Not Randy from Redondo !

[GeoGoddess]

Apparently Randy from Redondo was a dorky character in a bad movie. I can be a character but am not in any movies (that I know of).
My fiance learned to sail in college and owned/sailed/raced boats in Boston/Michigan/San Diego but hasn't sailed for many years. I'm so sick of dry land (and all that includes) that I'm up for learning about transitioning to a sailing/cruising lifestyle. To that end I joined the local sailing club and learned to sail with good ASA instructors around here. Then we took 104/106 in Florida this summer with a very BAD instructor and I still loved learning all about boat systems as taught and then getting to use all of them. Unfortunately, my lack of experience and the instructor's lack of providing the supposedly-required texts and instruction had me flunk 106. So, I'm logging all of my subsequent sailing experiences, practicing all of the skills, learning to use good judgement and learning all I can about clouds, electrical systems, plumbing, engines other sailboat skills so I can retake the exam and have more confidence in my skills.

I'm thinking about joining the Women's Sailing Association in Santa Monica so I can get a lot of experience by racing, daysailing, etc. I'm also researching some charter flotillas I think would be a fun starter cruise. I look forward to learning about boats, sailing, customs, skills, logistics, etc. from you all.

Hope to see you on the blue some day!

[Unicorn Dreams]

Welcome Aboard Cruisers Forum

[Southern Star]

Yes, welcome aboard GG. I think you are taking all of the logical first steps to becoming a cruiser. Enjoy!

Brad

[GordMay]

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, GeoGoddess.

[Khagan1227]

Welcome aboard GG! Sorry to hear about your bad expierence.

[MarinerJo]

Greetings

[SkiprJohn]

Aloha and welcome aboard!
Good to have you here.
kind regards,

[GeoGoddess]

Originally Posted by GeoGoddess

Unfortunately, my lack of experience and the instructor's lack of providing the supposedly-required texts and instruction had me flunk 106. So, I'm logging all of my subsequent sailing experiences, practicing all of the skills, learning to use good judgement and learning all I can about clouds, electrical systems, plumbing, engines other sailboat skills so I can retake the exam and have more confidence in my skills... I'm also researching some charter flotillas I think would be a fun starter cruise. I look forward to learning about boats, sailing, customs, skills, logistics, etc. from you all.

Update since that post:

Thanks to some pointed email contacts w/ASA, I finally got the inch thick textbook that was supposed to be part of my 104/106 curriculum! And, I've spent whatever weekends I wasn't snow skiing at Mammoth practicing my sailing skills (and having fun) with my local sailing club. Last week was my first time on a little 14 footer and I can see I'm going to become addicted to them as well as to the keelboats. I've also become addicted to my YMCA fitness classes where I have gained lots of strength and flexibility (important for putting on the rabbit ears to flush the engine after use). Fun experiences on club boats include rescuing helium balloons (MOB practice), docking when the engine died and cleaning our the portajohn that somebody pooped in and left! I'm booking a bareboat charter in the British Virgin Islands in June and am very excited to use my skills "for real". I'm hoping the weather conditions allow for a little blue water sail up to Anegada. Fiance's oft-loved job keeps throwing him curves and I think he's getting closer to "let's chuck it and just go sailing for a long time." I'll be ready!

Thanks for all of the instruction, experience, advice, warnings, encouragement and entertainment you all post here.