I do not know your age and your time schedule.
One of the best place to start learning the ropes is the Power Squadron.
They have excellent classroom courses on basic boating, sailing and
navigation. Also some of the yacht clubs have on the water cruising courses.
Other have racing courses.
First Aid training or refresher course comes very handy.

If your intent to charter a sailboat the leasing company is the place to go.
If you intent to sail a boat with and without an engine in all conditions
the training on the J/24 sailboats or its equilvalent is a good start. Each
model of sailboat handles and reacts differently. Some people do charter
sailboats every year and learning to handle the type of boat the leasing
company is a good choice. When the engine stops, when you go aground or
something goes wrong you call them on the VHF or the cell phone and help is
on the way. When you own your boat the situation is different.
"Commodore Joe Redcloud" wrote in message
...
On 23 Dec 2005 09:09:19 -0800, wrote:

Hi,

I live in NYC, and am looking to do some sailing this coming season. I
am looking at two options: a local sailing club, and a company that
leases yachts. I am confused as to how much training is required,
however.

The sailing club (http://www.sailmanhattan.com/) requires a total of
22 hours of training, and they have J/24 sailboats. Even then, one is
not allowed to sail their boats without a more experienced person being
the skipper.

The leasing company (http://www.pinnacleyachts.com/) requires 15 hours
of instruction, and they have Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 37 yachts, and once
you have learned, you are allowed to take them out on your own.

What confuses me is, I would think the 37 footer would be harder than
the J/24, yet less training is required, and less supervision
afterwards is required.

Is the sailing club being too strict, the leasing company being too
lax, or am I missing something?


I think you are missing a lot. They are two VERY different situations, and
at
very different prices. You need to look at each in depth and see what
happens
when you apply ALL of the fine print attached to each.




Commodore Joe Redcloud