BLUEMOMENT

Hi Clueless (another name is better eh?),

Welcome to the forum and I hope it provides the guidance you require.

IMHO racings is a great way to start sailing as despite the hardships and embarrassment it may bring, it will get you out in all conditions and ultimately you'll have to learn to sail well if you wish to get back in time to share a tale over a beer.

What club? I suggest you choose the location that best suits you for travel - and before you even buy a boat - visit the location and visit all the local clubs you can find. If you dress in anything better than scruffy garb and are polite, you'll blag your way into getting someone to sign you in at each - and in this way YOU get to choose which one you wish to frequent.

Then I'd suggest you put your names up to anyone as race crew. Race skiuppers are usually always seeking crew - and provided you turn up each race and put in the effort - over a season you'll both learn lots. Add in evening classes - reading - CD's - whatever - its not a difficult sport to master.

If you really like the club - then consider joining. Your skipper could be asekd to nominate you.

Once you are both feeeling confident and have spent more time on the water - then start to think about what boat you may wish to buy. Until you've more experience - I would suggest its best to put off actually spending your own money. It is easy to make a mistake.

Can you convert a race boat to a cruiser - yes, sure you can. But boats is boats and just maybe the cost of setting up a race boat to mimic a cruiser is in total more than you'd pay for the 'real' thing (if you know what I mean). Inherently they are differing beasties - each made for its own use.

Anyway - welcome again - and good luck with your plans. Keep us all updated.

JOHN

Lots of questions which I'm not well qualified to answer but the first thing which occurs is to wonder just how inexperienced you are? Although I had had a couple of seasons dinghy sailing, I decided I had to have a yacht on the basis on one week's skippered charter, did the courses and bought one and it's quite a steep learning curve.

If you're really starting from scratch I'd definitely recommend getting some more experience before buying a boat. It's the upkeep as much as the purchase price.

The route suggested by Swagman will teach you lots at other people's expense as long as you find the right boat. (I have met racing crew with ten times my mileage who barely knew one end of the boat from the other because all they did was grind winches and change headsails.) I'm not really a club sort of a chap so can't help with how to find a good one.

One thing about buying a well-raced boat is that much of the gear will be well-used and possibly in need of expensive replacement. This can apply to any boat of course.

Wish you well and do let us know how you get on.