If Newbies Were Fish, I'd Be a Whale!

[c-kow]

I'm very very new to sailing, though I found someone who is very experienced and willing to show me the ropes in a few races around the Puget Sound area. Like diving, I've heard that if you can learn to love sailing there, you'll be able to enjoy it most other places.

I'm enthralled with the romance of living aboard, and any input as to how to facilitate that would be MASSIVELY APPRECIATED

I'll be back on the water in December, and I'm probably only going to lurk around here, but I thought I'd take a moment to say HI! let the wonderful people of this forum know who I am, and wish you guys happy sailing!

[Cheechako]

Living aboard is easy, just take the plunge! You need a boat that suits your needs room wise. Preferably a Propane stove, electric hot water heater and shower stall. These can all be had in a 30 footer. Next you need a marina that will let you live aboard. Not sure where you are around Puget sound, but they do exist. Rent a slip, move your boat in and start to adjust! Hell ...beats paying rent and the noise of the seagulls is nicer than the yelling from the apartment next door!
Just visualize it! If you can buy the boat you could be there next month!

[MarkJ]

Originally Posted by c-kow

I'm enthralled with the romance of living aboard

So am I! But Nicolle has a headache.



Welcome to CF

[Ashoreschool]

Welcome aboard, and sound like you will have a lot of fun learning to sail. The forum is full of resources. Good luck with your adventure!

[c-kow]

thankyouthankyou kind people
Cheechako, it looks like we're in the same area (I'm in pullman going to school, but I'm native to Olympia)
Which is encouraging because when I graduate I've got enough set aside to buy a cozy little boat, ironically with the same specifications that you've alluded to. Only, if we (the girl and I) can avoid a v berth we'll definitely elect that option.

[Beverly Stayart]

Welcome to the forum and hope you learn a lot.

[jm21]

Welcome to the board!

Diving up in the San Juans and Gulf Islands is great, as is the boating. The Puget Sound has some high points too.

I spent a lot of time on sailboats growing up but never learned to sail that well. After many years of higher education I'm re-learning everything. The basics are not that hard and it's a lot of fun to experiment. I suggest not getting stuck in following specific directions but trying to learn about the basic physics of sailing...e.g. in what kind of winds do you want to belly the sails out a bit and when to harden them up and why. That approach has been more useful to me.

[Cheechako]

c-kow: My grandson is going to Pullman, civil engineering 3rd year.. Go Coug's! He spent some time in the Bahamas with us. Personally I like V berths, especially in smaller boat where it's a good use of space: when it's warm the hatch is right over your head and you can feel the breeze and see the stars. When at anchor you can hear whats going on on the bow, anchor chain dragging etc, also pop your head out the hatch to look around....

[ColdFusion]

I think if I were a fish I'd be a male mermaid(?) so I could jiggy jiggy with Miss Mermaid (Daryl Hannah would do )

Oh yes, welcome

[c-kow]

very cool about your son cheech, i've probably seen him around from time to time (lots of friends in the civil engineering program)

and the girl is primarily concerned with the cuddle potential of a v-berth
we'll see how she likes being in one for real

[SkiprJohn]

Aloha and Welcome aboard!
You're in a great place for sailing. Beautiful places to explore.
regards

[Solitude]

Welcome! Youll love it there. You have many, many, many ,miles of Ocean and Islands to explore between Puget Sound and Desolation Sound. Great sailing and thanks to Van-isle protected waters.

Go Sounders!