re: Aynone here have a sail boat or know much about them?

The learning to sail part is best attacked as a crewman on somebody elses boat. Somebody that actually likes you.

There's lots of horror stories from folks who show up for race days and get stuck on some screaming nutjob's boat not knowing a thing about sailing and get immediately turned off of it.

Ask around. There's usually some old dude with too much boat and decades of experience that would like nothing more than someone's who's respectful and wants to learn and can pull on a line to crew for them.

And don't disregard what you can learn from sailing dinghys. Big boats are generally easier to sail than little ones. Every boat's different so don't think once you get one that's the only one you will be able to sail. The principles are universal. And the cool thing about it is you never stop learning. There's always something you didn't know. Some tweak you pick up.

It's one of the most relaxing things that will ever scare the shite out of you.