I'm about to motor out and learn to sail.

[conchaway]

Turn off all the electronic Barbra Streisand; go to a sailing school, and take ASA 101, 103, and 104.

[model 10]

[QUOTE=akprb;
Would you hop in the cockpit of a small plane after flying on your laptop for a year and “give it a try.”

Some guy took an airliner for a joy around Seattle last year. He learned to fly on a computer. Then the idiot tried to do some aerobatics and crashed.
What's wrong with just going out and sailing? Why do you need to take all these classes? Sailboats are pretty simple and slow. Just don't run into somebody or something.

[Sailmonkey]

Originally Posted by Ecos

Why do you need to take all these classes? Sailboats are pretty simple and slow. Just don't run into somebody or something.

This.......and the Galveston bay area where the OP is planning on his little adventure is quite benign. Biggest challenge will be getting out past the road construction project and their goofy signalling system. If he runs aground, it'll clean the bottom of the keel with no harm to the boat. If he makes it as far as the ship channel, it's well marked and filled with really large fast moving shoe boxes.

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by Sailmonkey

This.......and the Galveston bay area where the OP is planning on his little adventure is quite benign. Biggest challenge will be getting out past the road construction project and their goofy signalling system. If he runs aground, it'll clean the bottom of the keel with no harm to the boat. If he makes it as far as the ship channel, it's well marked and filled with really large fast moving shoe boxes.

...dont forget the ferries!

[BobHorn]

If he gets to the Galveston-Bolivar ferry he is way over his head.

[Sailmonkey]

Originally Posted by belizesailor

...dont forget the ferries!

He’d be motoring 4ish hours to tangle with thAt insanity!

[thomm225]

This is why learning on small boats like lasers or Beach Cats on a lake or protected water is the way to go.

When learning to sail on boats without engines, the engine is less important and you learn to adapt especially during 30-100 mile distance races.

Racing these small boats helps also especially in tight situations and light air

This race takes place at Juana's Pagodas on the Gulf Coast just East of Pensacola.

They have always had a distance race there each year in September since the 1990's called the Juana's Good Time Regatta. It was lot of fun back then with beer delivery to the racers on the water during the race!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nSe-HWpF2C8

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by Sailmonkey

He’d be motoring 4ish hours to tangle with thAt insanity!

Yeah, hopefully he will stay closer to home.

[mayberrybfd]

Watch Captain Ron

[mowerandy]

Here's a tip, especially salient in the early days of learning, but always relevant no matter your experience...Never sail anywhere you cant motor out of, and never motor anywhere you cant sail away from.

Both systems can and will fail you when you least expect it (and the lower your experience level the more likely it is to happen eg: tangled the furler running down the marina fairway - oh *****, or failed an impeller manoeuvring the dog leg in that shallow approach channel).

Stay within your limits - now get out there and have fun (but if you know someone who has experience, do take him/her along - promise them lots of laughs! You can always ask them not to comment except in case of danger, if you really want to do it all yourself)

[Nicholson58]

Originally Posted by ttex

I have read all the books and passed all the sailing tutorial simulations on the computer. LOL

My boat appears seaworthy and I have liability and tow insurance.

Time to motor out into Galveston Bay soon and learn to sail. I'll have the GoPro running at all times. It's gonna get weird out there.

Thoughts? Is my engine going to die and I freak out?

Take a friend who sails

[Bruce K]

Avoid the hard bits!!!!!!!!!!!

[mabowers]

Originally Posted by Bruce K

Avoid the hard bits!!!!!!!!!!!

"Don't put a football on the chart!" was my favorite bit of advice from my ASA instructor, along with "Don't hit anything you can't afford."

[gallatin1988]

How'd it go?

[danleach]

Hey ttex, just pick a day with a stable, and not too hairy, wx forecast.



Follow all these great suggestions to keep away from big commercial traffic and have fun.


And if you do end up getting video of yourself nearly losing it....do post. We all need the laugh.