Elvis is Alive; Memphis, TN

[daw_two]

Hi All.

I'm a new member currently living in the Memphis, TN (USA) area. I have a fairly new interest in sailing and I'm still in the exploration stages.

This past summer, I met and dated a Woman (TMT) whose mother and step dad had sailed around the world. TMT use to live in the San Diego, CA area and has sailed quite a bit in her past. I may or may not ever hook back up with TMT; that's a different story for after the 3rd drink . Anyway, because of her, I started at least thinking about sailing as something to take up after retirement. Retirement is not for a while, so I do NOT need a boat next summer. I'm 55; have a 6th grade, so have to stay put for at least 6 more years.

I have actually been on a sailboat once; just for a lesson; I was a passenger.....not taking the class. I live a "green" life, love the water, beach, fishing, cooking, and wine. I believe I could easily become a liveaboard if I liked sailing. My main hobby has been tinkering on any diesel engine I can get my hands on --- old Mercedes cars, Cummins engines, Perkins, etc. I grew up watching my Dad fix anything and I'm pretty much the same way.

I'm hoping to take a few sailing classes next year; maybe even hope on a week long cruise in the Caribbean next spring.

I'm open to suggestions on specific ways to explore my interest.

daw


PS --- this seems to be a great forum!

[Dockhead]

Welcome! If you like to tinker with diesel engines and other machinery, this is an excellent start! We say that cruising is "boat repair in exotic places", so with those skills, you are way ahead of the game.

To get a taste of life on a sailboat, I would suggest offering to crew on someone else's boat for a couple of weeks. With those skills, you should be in demand.

Good luck.

Sent from my D6633 using Cruisers Sailing Forum mobile app

[Tayana42]

Is Elvis going to crew with you?


S/V B'Shert

[daw_two]

Originally Posted by Tayana42

Is Elvis going to crew with you?


S/V B'Shert

The last I heard he wants to get out more.......someplace where folks will not recognize him; perhaps, a sailboat would be perfect for him.

[Ocean Girl]

Welcome aboard Cruisers Forum. Local sailing clubs usually have a crew needed board. Reading books is also a good way to get a feel for the life. Also, simply dock walking , if you have access to marinas, is a fun way to familiarize yourself with all the types, sizes, shapes of sailboats.

[JPA Cate]

Hi,daw,

Some of us got our starts in sailing by crewing on club race boats. You introduce yourself at the yacht or sailing club bar, and take it from there. Maybe that would work for you as a method of exploring the interest. Admit you're new and want to learn, and also tell them you'll help at haulout time--and then be cheerful and a couple of minutes early. At first, you're pickup crew, but if someone likes how you handle yourself, you quickly may be asked for a season. At that point the choice is yours. The benefits of being pickup crew are that you experience more different boats and skippers. The benefits of being for a season or longer, is that with the help of a consistent skipper, your skills will be honed more. Good skippers try to "bring along" crew, and have them work different jobs on the boat.

Ann

[GordMay]

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, Daw.

[HappyMdRSailor]

Welcome to CF daw !

I know what you mean about Elvis... I seen him too !

Not far from ya at all... In MS...

[daw_two]

Elvis......we have a problem. The yacht club in Memphis appears to be all "stinkpots".

I'm guessing there are some sailboats at Pickwick which is about 1.5+ hours away; the other sailors seem to be in Nashville, Knoxville, and Chattanooga.


Today I'm going to be looking at learn to sail options for next Spring.

[HappyMdRSailor]

Originally Posted by daw_two

Elvis......we have a problem. The yacht club in Memphis appears to be all "stinkpots".

I'm guessing there are some sailboats at Pickwick which is about 1.5+ hours away; the other sailors seem to be in Nashville, Knoxville, and Chattanooga.


Today I'm going to be looking at learn to sail options for next Spring.

PSCA=Here ... Home
and here...
https://www.facebook.com/PickwickSailing/

[daw_two]

Looks like I will be taking sailing lessons March 20th-26th

[Curious Sailor]

Originally Posted by daw_two

Looks like I will be taking sailing lessons March 20th-26th

Awesome! Let us know how it goes... I'm Curious...

[daw_two]

Okay.....

I'm in the process of moving my flight up a day, so I can get my 2 days of open water dives in BEFORE sailing lessons start. Yep, working on PADI open water diver certification, too.

[HappyMdRSailor]

Sounds like an excellent idea Skipper Daw...

Elvis says you need this boat when you get back.... It's approximately 90NM BRNG 105T

[daw_two]

Originally Posted by HappyMdRSailor

It's approximately 90NM BRNG 105T

What does this mean?

90NM ?= 90 Newton Meters?
90NM ?= 90 nanometers?

BRNG ?= Bring

105T ?= 105 thousand?
105T ?= 105 tons?


Yesterday, I looked online at several boats; it was a good day to be looking at boats since it rained here all day. I thought I might need a boat to get home to my house.

I'm thinking one of these might be more to my initial boat purchase:

27'ft Catalina Yacht Sailboat Great Condition <--- priced way too high IMO

1976 American Mariner sailboat <--- the trailer was sold a couple of months ago. I'm guessing the boat is lying on the ground.