Working Toward a Dream

[sharptrack2]

Hello everyone,

As recommended, I am taking a couple of minutes to introduce myself.

I'm a 55 yr old, part time "wanna be" sailor. In my younger years (13 to be exact), while still in the United States, I learned to sail on a 18ft yacht, in the state of Montana of all places. Flathead lake was where I learned to tack, gybe, get wet, and generally have fun, all for the sake of getting a Boy Scout merit badge.

Unfortunately, I moved away from that wonderland of water fun way too soon and lost opportunities and interest. Fast forward 31 years later, the location is Sydney, Australia. Opportunities abound but work, an older, less flexible body, and a skittish wife make for convenient excuses to not be out dangling legs, arms, and head, out over the toerails. Then a miracle, while vacationing in Vanautu for our 27th anniversary, I managed to get my wife out on a Hobie Cat and she enjoyed it, even when capsized (several times ).

A couple of months later, I was the proud owner of a fixed keel version of the Southern Cross 23 trailer sailer. We joined the local club, Gosford Sailing Club, and started learning. A little less than a year later, tragedy struck in the form of a springtime nor'easter that de-masted my pride and joy. Insurance didn't cover as much as I would have liked (lesson learned there - read the fine print ) and it took another 3 years to save up enough to get started on repairs.

Present day - yacht is on a hardstand in the driveway, getting refurbished as time and money allow. I have a new mast section and boom nearly ready to paint. The hull is mostly stripped down to the gel coat, which is in poor condition (again lessons learned about buying a boat ). The interior is in shambles, but there is hope for all of it.

The dream lives on! Hojeco will get back in the water, I will sail once again! I only need to keep working toward the dream.

Looking forward to chatting with people along the way. I may not visit very often at first, but I am sure I will depend on this forum for the wisdom it has to share as time marches on.