Cruisers & Sailing Forums - View Single Post

Alan Wheeler · 03-03-2008, 11:45

I stumbled across the site very early on in it's existance. 14 Dec 2003 was my signup day. I had just retired from my professional carrier as a Live Sound Engineer and Audio Systems Designer. At only 40, the retirement was more for my health and so I was I was a little shell shocked as to what I was going to do next with the rest of my life. At that stage, my wife was just 5yrs away from finishing her 20yrs in the RNZAF and so we made this "Crazy Mid life crises" decision to look at buying a boat and sail the world. We would need to start off small and buy a little trailersailor or similar to learn sailing, as my wife had no experiance on water at all. We quickly found a small moored 30ft'r that was cheap and thought it would be an ideal boat to start with. Through a series of events too long to list here, a few weeks later we had an offer on a 45ft'r and our new home on the market. The House sold quickly and we suddenly were living on a 45ft sail boat. What a rush.
Back to the CF....Just like any newbie, I was a bit unsteady on my feet at first, but as I came to know and trust the few members, I gained confidence and eventualy felt confident enough to start posting my views on subjects. I have learn't a lot from the members on this board. I bit of a selfish member as I have certainly learn't more than I have ever given. But that is the whole point of these places.
I think it is fair to say that those few of us that were here from the very early days with Gisel, have also struggled the most with the shape of the board today. It is a huge place now and we have lost that small community feel we had. Although seeing a few of us are on the Mod/Admin team, that relationship is kept in the background. I have made some great friends and look forward to meeting many of them one day.
I have also come to realise that those that have a "True Cruising Spirit", tend to be ones that have similar Ideals and outlooks on life. I have found that many tend to have a "bigger view" of the world and it's cultures. And that is one of the main reasons I enjoy being here.

03-03-2008, 11:45	#5
Alan Wheeler Registered User Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Marlborough Sounds. New Zealand Boat: Hartley Tahitian 45ft. Leisure Lady Posts: 8,042	I stumbled across the site very early on in it's existance. 14 Dec 2003 was my signup day. I had just retired from my professional carrier as a Live Sound Engineer and Audio Systems Designer. At only 40, the retirement was more for my health and so I was I was a little shell shocked as to what I was going to do next with the rest of my life. At that stage, my wife was just 5yrs away from finishing her 20yrs in the RNZAF and so we made this "Crazy Mid life crises" decision to look at buying a boat and sail the world. We would need to start off small and buy a little trailersailor or similar to learn sailing, as my wife had no experiance on water at all. We quickly found a small moored 30ft'r that was cheap and thought it would be an ideal boat to start with. Through a series of events too long to list here, a few weeks later we had an offer on a 45ft'r and our new home on the market. The House sold quickly and we suddenly were living on a 45ft sail boat. What a rush. Back to the CF....Just like any newbie, I was a bit unsteady on my feet at first, but as I came to know and trust the few members, I gained confidence and eventualy felt confident enough to start posting my views on subjects. I have learn't a lot from the members on this board. I bit of a selfish member as I have certainly learn't more than I have ever given. But that is the whole point of these places. I think it is fair to say that those few of us that were here from the very early days with Gisel, have also struggled the most with the shape of the board today. It is a huge place now and we have lost that small community feel we had. Although seeing a few of us are on the Mod/Admin team, that relationship is kept in the background. I have made some great friends and look forward to meeting many of them one day. I have also come to realise that those that have a "True Cruising Spirit", tend to be ones that have similar Ideals and outlooks on life. I have found that many tend to have a "bigger view" of the world and it's cultures. And that is one of the main reasons I enjoy being here. __________________ Wheels For God so loved the world..........He didn't send a committee.