Odd as it might seem for a state as thoroughly landlocked as Colorado, sailing is big in these parts. Head to Cherry Creek Reservoir virtually any time between April and October and you'll see sailboats shimmering against the blue of water and sky.

One of the great things about sailing in Colorado is that big boats are not necessary.

In coastal and Great Lakes states, big boats might make sense for those who can afford them. In Colorado, with only a dozen or so small lakes and reservoirs worthy of sailing, boats in excess of 25 or 30 feet become a liability.

"We do see some remarkably large boats out here, but they are a little out of place," said Joe Beierl, office manager of the Cherry Creek Marina and Yacht Club and commodore of the Denver Sailing Association. He said boats that are too large and have keels that are too deep cannot be launched easily at Cherry Creek, where the maximum depth is about 30 feet.

"If a boat is too large, you can't back it far enough into the lake to launch it. You need a crane," he said.

This is good news for wannabe sailors because it makes actually getting out on the water a lot easier to do. Having the biggest boat in the lake serves only to make the owner an oddity. The things that are important in Colorado are being able to trailer your boat, launch it and maneuver it. Mostly, though, it's about fun.

You don't need the right clothes, you don't need much money and you don't need a "yacht club attitude" to sail.

Beierl purchased his boat, a used Santana 20, for about $4,000. It can carry four adults but can be sailed by two if needed. It also can sleep as many as four, although Beierl said, "I've never slept on it."

His boat is what some call a "pocket yacht." A pocket yacht, loosely defined, refers to a recreational vehicle, usually shorter than 28 feet, that can accommodate overnight cruising and is able to navigate safely within lakes, major rivers and coastal areas.

Pocket yachting embodies the idea that you don't need to be rich to sail. A Santana 20 is a relatively deluxe craft for Colorado, and, according to Beierl, a used Lightning 16- or 18-foot craft can be purchased for $2,000 or less. They are less sophisticated craft without cabins or fixed keels, but they're fast, fun to sail and easy to trailer and store.

For those who would rather build a boat, kits can be purchased.

The truth is, you don't even need to own a boat to begin sailing. In fact, Beierl said, a lot of people make the mistake of buying a boat before they learn to sail and then realize a different boat would have served their needs better - often at lower cost.

You can crew on boats for nothing. The Denver Sailing Association stages races on Cherry Creek Reservoir every Wednesday and Thursday, then follows that with a barbecue at the marina. Racing starts about 6:30 p.m. For those who would like to crew, show up about 5:30 and hang out on the deck with a hopeful look on your face.

The Colorado Sail & Yacht Club stages races at Chatfield Lake at 6:30 p.m. every Wednesday, and a barbecue also follows the races.

"Even if you've never been on a sailboat, someone will take you on and you will learn how to sail," Beierl said. "Not only that, if you come out and crew for a few weeks on different boats, you'll learn a lot about boats and be able to figure out what kind of boat you might want to buy."

Of course, you also can take lessons. Victoria Sailing School, at Cherry Creek Reservoir, offers sailing lessons for $389. For that, you receive 30 hours of lessons as one of four students on a 22-foot boat. All 30 hours of lessons can be taken in a week, or they can be stretched out for years. Two people can sign up together for $699.

Victoria Sailing offers an alternative to boat ownership. For $700 to $1,000 a year, you can time-share a boat. Victoria Sailing keeps fleets of 22-foot boats at Cherry Creek, Carter Lake (near Berthoud) and Dillon Reservoir. The boats can be used any time on a first-come, first-serve basis. That might sound like a lot of money until the costs of owning a boat are considered.

Renting a slip at Cherry Creek costs $1,200 to $2,200 a summer, depending on the size of the boat. Dry slips are available for $170 to $650 a season.

Once you learn how to sail, you can take that skill and apply it elsewhere. Beierl said he often rents larger boats while he is on vacation. He said that, for instance, at Chesapeake Bay, a 38-foot sailboat with two staterooms, galley, head and dinette can be rented for less than $1,000 a week after Labor Day.

If you've always dreamed of the sailing life, getting started in Colorado couldn't be easier.