Hello, am quite new to sailing, but

[dgringo]

Have recently done some ASA courses, much <= 10ft dingy sailing int the past and have decided the sea is my future.

In San Diego, bought a big boat (35') and am keen to get competent in 2-3 months to sail to Chili... Tall order I know. Will be seeking sailing crew, very likely.


Cheers.

[gamayun]

Welcome and good luck.

[dgringo]

Thanks


Cheers.

[TacomaSailor]

Originally Posted by dgringo

Have recently done some ASA courses, much <= 10ft dingy sailing int the past and have decided the sea is my future.

In San Diego, bought a big boat (35') and am keen to get competent in 2-3 months to sail to Chili... Tall order I know. Will be seeking sailing crew, very likely.


Cheers.

NO

The things you need to learn can only be learned out on the ocean.

The GOOD news is that the trip from San Diego to Cabo San Lucas and then SE to the Mexican mainland and on south to Panama is probably the best and easiest place to learn the skills and gain the experience of ocean sailing.

Hundreds of folks do it every year.

I spend almost four years sailing in the Sea of Cortez and south to Zjuatenejo and back up north. In that time - I met at least 50 boats that had no more experience than you describe when the left San Diego and headed south. None of them had more than the usual novice cruiser problems. And, a lot of very helpful people in the the cruising community were always ready to teach, demonstrate, and trade ideas over beer.

Much as I dislike organized large group sailing - the BajaHaHa is a great way to gain 750 miles of experience and meet a lot of people who can help you in those first nervous sea miles.

If you really want to gain as much experience as possible as quickly as possible try the following:

Sail to Catalina
Sail to Pt Conception
the head non-stop downwind back to San Diego

- think about what worked and didn't work

- do it again and do it better this time

Head Northwest from Pt Loma for 72 hours (practise sailing up wind in the ocean)
Turn around and head back (practise sailing downwind in the ocean)

[SkiprJohn]

Aloha and welcome aboard!

[dgringo]

Cheers, will do


Cheers.