Howdy From The Upper Texas Coast!

[Charlie M]

A 57 yr newbie who wants to get into sailing! Took my ASA101 last July (passed!). After few delays due to work & life, looking to move forward with this dream. Ultimately I’d like to be able to sail around my area and the Gulf coast, Texas to Florida. But I know that takes time. Yes, probably a solo sailor mostly. An6 suggestions / thoughts / articles or books to read I’m VERY open to words of experience!

[gamayun]

Welcome, Charlie! My philosophy about solo sailing is to take lots of baby steps and go out as often as you can when conditions are fairly calm, then work up to longer distances or more challenging sails/dockings from that experience. Books and classes are great for enhancing knowledge and possible options such as setting up things, but they can't replicate real world experience. That said, check out the resources link on the Singlehanded Sailing Society's website (sfbaysss.org) and other singlehanded groups -- there's also no need to reinvent the tiller! Above all, make sure it stays fun or you'll talk yourself out of going out, which reduces your skills and learning capabilities. I can bring myself to tears reminiscing about some of my solo sails. It should feel beautiful and enlightening in a deeply satisfying way.

[pilott]

Welcome to the forum, Charlie.
Where are you based?

[GordMay]

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, Charlie.

[Phantom Jim]

Charlie M, I am a cruiser on the upper Texas coast. Welcome. What are you sailing and where might you be?

[Charlie M]

PHANTOM JIM, I’m in Port Neches. PAYC right near, just have It made it there yet ( dang Covid ��). But I did take my 101 through SouthWinds right there by Tookie’s.
PILOTT, see above!
GAMAYUN, excellent advice. Baby steps, and experience by repetition. And I didn’t know about the Singlehanded site, will look into!!M

[Phantom Jim]

PAYC is a great place to be, except for the mosquitoes! Used to have a very active yacht club, I have not heard much from them for a while. You have a boat yet?

[Ded reckoner]

Taking classes, such as from ASA, is a good way to learn fundamentals. Every time you take a class, within a month, you should bareboat charter the boat in which you took the class, skipper it yourself, and go out and redo everything taught in the class. Some great ways to learn sailing are to buy a small boat (e.g. Hunter 18 or Catalina 16.5), or crew on someone else's boat, or sail in regattas. The Annapolis Book of Seamanship is a great bible. The book series by Lin and Larry Pardey should whet your appetite to be more active and get out there. An entertaining series, with seamanship interspersed throughout, is CS Forester's Hornblower series. Of course, the best sailing movie still is Captain Ron. Except for a very small boat, don't be in a rush to buy a big boat until you're sure what you want to do and what kind of boats are compatible.

[Charlie M]

PHANTOM JIM, No boat yet. Thinking something in the 16-20’ range to get my experience on. PAYC I think is still active but right now quiet. Beaumont is a possibility. Have a good friend who is VERY experienced. But, again, COVID!
DED RECKONER, Work stopped me from taking advantage of the charter but, once this mess has passed, plan on contacting Southwinds, even if I have pay some. But I will look into those books!

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by Phantom Jim

PAYC is a great place to be, except for the mosquitoes! Used to have a very active yacht club, I have not heard much from them for a while. You have a boat yet?

Wow, PAYC...a blast from the past!

We lived aboard there in 2004. I still tell stories about the mosquitos!

I last heard they were not going to rebuild after the hurricane, but sounds like they have?

[Phantom Jim]

PAYC rebuilt a lot of the marina slips but I am not knowledgeable about the clubhouse. Rita did a number on the area in 2005. Ike got me in Clear Lake in 2008, not enough to destroy the boat, but enough to keep me busy for two years.

The only place in Texas with worse mosquitoes is Brazoria National Wildlife Management Area near Freeport.