hi all
I,m just about to finish up after 3years of fifo and go traveling the world and hoping to do it on a boats.I,m looking at doing a competent crewing course 5 days at sea.I,m thinking this would be a good stepping stone to experience to learn about sailing,am i head down the right path or not.any positive advice would be great .thanks
The competent crew course is a very good start. Most competent crew courses run 8-5 weekdays and weekends. After you have done it go sailing as crew to put it into practice.
There are positions as crew on racing boats at most yachts clubs where you will find a great variety of experiences; from gaining a wealth of experience in many aspects of boat handling (rare), to being yelled at by an egotistical, rich, alpha male who treats the whole experience as his personal fiefdom. Most will be in the middle of these extremes so if at first you find it a bad experience don't give up, try another one.
You might also get the opportunity to crew on a boat delivery which is usually less intense than racing (sometimes the weather will raise the intensity but that is the battle we all face, the sea dictates what we do and how we do things) and gives the chance to do more than sit on the rail or grind the same winch for the duration. It also will usually involve at least one overnight experience.
If you are in Sydney I often have the space to take people sailing.
I'm fairly new so can't offer much advice except that also if you are in Sydney and pm me your number you can come out with me. I go out about 20hours per week , often alone,
thanks for the advice guys i understand about the alpha males as i work in construction ,think i will go through with the course.I really love kiteboarding so i guess on a boat be a similar feeling power of the wind pushing you a long kites like a big sail i guess.Thanks for the offers to come out sailing i,m based in perth at moment.Although i will be back east sometime this summer.
Select to expand quotesaltiest1 said..
buy a boat and sail it 
THats what i did! it really does work!!!
DO IT
Must admit so did I. I had a lot of time at sea in the Navy in the 70s and 80s and did a bit of sailing in the 70s but nothing to remember.
I bought a Duncanson 26 and read a few books. Once I knew I wanted to do more I did a Competent Crew course, offshore races and deliveries and then a Skippers course.
I bought the S&S and kept sailing on other boats. I completed the Yachtmaster Offshore theory a few years ago.
