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

[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?

[Pete17C]

why freak out? finish up sailing and then call the tow boat

[Stu Jackson]

Spend less time with the GoPro and more on the boat and sails. Good luck. Have you checked the weather?

[belizesailor]

Galveston Bay is a busy place...your biggest concern may quickly become commercial traffic.

Keep that GoPro going! [emoji6]

[AndyEss]

Galveston Bay is also shallow. What is your draft? Is your depth sounder working and reasonably set to give you true water depth, or water under your keel? Do you have charts, preferably electronic on a MFD?
Stay out of the Houston Ship Channel.

[Sailmonkey]

Motor out the Clear creek channel, stay in the middle of the bay and away from the ship channel, if you see pvc pipes or the shoreline, go the other way.

Good luck!

[Hardhead]

Some people have GoPro'd their own demise. Keep that in mind.

[Cheechako]

You'll figure it out!
-Know how to reef, practice at the dock. This is how you control your boat.
-If you start to think about reefing.. it's already time!
-Did you get tow insurance in the top level? Gold or Platinum? The basic level gets you very little. I had the basic level insurance in Florida. Ran out of fuel. They wanted $600 to tow me 1/2 mile and wouldn't just go get my can of fuel filled.

[Pegu Club]

Have fun, stay away from the big guys (tonnage rule ) head on a swivel as it were. Oh, and did I say have fun?

Fair winds,

[wathey]

I sailed off a dock without a motor 20 years ago and it was the best thing I ever did.
- stay away from commercial traffic areas to the best of your ability.
- practice tacking/gibing as soon as you are in an area without other traffic and away from obstructions
- if at all in question, reef first, determine its necessity later.
- boat always sails faster when it is flatter not heeled over

+ Most important + don't take your wife/honey out on the boat until you are very comfortable. Freak her out once early on and it is over. Show confidence and good seamanship the first few times and gain her trust and she will be your first mate for life.
Good luck!

[MarkSF]

This has to be a windup, right?

[mlydon]

Why dont you find someone with some experience to go out with you your first time or two?

Matt

[Hardhead]

Originally Posted by mlydon

Why dont you find someone with some experience to go out with you your first time or two?

Matt

I think that would screw up the point of the GoPro. It's a video world.

[singlespeed]

For everyone else out there, I hope you have complete insurance. The first time, forget the additional distraction of a Go Pro.

[akprb]

Originally Posted by mlydon

Why dont you find someone with some experience to go out with you your first time or two?

Matt

This was my first thought as well.

Do not flick on the go pro and give it a whirl.

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

This is serious business and your inexperience can put others in harms way.

Play it smart, a good sailor has few stories.