Hello from Minnesota !

[monstads]

We are pretty much newbies to sailing, but are starting to think about how to get out there and "live the dream". We have two small kids (2 and 4), and I figured it is time to join the forum vs just "lurking", although the hours and hours spent browsing all the interesting topics has been very educational so far, and I look forward to participating and I'm sure we'll have a number of questions!

Our rough plan is to buy a used boat, likely somewhere in the Caribbean to start with, but (in part based on advise here), we're planning on taking babysteps, starting with studying and reading, as well as looking for opportunities for getting more experienced and get ourselves comfortable that cruising full time really *is* the dream :-) Last year I bought a 15' catamaran to play with, and I have some prior sailing experience, but none as far as living aboard, especially with children, and no real offshore experience (yet!)

Our next steps are going to be a trip to Puerto Rico in November (the week before thanksgiving), and we will be looking for options to either rent a boat (with a captain at first) for a few days or do a snorkelingtrip/daysail/overnight with a charter. Any ideas of other options for getting on the water would be appreciated (I'm also going to post a request in the appropriate forum specifically for Fajardo, which is where we're heading.

[Unicorn Dreams]

Welcome Aboard Cruisers Forum

[captainstubbie]

welcome neighbors! where u b in the fair state?

[skipmac]

Welcome from Florida.

Sounds like you already have a pretty good plan.


Skip

[monstads]

Hi captainstubbie, I live in South Minneapolis. As you mention on your website, Mille Lacs is a fun lake to sail on (even while trying to avoid Walleye Fishermen), and although my little 15' Cat is on Scott Lake a few miles west of Mille Lacs, I've been out there in a friends boat (might need to take the Cat out next summer, or get to know the guys with the Viking ship replica up north of Garrison)

[ron.captain]

"Hey Yall" Be careful....You may become a "BOAT NUT' too...And there is NO cure...You will spend all of your kids inheritance on boat stuff...You may even go nuts and move on board...Sincerely Captain Ron...

[monstads]

Originally Posted by Unicorn Dreams

Welcome Aboard Cruisers Forum

Thank you, Unicorn Dreams !

That Ketch of yours is very close to what I'm thinking of pursuing! Any thoughts on a center cockpit design? I understand that there tends to be better/larger aft staterooms and better protection in the cockpit in bad weather, but are there other not so obvious advantageous/disadvantageous to that design, vs what it looks like yours is?

[sec906]

Welcome to the forum (from Saint Paul!)

Check out:
Northern Lights Sailing Club for cruising
Twin Cities Sailing Club for small-boat sailing

-Steve

[SkiprJohn]

Aloha and welcome aboard!
Good to have you posting here. I like aft cockpits for visibility of the whole boat while looking forward from the steering station. Just my opinion of course.
kind regards,