One of the driving factors for many people who leave their Muskoka catering jobs for the Chesapeake Bay area is that it's a wonderful environment for people who love the water. Whether you're a student attending university in Norfolk or a retiree who has just moved to the city of Chesapeake, sailing can be a fun and invigorating hobby if you choose to learn. Here's some more information about learning to sail in Chesapeake Bay if you think you might be interested.
The first thing to remember is that buying a sailboat doesn't automatically make you a sailor. You may think that all you have to do is take the boat out a few times to get a feel for things on your own, but sailing is a complicated hobby, not at all like using gym fitness equipment in Toronto. Inexperienced sailors taking to Chesapeake Bay on their own are likely to wander into the path of the Navy or commercial ships that dominate the harbors, come up against foul weather, or ensnare themselves on the shoreline.
To avoid such disasters as these, you should always take lessons. Even if you're already familiar with which drive pulley to activate at what time to steer your sailboat, you should still take a lesson or at least connect up with a local sailing group when you arrive in Chesapeake. Each body of water holds its own unique challenges, so you should make sure someone local shows you the ropes before you set out on your own. It's much easier than doing computer or book research.
Those of you who have no concept of sailing have a blank slate upon which to build, and that's exciting. You can enroll in a local sailing school to learn all about keel types and weather and how to skipper your new boat. In fact, you don't even need to have your own boat in many cases, as sailing schools have their own fleet that instructors use to teach their students, and afterward you can always rent a boat when you decide you want to go out. When you graduate, you'll receive your boating license.
Since the Chesapeake Bay area is a hub of hobby and professional sailing, it's easier to find a sailing school there than it is to find a spa package in Georgia. Fee structures and instruction techniques will differ, so check out several to see which fits you best. Some of the outfits you may want to check out include R&R Charters and Sail School, The Sailing Academy, The Virginia School of Sailing, and BaySail School. Not all are based in Chesapeake, but they all operate in the Chesapeake Bay area and would be a relatively easy commute.
| 