New From Portland OR - Where's the Sun ?

[PDX-or-Sailing]

Hi, everyone. My name is Kent, 54, from Portland. Grew up sailing in So. Cal. and logged 10k miles with my family, but mostly been away from sailing for 30 years (other than a couple Caribbean charters).

But, I've been dieing to get back to the cruising life I grew up with. Searched the last 2 years for a boat and I think I'm about to close on a dream come true ... a 1994 Amel Super Maramu. Closing on the deal will occur in latter June in Panama. Plan to go from there to San Diego for what remains of the summer before heading back south for adventures (plan on doing a multi-year cruise).

Starting out with zero crew. My wonderful wife is not as big fan (yet?) of boating, and my two grown sons might take an interest but both are occupied right now. Will be looking for one or two crew who have an interest in relaxed and fun cruising itineraries with the potential for long term. Let me know if you know anyone who fits that bill. Am I correct that I can't post that I'm looking for crew on this site until I've become a seasoned poster?

Anyway, looking forward to the community, here. I have spent many hours reading hundreds of posts here as I ramped up toward this dream and I thank you all for the help that your posts have been to me.

Now I can go find some sun!!!

[SkiprJohn]

Aloha and welcome aboard!
Good to have you here and posting. Yes, keep up dialogs on the different threads and you'll soon be trusted enough to advertise for crew.
We have some Portland members so I hope they'll contact you.
kind regards,

[James Baines]

Welcome Kent; With regard to your question on where the Sun might be, don't ask me, I'm currently based in the UK and the Sun is the reason folks from here go to where you are at. My wife was initially not too excited about offshore sailing but she is now a firm convert. Like you, I have two son's, one loves sailing, the other could care less. Good luck with your boat purchase, I hope it all goes well, and if I may, let me offer you a piece of advice; To get my wife comfortable with the idea of sailing a "Biggish" boat offshore, I hired a female sailing instructor for a three day weekend to teach my wife how to sail on the basis that I was just the cook and general "Gofer" and that she was in charge of the boat.
If you're smart, you never try to teach your wife how to drive, and you never try to teach her how to handle a boat.
I'm going back almost thirty years ago when female sailing instructors were scarcer than hen's teeth but it worked for me and right now, female sailing instructors are much easier to find. It worked for me, but that's just me. James

[imagine2frolic]

The sun is most days right here in Las Brisas anchorage shining down on that Amel I see daily. Possibly the same boat? BEST WISHES in completeing your dream........i2f

[Unicorn Dreams]

Welcome Aboard CF and enjoy the site...

Go way SOUTH.

Tahiti sounds good, after Hawaii.

[pdxsailordiver]

Welcome aboard.
Tim

[brutb]

Kent,

Welcome to CF and I hope you finally find the sun about June 21. hehehe. Spent 25 years in the PNW. Good luck with your new boat.

[rubyjean]

Welcome aboard, my boat is currently in Warrenton, on the Columbia. My wife and I are leaving soon to the Channel Islands for about a year so she can get some experence. Then to Ponce, PR....Michael..

[PDX-or-Sailing]

Wow, thanks for all the great replies and welcomes! I didn't get any replies for about 10 days, so I was moping with a frowny face, but now I feel all better.

Unfortunately, the boat deal fell through (mostly my fault), so I'm back to dreaming for the time being. Might look into doing some crewing for awhile and get my own boat in a year or two. If anyone is looking for a responsible adult with about 10,000 sea miles under him, let me know (most of those miles were years ago, so I'm a bit rusty ... and what is a GPS?).

Great advice, James. Some day that may come in handy!

Imagine: Probably the boat ... her name is Geisha. Wasn't meant to be. Oh, well. Hope you are enjoying Panama.

Hey, pdx. I didn't try to copy your handle, I swear! I see you have a Cascade ... would love to ask you about your experience with it. Any way we could chat?

Hey, rubyjean. I assume those are the California Channel Islands? Had many good times there. Good luck with the sailing and the wife!

Brutb, skiprjohn, and unicorn, thanks for the well wishes.

It rained today, but the sun is out now.