Any method that give you the most "TIME ON THE WATER" will be the
fastest route towards 'mastery' of sailing.

There is NO SUBSTITUE to "DOING IT", not books, not schools, not marina
residents nor newsgroup denizens. Nothing builds sailing skills faster
than simply doing it. As regards the 'size' of the boat the smallest
sailing dinghy will teach 'you' faster because of its relative
instability, the immediate feedback from the boat when something is
'wrong'/right, etc. A larger boat is erroneously easier to sail
because EVERYTHING that happens is much s-l-o-w-e-r to happen and many
of the actions/reaction are 'dampened' by the large mass of the boat.
Get copies of "Chapmans", Annapolis School of Seamanship", etc. read
them over and over then get out on the water in anything you can
afford, borrow, etc.

Want to learn sailing quickly: buy a cheap re-saleable daysailing
dinghy, beat the hell out of it (and yourself) while you are learning
and looking for the 'next' (larger) boat, sell the dinghy for a profit
and move up, etc. until you arrive at your 'plateau' then think about a
'school', etc. Make a plan and follow it. What ever you do dont
assume that a BIG boat is the place to start as a big boat will take
all the skills you learned in small tippy dinghies .... plus some. It
will take YEARS to learn how to sail on a big boat ... only a season or
two on a 'little' boat - and those skills can be used on a big boat
(not always vice versa). Take one 'bite' at a time. Look at or
compare becoming a pilot in general aviation (small) aircraft: no one
starts flying in a 747 jumbo jet as their 'entry' to that sport. They
usuallly start in the smaller 'sport' planes and then move up. How
rapid the 'move up' depends on how much *time* you spend on the water.

If you want to accelerate your 'training' beside the above, go down to
the local 'racing fleet' on a Wednesday night and see if someone needs
extra 'crew' ... they usually do. Tell them your sailing experience
and see if you can fit their needs .... the (free) training on a
racecourse as crew will be astronomical. When the race is over/won,
then start to ask your questions of the crew ... good sailors will
share their knowledge openly and freely. When you get home open one of
the zillions of 'sailing books' and study, etc., ask questioins next
time out, etc. Just carefully pick a race boat/skipper that isnt an
arrogant loudmouthed dictator, etc.

"Time on the water" is the BEST teacher.
If you are married, etc. get your wife, etc. interested .... and turn
the boat over to HER. If she 'likes' sailing .... you wont have any
choice (nor future disappointments)!!!

Hope this helps, see ya on the water