Hello from Minnesota

[Jm2fly]

So my partner and I currently reside in Hopkins MN outside of Minneapolis but we're buying (paying cash) for a 1975 33' C & C which is still on the hard in Superior WI. I should add neither of us have sailed before but have boat experience.

Our plan is to sail Lake Superior learning to sail this summer and then heading through the Great Lakes and St Lawrence Seaway then heading for warmer climate.

We met in Virginia Beach but Florida is a likely destination with many stops along the way. My partner has a small constant income and I will work as needed once we get to a port of residence. I work on air conditioning and refrigeration. We plan to be liveaboards after April 2017.

Advice on our big adventure would be appreciated and learning to sail would be another.

Fair winds and calm seas!
Jessica

[omc]

Welcome and best wishes for your new adventure !

[Rod_87]

''The difference between men and boys is the price of their toys''. That is simply hilarious

[GordMay]

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, Jessica.

[Rod_87]

Welcome and good luck!

[Scott Fuller]

Starting out with some basic keelboat lessons to teach you line handling, docking, as well as points of sail and boat handling would be a great place to start.

Northern Breezes Duluth

It looks like there is at least one other organization (probably more but I didn't spend much time looking) in the Duluth/Superior area you could join and sail fleet boats during the summer if yours needs to stay on the hard while you work on getting it ready for extended cruising.

Scott

[svseachange]

We did the same trip a few years ago. Lake Superior was probably the most beautiful part of the trip until we got to the Bahamas. Don't forget to enjoy it! And make sure you visit the shipwreck museum on the eastern end of the lake.

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[omc]

Originally Posted by Rod_87

''The difference between men and boys is the price of their toys''. That is simply hilarious

Thanks. That may be true, is it ?

[Jm2fly]

Svseachange, Are you still in the Bahamas?

[monstads]

I can recommend Northern Breezes for classes. We may have had some special circumstances, but they agreed to teach us on our own boat, which was a great way for us to start out learning.

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[Jdege]

Originally Posted by Jm2fly

Our plan is to sail Lake Superior learning to sail this summer and then heading through the Great Lakes and St Lawrence Seaway then heading for warmer climate.

Sounds like you're a few years ahead of me. I'm in Minneapolis, with very much the same dream.

Interestingly enough, I'm taking ASA 101 from Northern Breezes starting tomorrow, on Lake Minnetonka. It will probably be next year before I'm sailing on Superior. (Though at this point, I don't have plans, only vague intentions.)

[svseachange]

Originally Posted by Jm2fly

Svseachange, Are you still in the Bahamas?

We are on land in Sydney, Australia working and saving again. Moving back on board in November for a cruise of the Australian east coast.

My wife Mary is Minnesotan and not a sailor when I met her. Now Mary is a more passionate sailor than I. Some credit goes to Joan Gilmore of Sail Away Sailing School in Minneapolis. It was really helpful for her to take lessons from another woman. She has a more gentle style than some of the umm... captainy captains.

I also recommend Northern Lights Sailing Club. They provide opportunities for people without boats to sail with others with boats. We took several members out for sails on our boats.

[hblask]

Hi, another Minnesotan here, on my way (via the long route) to a cruising lifestyle. We took our initial lessons in the Twin Cities (Lake Minnetonka) from Sail Away Sailing School, I think it's the only ASA classes in the Twin Cities. Joan is a great instructor; our instructor in Florida this winter kept being surprised at the number of things Joan had taught us correctly. We took our initial classes on Minnetonka, then ASA 104 on Lake Superior with her. (I later took Navigation with her, too).

We are in the process of selling our stuff now (way harder than sailing!), and will travel the country for a while to lower our tax burden and keep an eye out for the right boat. If you have any questions on our journey, feel free to ask!

[Jdege]

Northern Breezes offers ASA courses on Minnetonka.

[hblask]

Originally Posted by Jdege

Northern Breezes offers ASA courses on Minnetonka.

I tried to edit my post, it didn't seem to work. I think Northern Breezes and Sail Away work together. I think Joan teaches most, if not all, of the Northern Breezes classes in the Twin Cities, but she also has her own sailing school. I guess I never asked the specific relationship. But yes, we started with Northern Breezes and ended up with Joan as our teacher. Northern Breezes also teaches many other places.