Advice for new sailor?

[AndrewB]

Yes, I second that. A few large firms have a sailing club with their own yacht. I used to belong to the Civil Service Sailing Association, which you can join even if you don't work for the CS. They have four or five yachts which are used all the time for providing members with cruises. A great way to get started. There is always an experienced skipper aboard, members just sign up for slots: crewing for a weekend or maybe longer, perhaps for a race or for a formal training course. Costs about half of a normal charter. PeterB who sometimes posts here is a regular skipper.

 

[peterb]

Another possibility is the Cruising Association, who have a crewing bureau which puts skippers needing crew in touch with crew needing skippers. Their headquarters is at Limehouse, where they have regular crewing evenings.