Ahoy from North Saanich, BC

[hummingway]

I've been rude and jumped in with both feet without introducing myself. My name is Greg and I'm living on a 1980 Cooper 416 Pilothouse sailboat. I'm a tyro ... a word I learned reading a book on sailing from the beginning of the last century. I share Honeysuckle with an 18 year old calico cat named Kitty the Pooh. She thinks it's as good a place to sleep as any which, along with keeping warm, is what she cares about. I've fallen in love with Honeysuckle although I just gave myself a good laugh by accidently typing Moneysuckle earlier! I confess I enjoy spending time and money on her.

I came to this state (straight?) of affairs as a result of a lot of influences. I sailed a sunfish as a youngster but was in love with canoes. I even built my own - 20 ft with a 32 in beam. For many years my idea of paradise was fly fishing from a beautiful canoe. I play music Greg Martin - Home on the Range as well as doing computer stuff of varying geekiness. My drummer of the previous 4 years lived on a sailboat (Tica) in Mexico in the winters. The last couple of years I went down and played some gigs and sailed with him and his wife. I fell in love with it. He gave me some books to read and Joshua Slocum spoke to me like an oracle.

I didn't see myself participating in the corporate world anymore and when I had change in personal situation decided it was time to take the plunge and I bought Honeysuckle and moved on (about a month ago). I think I'll spend the next couple of years in the Pacific NW learning and enjoying while I remake my affairs and then who knows?

I've been hiring a captain to teach me to sail, benefiting from the knowledge of my neighbors at the marina and learning to care for and modify her while adjusting to a new home and lifestyle in a new part of the world. I love it. To make it perfect my son and his partner live a short drive from the marina.

Kitty the Pooh is sleeping but I thnk she loves it too.

Nice to make your aquaintance and a special thanks to the people who make the cruisers forum possible!

-Greg.

[SkiprJohn]

Aloha and welcome aboard!
It appears you've been bitten hard by the sailing bug.
Those old Sunfish sure are fun.
regards,

[Livia]

We just left Port of Sidney so we were right around the corner from you. We're at Fisherman's Wharf in Victoria now.

Best of luck!

[jackdale]

Welcome, fellow Canuck.

You are in the midst of the finest cruising grounds in the world. Also, with the tides, currents and rocks, one of the toughest to sail.

I usually sail out of Port Sidney, but occasionally will sail from Nanaimo or Comox.

Jack

[hummingway]

Hope we get a chance to meet up sometime!

[boatman61]

Welcome to the Forum..... sure you'll fit in well with the rest of us 'Oddballs' and maybe even some off the "Normal People"...lol
As one door closes, another one opens... hope this 'open door' to the Ocean's is good for ya.....

[hummingway]

I'm sure love it so far. Where I am the wild life is abundant and everyday seems a new adventure. Someday I'll have to spend some time on my life ashore but today there is a crab trap to haul in and some wiring to work on and tomorrow there is ...