Go Sailing!

Once you have caught the sailing bug it’s a very hard one to shake off.  But what do you do if you don’t have a yacht or a sailboat?  How do you go sailing and quench that insatiable thirst for wind and speed?

Go sailing at work

One way is to work in the marine industry.  A change of direction would mean you could sail 24/7.  There are many opportunities out there from teaching in a school, hosting on a charter yacht or being a galley chef on a superyacht.  It’s never too late to change your career.  If you truly want to have a job you enjoy then it can be done.  With a bit of planning and a dash of enthusiasm, anything can be achieved.

Go sailing as a volunteer

There are many worthy nautical charities that are crying out for volunteers.  Give some of your spare time and expertise to help others to sail.  Whether it’s helping to provide respite days or holidays out on the water to teaching young people with and without disabilities to sail a tall ship.  The list is endless as are the rewards you will receive for helping others less fortunate than yourself.

Join a sailing network

There are many online social networking sites on the world wide web where you can meet others that share your nautical passion. You can even join a sailing dating site.  Lovesail is both a dating and social networking site for boating fanatics.  If you are an experienced sailor then why not join some of the crewing sites and help deliver a yacht to some far-flung region of the world.

Go sailing on holiday

There are more holiday charter companies than you can poke a stick at.  A search on Google for “sailing charter companies” results in 30,100,000 possibilities!  One sure-fire way to sail would be to hire a yacht with some friends and go sailing around the many island destinations in the world.  If you want to improve your skills then a flotilla holiday might just be the ticket.  You’ll meet other like-minded souls with the same urge but can relax in the knowledge that you have a lead crew to advise you and also tell you the best the secret caves and coves to visit.

Join a sailing club

Lastly, this advice has been given to me by my mother throughout my childhood and well into adulthood.  What better way to meet people with similar interests than to join a club.  Wherever you live in the world you will be a stone’s throw away from a sailing club.  Usually, they are named after the town or area where they are based ie Chichester Sailing Club or Melbourne Yacht Club.  So just search the internet or local library for details of your nearest club.

So just a few suggestions to get you out on the water, but whatever you decide, fair winds and following seas.