Old Sailor Looking to Learn New Tricks

[MichGoBlue]

Hey Everyone!


I have been lurking around here for a while now as I self-isolate. I am a former Coast Guard sailor living in the Puget Sound now as a university professor. I served on two ice breakers and a medium endurance cutter during my time in the Coast Guard,in addition to teaching navigation and shiphandling at the academy. I have been looking into getting back into sailing again, as its been 30+ years since I did off shore racing or other extended sailing. In the service I did sail around the world as well as do considerable amounts of shiphandling and navigation on the Great Lakes and the West Coast of the US - I am very familiar with coastal and celestial navigation. I was navigator for pre-GPS trips to Antarctica as well as circumnavigating North America.



My plan is to go through the ASA courses with my wife so that we can do some bareboat charters both in the San Juans as well as other parts of the world. I will have a sabbatical coming up that I would like to do some extended sailing with, and a goal to eventually retire in a few years and do a bit more sailing.


I have purchased the course books for 101, 103, 104, and 114 already and read through all of them. With the exception of 114 (For Catamarans) all of the other info is pretty much a review for me and I probably could pass the exams right now for all of them . My plan though is to go through the courses with my wife so we both get the certification and she gets to learn more about sailing. I am also thinking about buying a small practice boat that we can put on a mooring buoy outside our summer vacation home on Camano Island. I don't think I want to get something big enough to really cruise the San Juans as yet since I don't think I would use it enough to make it worth while - but I am looking into the yacht management programs just to see how those might work.



Anyway I am really into doing research prior to jumping into things, so I really appreciate all the insights folks post here!

[OloteleMtn]

Hi and welcome!

[Jim Cate]

G'Day MGB and welcome to CF. Your background will ensure that you are far better grounded than most sailors that you will meet, and the refresher courses with your wife will ensure that you can communicate on things sailing... and that's an important part of a successful cruising couple.

I applaud the idea of a small boat that is immediately available when the mood to sail strikes. It will get lots of use, help your wife actualize the training inputs and be lots of fun. In your area in the summer, a very modest boat will suffice for the purpose, and you will both benefit from it.

All in all, a sound plan with great potential.

Enjoy!

Jim

[OloteleMtn]

There was a 20 footer down in Scappoose OR on Craigslist for $1k that would be worth checking out; i saw it online last night.

[MichGoBlue]

I thinking I might get something I can trailer for storage - like a Catalina 22 or a San Juan 21. Seen a couple for sale. I have a major surgery Wed so was gonna wait until after I recover to get something.

[Jim Cate]

Originally Posted by MichGoBlue

I thinking I might get something I can trailer for storage - like a Catalina 22 or a San Juan 21. Seen a couple for sale. I have a major surgery Wed so was gonna wait until after I recover to get something.

An excellent idea MCB. I had a Cat-22 for 7 years in the SF bay area way back when, and found it a very useful training vessel. Did lots of racing and cruising in her, including one month long cruise from Port Angeles to Vancouver and back and multiple trips from Santa Barbara to the channel islands.

I will say that after a few months of trying to keep her at home and trailering to the bay every weekend we kept her in a marina berth in the bay. This meant lots easier routine sailing, but with the option of moving her to distant ports for "exotic" cruising. Worked for us!

Jim

[MichGoBlue]

Thanks for the encouragement Jim! I learned to sail on Flying Juniors, before moving to racing J24s and Luder 44 Yawls. The smaller boats were so much fun!

[Lepke]

You might think of getting a 100 ton license, or more, before your sea time drops off. It helps with some insurance companies for lower rates.
Former navy trained navigator.

[MichGoBlue]

Originally Posted by Lepke

You might think of getting a 100 ton license, or more, before your sea time drops off. It helps with some insurance companies for lower rates.
Former navy trained navigator.

I should have done that in ‘98 when I got out I realized, but I was starting my PhD program so it wasn’t top of mind then.