There are many charter opportunities, sailing schools and youth training schemes

The West Mersea Duck Punt is a brilliant and simple interpretation of a concept that goes back centuries and is highly relevant today. It's cheap, can be built in a couple of weekends and rows, paddles or sails brilliantly. Being light and efficiently driven means no need for an outboard. It's light enough to car-top and light enough to not need a launching trolley. Build one for under £100. Proper sails add a bit more.

Probably every sailing club in the world has options to sail without your own boat, whether hire or crewing for others.

Model radio-controlled yachts can be great fun and give you the opportunity to learn some sailing skills and techniques, and perhaps practice racing techniques and the rules, whilst not falling in, getting wet, or spending huge amounts of money.

Many people, whether or not part of a club welcome volunteer crew ... but there's work to do.

You don't have to own a boat to sail. Why not sail with someone else who owns a boat.

There are some really very good low-cost dinghies out there.

The RYA's "Push The Boat Out" scheme demands special mention.

If you don't mind some work, there are old and neglected boats out there which mostly just need some TLC. Though sometimes quite a lot of it.

There are small yachts and day-boats that cost only part of an arm and hardly any leg at all.