Easily done. Many local marina's will charter boats. They will usually have a person who checks out the newbies and gives them a 1 day sailing course. Their final evaluation, at the end of the day, determines if the charter company will rent to you. Most of these instructors will walk you through engine operation, prop walk, sailing fundamentals, rules of the road, vhf operation, and man overboard drills. Its how people who have never sailed can charter a sailboat. I highly recommend you check this out and hire the instructor for a day... usually quite reasonable.
Next is the Coast Guard. They hold free classes on everything. Navigation, knots, buoys, what 5 blasts of the horn mean, and most importantly, weather. The classes are usually scheduled at night and only last an hour or two. I've never attended one and not learned something new ... and I've been sailing since I was 5 years old. They are always interesting.
Go out and have fun!