Hello from Texas..Never have sailed

[tquerin]

Hello all,
I have never sailed yet I have a sailing itch I cannot seem to scratch. I want to learn more about it and I have started to read some books. Time, money and children are my limiting factors. Factors that eventually I will overcome. My wife has not gone against the dreams of sailing either, which only encourages me the more. I hope to meet some good people here that can help me along the way.

[Martinini]

Where in Texas are you?

[skipmac]

Hi tquerin, Welcome to the forum. You have a good start on learning to sail. Read a lot, read every book and magazine you can get your hands on. Then when you do get a chance to get on a boat you will be ready and the hands on will fall into place quickly. The basic mechanics of how to hoist a sail and go up wind or down you can learn in a few hours. It's the all the details of sailing and seamanship that are tough and reading will give you a great head start on this part. Plus you have found a place to ask about anything that you don't get.

[bstreep]

Let us know where you are in Texas...

[Cowboy Sailer]

Welcome,
I learned to sail on a little board boat in various places in Texas. Later bought a sailing dinghy. That turned out to be a great way to learn to sail. A few seasons racing on a bigger boat (still trailable) taught me the fine points of getting there quicker. I can't say that racing made me a better sailor. Heavy weather did though! We return to Texas in 101 days! we will be buying a boat then. We might get together then. As everyone asked, "Where in Texas?"

[tquerin]

Thanks everyone. I am in Katy Texas. I took my 5 year old son down to Kemah last month and now he also wants to be on a sailboat. When I was younger I had an 15 foot Semi V aluminum fishing boat. That will not do for me now. I need to sail.

[TexSail]

ASA has a good affiliate school on Clear Lake by Kemah:

Windward Seaventure
281-334-5295

Good folks.

[mudrod]

Hi tquerin, .. .. I am a member here, and they have a great ASA sailing program with lots of benefits, including a fleet of used boats you can charter after completion.... http://www.bayareasailing.com/

real friendly and competent ! Good Luck, ..

Regards, MJ
s/v Trimaniac
Wylie,Texas

[SkiprJohn]

Aloha and Welcome aboard!
A good book for beginners is "Start Sailing Right!" if you can find a copy. Really easy reading and well done illustrations.
I recommend a course.
Kind regards,
JohnL

[tquerin]

Thanx Skiprjohn, I actually have that book already, I also have Chapman Piloting Seamanship & Small Boat Handling.
Cowboy Sailor, I hope that I could meet up with you. Are you sailing with your wife?
I want to get down to the ASA sailing programs at some time. Can anyone give me an idea of how much the costs are?
mudrod, how much does it cost to charter a boat? I guess I could look that up on their website.
Well I guess my next step is to find a course.
Thankyou everyone

[pjbsailing]

Welcome. I am visiting Corpus Christi this week, my daughter now lives here. The wind never stops blowing, at least this week. I hear the sailing is great in this area. Not looking forward to returning north.

PJ

[sandy daugherty]

Hello Tquerin: Once a Texan, ever a Texan! I really learned how to sail in the Dallas area; There is good sailing all over the State. Check out the Adult Classes at nearby colleges, or the YMCA. Look for sailing schools in the yellow pages, and join a sailing club. Open the door to a new world of things to explore!