Free sailing on Wednesdays, Fridays for free with twilights
Through Australia and many places of the world, sailing and yacht clubs conduct regular sailing boat races. Many times these sail boats do not have enough staff (crew).Sailing is very enjoyable, relaxing and in the right company funny, family or an instant party waiting to happen.
It is by boat that islands, beaches and isolated places can be accessed.
While in Australia on your working holiday, you should check each city or town that you visit for that location of sailing clubs. While the web sites are not often updated, there may be information about "WAGS", "Twilight Races" or "Stern Chasers". They will regularly be held on Wednesday or Friday afternoon / night every week. You can also call the sailing club for information about casual / "Twilight races" and typically find friendly people on the phone happy to direct or connect you how to be involved.
No formal training, license is necessary and suggestion that you do a (RYA) "course" is commercial forces in play, to which you can politely decline... There are plenty of happy sailor captains too happy to teach you the "ropes".
Now that you have information about the twilight racing or other sailing event, you need only turn up at the sailing club 1 to 2 hours before the racing and and start asking around. Sailors and captains in matching shirts are probably a little serious and you should look around for crews preparing in a casual manner, perhaps with a beer in their hand. These are ideal to approach and you will probably find them friendly and open to taking you along.
You will find that most boats are seaworthy and have full safety equipment as this is part of the racing rules... but have a look at the nature or the boat and crew to make sure that are you not boarding the sailing equivalent of the Titanic.
In the end you may find it a couple of sailing races before you find the perfect boat and crew mates, but once you have joined the right one, it will be hard to leave them to continue your travels.
Related Links:
Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron
Whitsunday Sailing Club
