Tasmania, New Zealand or ?

[heymagic]

Hi all,

I have been lurking in the Cruisers Forum for awhile but I don't post much as you can see.

I am a "Trailer Sailor" mostly, because I can take what I love to do, to assorted places, and explore the area on and off the water. I am not a great sailor, but I try to stay within my abilities while always trying to improve. I have never been the type to wait until everything is just right to give something a try. I hate the word "scary".

I think I am basically a backpacker with a boat.

Last week I was sailing with a friend for the first time on his Hobie 16. We were on Lake Pepin in Wisconsin on a weekday with the lake pretty much to ourselves. I was surprised at how stable that cat felt when compared to my Mirror Dinghy! We practiced working together and it was just amazing.

I am retired(pretty much) and with my wife of 44 years blessing, have decided to go have a few adventures. I am interested in traveling to New Zealand or Tasmania and possibly finding a way to live part or all of the time aboard a boat. I'm always more interested in the people in a place than the scenery and I also like to leave things a little better than when I found them.

If you are ever up in this neck of the woods, give me a call.

MikeB
"Magic"

[matauwhi]

G'day, mate. I learned to sail on the Great Lakes. How far up north in Wisconsin, Hurley? You will want to check out the Bay of Islands in N.Z. 4 nice sailing clubs, great cruising area and heaps to see. A lot of folks leave their boats here for the season while they do some land traveling. Cheers.

[heymagic]

Thanks for the reply and the encouragement, matauwhi.
I began by looking at the Bay of Islands area, it is just beautiful. I sent an email to a person at a cruising club in Opua, but I haven't heard back as yet. A friend mentioned Tasmania and later that day a young lady at my local coffee shop was talking about her trip to Hobart, so I figured the great googly moogly was trying to get my attention!
I live closer to Minneapolis/St. Paul on the Wisconsin side of the river. I love the Great Lakes up by Duluth and the North Channel is amazing!
I sail little boats right now, but I hope to have some experiences in something a little larger. My friends tell me I spend more time sailing than they do however, because my boats are always ready to go. I would sure be happy to expand my horizons some.
Thanks again
MikeB
"Magic"

[SkiprJohn]

Aloha and welcome aboard!
Small boats teach you sail handling much faster than larger ones.
You've come to the right forum for finding lots of good information.
kind regards,

[heymagic]

Thanks for the reply Skiprjohn,
Even at my advanced age, I listened to other folks with lots of experience who all suggested smaller to start. I've been hanging out in the Trailer Sailors Forum(another site) and going to a few sailing get togethers. Those people with West Wight Potters are a great bunch, and are always sailing someplace.
I have always dreamed of seeing New Zealand and that whole part of the world. I am determined to find someone with a boat parked someplace to use as a base for traveling around. The main problem is how to hook up with someone, and convince them I'm not some scam artist that will screw up their boat. Ideally, if I found someone who was trying to sell, or was going to be gone for awhile, I could boat sit. In any case I would certainly be willing to pay my way. I am handy and can fix about anything, so if some stuff needed doing to make the boat show better, I would just do it.
Thanks again,
Mike
"Magic"