Are you new to sailing and want to go cruising?
My best advice to anyone who is interested in learning to sail and eventually head off cruising? Learn to sail on a small boat, one under 20 feet if possible. Reason? Small boats teach you to understand sailing, how the wind affects you and your boat and how magical it can be to be carried towards your goal using only the wind. Small boats immediately show you that letting go of the mainsheet and heading into the wind gets the boat back upright, that sail trim really matters, that it is fun to be on the water. And, at the same time, grab every chance you can to get out on as many other boats as you can. Join a local sailing club, volunteer to help out with the local Sailors with Disabilities group and take advantage of the free sailing days they offer in exchange, volunteer to crew on smaller local racing boats. Each experience will teach you something about sailing, something about boat gear choices.
