Things You'll Need:
- A Sailboat
- Practice
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Step 1
Find out what is available at your local sailing club. Most boat clubs race a variety of one design boat classes, such as Lasers, Flying Scots, and Interlakes.
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Step 2
Take stock of your resources. Boats are pricey, so your budget determines what you can get. Expect to spend at least $1000 dollars for a small, used sailboat.
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Step 3
Decide what kind of boat you want. Onshore sailboats typically take from 1 to 3 people, depending on the class and the amount of wind. Buy a boat that you can crew. If you don't have friends who will sail with you regularly, consider getting a singlehanded boat such as a Laser.
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Step 4
Practice sailing. It takes countless hours to learn how to trim a sail boat just right. Learning tacking, jibing, and points of sail can take hours more. Mastering the wind characteristics of a lake or offshore course can literally take years. The more time you spend practicing, the better.
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Step 5
Take your crew along with you. Sailboat racing is all about learning to work as a team.
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Step 6
Study the rules of sail. There are basic right-of-way rules that are universal to all sailboats, but there might also be rules specific to your racing class or yacht club. If you aren't sure, someone at the boat club should be able to point the way towards a complete rules list.
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Step 7
Start racing. Some leagues will let you start at any time of year, while others only allow new entries at the beginning of the season.
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Step 8
Learn racing strategies. Sailboat racing is not just about going as fast as you can, but about positioning as well. By blocking your opponent's wind, judiciously using right of way, and choosing the best side of the course, you can gain a decisive advantage.
