Learn to Sail at Community Boating Inc. in Boston

(Read time - 2 minutes)
Ever wanted to learn how to sail? If you're in Boston, the fast, cheap and easiest way is to join Community Boating, Inc. (http://www.community-boating.org/). For $100, you get a 30-day sailing/kayaking membership that includes free classes from beginner to advanced sailing. The great thing about this deal, is that within a few days you can take a boat (Mercury) out by yourself. You just have to take two classes, Shore School and Rigging, pass the two corresponding tests (extremely easy) and you get your solo rating. I'll go through the basics you need to know ot pass these tests.

First is rigging, which is pretty easy once you get the hang of it. I would definately suggest going to the class and then taking the test ASAP. You don't need to get it perfect, just be able to get the sail up the mast. Basically you get a sail, take the head (top of the sail) and connect it to the main halyard (rope going up the mast). Feed the clew (back edge of sail) into the slit on the boom and pull it all the way to the stern (back of boat) and secure with a double half hitch. Then pull the main halyard up until your sail is completely taut and tie it off with a cleat hitch. You're pretty much ready to go from there. Whoever is watching you, will point out helpful hints along the way. Then they'll ask you to furl the sail, (take it down and wrap around the boom), and remove and put away the sail. Pretty easy.

Then it's on to the oral test after Shore School. If you've been sailing a little, you can probly pass this test with your eyes closed. Any question they may ask you can be found here http://www.community-boating.org/documents/Solo%20Test.pdf, so just google questions that you don't know the answer to or ask someone at the dock. After passing the oral test, you get your solo rating and can take a Mercury out to sail on a green flag day (wind less than 10 knots), which is what I'm going to do now. Good luck if you decide to try!