If you don't know someone who can introduce you to sailors, then search the Web using your city name and "yacht club" as search terms. Skim the resulting club Web sites for racing or sailing sections. Corinthian Chicago Yacht Club's Web site, for instance, has a Crew Development section where owners post the experience level sought and their contact information. Other clubs set up crew boards so that people looking to get on board a boat can post their names. I have personally used one with success. When Bad Influence couldn't make the trip to Chicago to race in the T-10 North American Championship, I looked up the fleet Web site and added my name to the crew board. I received an email within 12 hours, from Nick Camino, who races Billy Bones at the Chicago Yacht Club. Camino normally uses a network of friends to keep his boat crewed, but when some team members dropped out, he scanned the online list and saw my name. We spoke, I drove to Chicago, and I spent four days on Lake Michigan racing with a fun group and lots of wind.

DAVE MATHIASSkipper Kelly Kimble (red jacket with yellow square) at the helm during a race. Boat owner and coach Nick Lubar (to her left) gives tips, but can't touch the helm or other controls.

Whether you reply to an owner's post or add your name to a crew board, sometimes the competition you face from other would-be racers can be tough. Liz Wolfe, who lives in Manhasset, New York, posted her name on the Manhasset Bay Yacht Club's Join a Crew page. Even though she landed a position on Second Wind, a 32-foot C&C, and races every Thursday night, she found herself vying for spots with midshipmen, since the Merchant Marine Academy is not far away. Still, the important thing to remember is that Wolfe found a boat after listing herself as a novice.

It's also worthwhile to look for the racing chairman's name on a club's Web site and arrange a visit. He or she will probably meet you on the docks on race day and have a boat or two in mind for you to try. Some clubs, like Mentor Harbor Yachting Club, located about 20 miles east of Cleveland, list the Race Program Chairman under the Sailing Program section, along with his e-mail. If you don't see the chairman's contact information, call the club office.

If you're a woman, some clubs offer women's racing. North Coast Women's Sailing Association in Cleveland encourages its members to "Sail Like a Girl," a tagline challenging its members to excel as only a woman can. Sailing occurs in summer months, with seminars and guest speakers during the winter. The 180-member-strong group allows male coaches on board who can talk but cannot touch the gear. "It's all about promoting women to be more competitive," says race chair Kelly Kimble, who skippers a 22-foot Ensign named MBSS Medalla.

STAN MEHAFFEYJoin a race comittee to learn about wind readings, watching for boats crossing the line early and marking finish times.

Not all sailing happens on the Great Lakes and the coasts. Five hundred miles inland from the Gulf of Mexico, serious competition occurs at Oklahoma City Boat Club. With no salt water in sight, 2,500-acre Lake Hefner still sees top-level events, including the 2008 U.S. Women's Sailing Championship in September.

The welcome mat is also out for new sailors in Southern California. Lee Rhodes, the race chairman for Santa Monica Windjammers Yacht Club, suggests that newcomers also volunteer for Race Committee. The Race Committee works on a powerboat that motors out to the course and drops anchor, marking one end of the start line. Those on board are kept busy with a list of tasks, including taking wind readings, selecting and announcing the course, checking in boats for the race, prepping fleet starts, watching for boats crossing the line early and marking finish times.

Whichever boat you join, you'll learn on the job as you go, and you will likely try various positions to see what fits your preference and the boat's need. After a season or so on the water, you may find you have a preference for a certain type of sailing. "Once you start to sail, you become part of a community," says Trever Dodge, who races aboard Coyote in Cleveland. "There are many opportunities to sail club races, day sails or long distance races. The variety allows you to find the pace and shipmates that best match your interests."

DAVE MATHIASLimit Up, an Ensign skippered by Sherrie Desmond, sails in heavy wind and steep Lake Erie waves.

COST AND COMMITMENT

If you crew, you won't be paid unless you're a highly skilled professional, but you won't have to pay, either. Crewmembers give their time each week to help rig and race the boat in trade for a ride on the water. The boat owner needs more than one person to race, after all, with many boats needing eight or more people to do well in competition. It's a fair trade, and everyone has a fun time.

Owners generally pay for expenses directly related to the boat such as dockage, fuel, sails, lines and other equipment. The crew is responsible for anything they need for themselves. Crew necessities include non-marking non-slip shoes, which generally cost $20 to $75, and sailing gloves, which cost $20 to $35. The right shoes are important to prevent slipping on wet decks, and gloves are needed to prevent rope burns when handling lines. If you like, seek advice from others on board before heading to the store. As for other expenses, it's common for crew to split the cost of boat snacks. Dress is almost always casual, and shipmates tend to be cordial.

LUCILLE O'NEILLLightning, a Shock 40, shows how exciting and action-packed racing can be.

The time commitment can vary, depending on your availability and the ship's program. I've found that many boats race at least once a week, with some racing as much as four times a week. Boats also race one weeknight and one or two half weekend days. A committed crewmember will sail at least once a week, more for those who want to learn the sport faster. Races often last as long as four hours, from stepping on the boat to arriving back at the dock.

Club races are localized events, and boats usually sail in sight of where they dock, typically within one to five miles. Events are held on racecourses indicated by race marks or small buoys anchored offshore by the club. Each race chooses a course depending on wind direction and speed. Longer courses are selected on windy days, when boats will sail faster. Shorter courses are used when conditions are calm.

It's reasonably easy to find a boat to sail on, and the friendships you make can last a lifetime. I remember why I race each Sunday morning as the boat heads away from the dock. When the wind is steady and waves spray across the deck, no one on board cares about the freeway traffic, only the race marks that are hidden on the horizon.

If you want to sail, racing is a great option. Search the Internet now, and you just may be on the water by spring.