advice: sailing/navigation experience and finding community

[barnakiel]

You can get more experience doing your own thing perhaps. ARC is mostly socializing and then crossing on schedule under very close scrutiny of the organizers.


Not all ARC crews are experienced and one cannot get experience sailing under the eye of other inexperienced people.



If you like bars and being nannied about, go ARC route. If you want a lot of SAILING experience, do your own thing.


b.

[Joh.Ghurt]

Originally Posted by wolfgal

and this is because, when you think about it, you can understand how hard it has been to crew all these years. the men, well, no description required, and the wives quite simply want me off the boat.

And you still had it easy, because you at least got offers. All this will be gone, if you either get your own boat or look for a divorcee of your liking with a boat.

Of the two, getting your own boat is a lot quicker, predictable and less effort in the long run.

[JPA Cate]

Of the two, getting your own boat is a lot quicker, predictable and less effort in the long run.

A lot of times, people put more concentrated thought and heart into figuring out the right boat for themselves than they do into picking a partner. Ironic, too, because choosing a life partner is a lot harder, and harder to change, too.

Hmmmm.

Ann

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by JPA Cate

A lot of times, people put more concentrated thought and heart into figuring out the right boat for themselves than they do into picking a partner. Ironic, too, because choosing a life partner is a lot harder, and harder to change, too.

Hmmmm.

Ann

Great new avatar Ann..

[dannc]

Originally Posted by JPA Cate

A lot of times, people put more concentrated thought and heart into figuring out the right boat for themselves than they do into picking a partner. Ironic, too, because choosing a life partner is a lot harder, and harder to change, too.

Hmmmm.

Ann

And more expensive to change.

Later,
Dan

[JPA Cate]

And more expensive to change.

Both monetarily and emotionally.

Ann

[belizesailor]

@wolfgal

You've got substantial training, way more than most, and relevant experience. Drop your name in the crew hat and get out there and do some sailing! Once you are comfortable with your experience then buy a boat...maybe. The problem with owning a boat, or boat sitting, is that you will likely be doing stuff you already know how to do...boat maintenance. If you want more SAILING experience then go get it!

I often say that I used to do a hell of a lot more actual sailing before I started buying boats!

[El Pinguino]

For the OP.
To expand on my start.
When I bought my first 25 footer I had less than a week's previous keelboat experience. A few years of dinghy ownership as a pup. Twenty years of big ship experience at the time but that isn't worth a zac on small boats... apart from the navigation side of things.

Started going out on day sails with a friend .. even getting to the far end of the bay 20 miles away. Then started singlehanding in the same area and after about a year made my first night sail by myself, 20 miles in 10 knots of breeze and a full moon.
And I just kept on building on that.. with and without one other crew depending on where and when..

You can keep on crewing on OPBs but you will probably still be doing that in 20 years because, like any yacht you buy, you will never be completely ready.

Sooner rather than later is the time to make the jump.

NB... I am not suggesting you take off on a circumnav the week after buying.

I still reckon Westerly in the 32/38 foot range would be an ideal start.

[El Pinguino]

And a little bit more..... life aboard a (just a little bit famous) 33 foot Westerly Discus.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-SLsUr8f4o

[wolfgal]

Originally Posted by El Pinguino

And a little bit more..... life aboard a (just a little bit famous) 33 foot Westerly Discus.

wah! to think that somewhere out there, folks are sailing and having a whole lot of fun. great video! thank you!!!

yes, sooner than later would be ideal. i've been working at this for soooooo many years now.

and though i've checked out (read about) the westerly boats a bit, i've never sailed one.

thanks again

wolfie f

[Clivevon]

El Pinguino - thank you for posting that. Brilliant.

[boatman61]

Nice one El Ping.. beats the hell outa the usual YT..