend. It'll teach you a huge chunk of what you need to confidently take a boat out sailing.
Usually 5 days straight, or 3 x 2 weekends. Cost for a RYA school is typically $300 per day, so $1500 odd for the 5 day course.
There is an intro course RYA something-something, that would be two days.
You stay out on the boat for any multi day course so you'll learn a pretty wide spectrum, and the instruction is first rate.

Ring your local yacht club and enquire about any social sailing you can attend. At our Wed arvo social race, there is a sign on desk in the bar for the skippers, and also for anyone to put their name down looking for a ride. When we sign on, we let them know if we have any spare room and they divvy up the guests amongst the boats. This happens every week, it's expected that a lot of the boats have new sailors on board and the racing is intended to be relaxed, and it is. Last week I took 4 new sailors out that loved every minute of it, so don't ignore any chance to go social racing, it is a great way to get on board boats and learn that you'd not normally not have access to.
Cheers,
SB

(To the OP) G'day mate- im a kiteboarder like you with limited keelboat experience. I just finished the Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club "start crewing" course. Check out their website for costs etc, if you pm me I'll send you a photo of my course competencies/modules so you can see what the training entailed.
I realize you are on the other side of the country but I suppose you could use it as a cost/competency comparison/guide.
I mainly did the course so I could do have a solid piece of paper to hold on my hand when putting my name on crew lists at the club but I also had a absolute blast doing the course which consisted of 95% sailing.

The only way to learn how to sail is the same as learning how to ride a bicycle.

Take a ride!!! Once you got it you will never forget it.

I am in Sydney, inner west, and when I get back in late October would be happy to take you out for a short familiarisation sail.

destine said..
Heya,

Total beginner here and looking to start sailing. I have no prior exp. Much like Kitesurfing I think the lessons are a good idea despite regardless of the cert requirements.

Looking around I found that getting to the Coastal Bare Boat Skipper skipper so I can charter a boat in the Mediterranean a bit on the pricey side. I have no intention of racing but maybe crew to get some exp.

The Aus Sea Sailing School deal was about 4K and doing it piece meal which is much more budget friendly add about $500 to the bill.

The ideal layout for me would be at about $300-$500 per level, I will do all theory online on my own so just need the practical exp.
And 1 level every couple of months or so at what ever pace fits into life at that time.

So in your infinite wisdom what/where is the best path to take given that I'm in no rush at all and budget tight in the short term.

Note: I'm likely to bring along 1 - 3 other people that are interested to varying degrees but in the same boat as me

On Sydney harbour
Pacific Sailing have an introductory four hour lesson on J24's for $99
Eastsail have a similar offer on bigger boats

Cav30 said..

Toph said..
To charter in the Med, or anywhere else in the world these days you will need the RYA ICC certification. It is essentially the old Comp Crew but I believe just slightly more involved. As usual it is an insurance requirement and a bit over the top in my opinion. Even if you have a higher certification, believe it or not you still need the ICC (although it's just a paperwork and money issue).

Bareboat charter has always required some form of formal training.,

This is not actually the case.
For croatia there is an official list of recognised certificates.
The RYA and ICC are different governing bodies.

Yes, you are right Cav. I shouldn't of said RYA ICC as they are different bodies. You can however qualify for the ICC through the RYA and other bodies.

When I first did a bareboat charter you were taken out, ticked and tacked a few times and were then on your own (and in hindsight with what I know now, I wouldn't of let me go then). But now, as you said Cav30, most have a requirement to have some form of recognised training these days.

another way would be to purchase a Trailor sailor , light weight but sharks no probs .

So I ended up getting out over the weekend at the Balmoral sailing club as a colleague of mine lives there.

It was every bit as awesome as I hoped it would be! Has me dreaming of sailing!

Next up I will take out a dinghy with the misses then see which club to join to crew some racing.

Thanks for all the tips here!