How to get money sailing

I don't know how things work in the US but I imagine that people who pay towards sailing want pretty much the same wherever.

To teach and be an instructor you do not need to be a particularly good sailor and racing is pretty much irrelevant. You need to be able to teach. It is not a get rich quick and is not as much fun as your own sailing/racing. Doing it for an extended period can get a bit of a chore (as can being a dentist, salesman, truck driver, etc.)

Those who sponsor tend to want something for their money. Few companies give money and just hope the recipient has a good time with it. Small sums (pocket money levels) can be happy with a logo on a sail of hull, but when you get larger sums (maybe even up to survival income levels) they will often want PR. For the PR you not only need results but also need to be able to interview very well. Without wanting to re-visit the earlier theme of this thread, how you come across off the water (either accidentally or deliberately) is critical. There are plenty of good sailors but only a few can provide the other aspects a significant sponsor would be seeking.

Personally I would suggest continuing your education as far as you can take it. Whatever happens with your sailing career you can be 100% sure the teaching/sponsorship will not see you through your working life. The time spent in education will serve not only provide you with a 2nd choice career but will also broaden and strengthen your experience making getting sponsorship easier. I'm sure you can find subjects to study that can overlap with sailing (e.g. look at the career of Michael Blackburn (Bass Straight crossing in a Laser)).

I am speaking from the limited experience of a company that has considered sponsoring sailing not from being a professional in the sport (or at being at a particularly high level in the sport - at the other end of the scale in fact). Certainly (and without visiting Page 1 of this thread) how you come across is very very important and that is more than regretting saying the wrong words but is a state of mind.

Ian
 
Try sailing as good as this guy http://www.ussailing.org/News/sailoroftheweek/Default.aspx and you might have a slight chance but as everyone else here has said sail because you like to sail and if you can make money at it great, but don't count on it.

I just took the US Sailing Level one Instructor course, I suggest taking that and start teaching others to enjoy sailing as much as you do then you can make a few bucks and get the satisfaction of passing on the joy of sailing!
 
Some of the best sailors I know coach privately or run clinics or similar events, which I would assume brings in enough to cover the expenses of a laser
 
I am a really good sailor and was wondering how I could get money from it

Hi Good Sailor Looking for Sponsorship,

How are you?

As a sponsored sailor throughout most of my life, I wanted to share my experience in how I went about earning such a thing. I have been sailing nearly all my life on all sorts of different boats. I was building up my skills and experience. It is very important to be active and socialable. Don't burn bridges while you are younger because that makes you a sponsorship liability.

In high school I sailed under sponsorship of my parents. It took about 15 years of interviews and relationship building until they would agree to sponsor me. It was nice because they did not require distracting stickers or advertising on my boat. I did, however, have to give them the obligatory "Thank you" and "I couldn't do it with the support of.." if I was accepting a trophy. I also had to have them standing by me in any photos. All in all, it was a good sponsorship.

I sailed in college in the midwest with some fairly heavy competition. Regattas were as expensive as by bar tab plus a $10 registration. During this time I was sponsored by the DJ and events company that I owned, which most weekends kept me from going to regattas in order to make the money needed for aforementioned regattas. Still, I was able to earn enough to travel and compete as often as possible. This sponsorship required a lot of hard work, but it was worth it.

When I graduated from college I had to invent a way to continue to get money from sailing. I worked hard to put together a resume and submitted it to about three dozen companies. In my opinion, you want to spread yourself as far as possible here. I traveled to the companies for interviews and finally found a company to sponsor me.

I work for them about 40-50 hours a week designing software, testing software and fixing software and they give me money to sail, travel to regattas, buy boats or boat parts. I've had a sponsorship like this about four years now. It's not a always sailing centric sponsorship. Sometimes I think they don't understand that they are actually sponsoring my sailing habits. Regardless, they keep sending the checks so I keep giving them the 40-50 hours a week of my time.

My sponsors have provided me with enough for cover my sailing expenses. I haven't been able to buy the newest boats or biggest boats, but with time I will may get there. It is important to have patience.

I find that informal sponsors are really easy to find. Just the other night I crewed on a J/24 and the owner bought me a beer and a dinner after the races. That saved me $20 and I thanked him graciously. Through that exchange, I had just earned $5 an hour for sailing with him. [and that is tax free!]

Then there was another time after a regatta that I sailed a boat someone's boat back to his home port a few hours away. I invited two friends and we told stories and enjoyed the sun and wind. When I got there he paid me. Can you believe that?!

So be on a sharp lookout. Sponsorship can occur through many different channels.

Work hard at sailing. More importantly work hard in school. Learn to read.

There is a huge opportunity cost to disregard the kind of "sponsorship" that 99.2% of us receive to be the one of thet very few people who are actually sponsored to sail.

With that being said, good luck an godspeed.
 
at wuz ahwsum, Nate! This poor kid, getting grief from everyone, and deservedly so. But this was constructive sponsorship advice from Nate. At least this kid is doing something besides playing with his ipod and texting his friends while sitting right next to them. My high school didn't have a sailing team, nor did they even recognize that dacron should be used for anything but pep rally banners and pompoms. I had to beg my folks to drive me weekends from Atlanta to Florida where I could sail against kids who were in a top notch sailing program, like St. Pete YC's Ed Baird and Rick Merriman. Eventually, I would captain the University of Florida sailing team, and Ed would captain Florida State. It was a rivalry greater than football. Now I am sponsored by a company, like Nate. I race Lasers again for the fun of it and Ed is at the helm of Alinghi. I spoke with Ed a few years ago the day after his NY Yacht Club carbon 12 meter had snapped in half off Auckland and nearly killed him and his crew. He was in a tight spot, struggling to keep his family afloat; sailing all day and up all night pleading with sponsor for funds. Not sure what my point is here, but perseverance works for the few who severely persevere, but not always. It's a rough road, kid. Teaching sailing is not a real paying gig, and then you are too burnt on sailing. Take Nate's clever advice - enjoy sailing and work doing something else. If you get so good at it in the meantime, and Larry Ellison knocks on your door, bonus.:cool:
 
btw I am a sailing instrutor now

Good for you! I would imagine that it would be pretty tough to earn a living as a sailing instructor, but it is a great way to return something to the sport and to learn in the process. It seems that I learn much more when I teach than when I study!

I thought your question was a great one and I hope that you find a way to earn a living while doing something you love.
 

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