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Old 04-12-2005, 04:31 AM   #21
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Tom,

I can see one HUGE potential problem with your plan to do Winter sailing school in the Caribbean . . . you will love it so much that you will be desperate to bring your sailing plans forward.

We won a 2 week bareboat charter in the BVI last Oct/Nov and had an absolutely fantastic time. As soon as we came back to Scotland we made a definite timetable for going back to the Caribbean next year for a minimum of six months in our own boat. We are pretty poor and the boat is only a 27 footer (but plenty of Albin Vegas have crossed the Atlantic). We are early 50s and determined to do it now - or very soon - no matter how many plausible reasons there are for not doing it.

Go for it . . .

<font color="blue">Nick</font id="blue">

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Old 04-22-2005, 05:10 AM   #22
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To All of you who have been so nice to Respond _

As of today we are confirmed for a two week sailing school in the Grenadines in December. Ya hoo.

More to come

I remain

Tom In the Berkshires
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Old 04-22-2005, 04:32 PM   #23
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Good-onya Tom. Learn heaps and remember it is important to remain properly hydrated. David
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Old 04-22-2005, 08:42 PM   #24
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Tom,

Tel has it spot on. Buy a small boat and just get out there. Never mind if the local yachties rib you every time you make a mistake, which you will and its always very public! By being out there in your own boat you will gain far more experience than any other way. Take along a seasoned sailor to begin with and you can question why he advises you to do certain actions. On the job training is always the best in my opinion, you can see what is happening and gain knowledge when things go right as well as wrong.

As for books, try the Wanderer books by Eric Hiscock. Around the World in Wanderer III has been my constant companion for more years that I care to remember. It was this that sparked my imagination and led me to crossing the Atlantic in my own 24 ft boat. Hiscock had a knack of writing which had you spell bound and longing to get the sea spray on your face.

Age? If you are relatively fit then you can sail, go out there before you begin to fall to bits and see some of the fantastic world we are priviledged to live in. If you get stuck there will always be a friendly yachtie ready to lend a hand.

Go sailing and to hell with the Jerimaiahs of this world. Of course you will have bad days, really bad days, but the good ones are the ones that memories are made of and there are always many more of those. Live the dream!

Best Wishes

David
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Old 04-27-2005, 08:30 AM   #25
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Hello,

I'm a sailing instructor from canada, I teach lots and lots of adults, the young and the young at heart.

I would suggest anybody who would like to learn sailing to take a course. I hear pretty good things about the ASA system, your instructors will be trained and hopefully, fun. For the older folks who want to cruise, a keelboat or cruising course will probably be best. Once you take a course, you'll have a better idea of the type of sailing you want to do, and hopefully the kind of boat you want to buy.

Dinghies are not for everyone. They requre you to be relatively athletic and while i don't doubt that most of you are, they can be uncomfortable and more difficult to learn on for older folks. Granted, the best sailors learn on dinghies but you probably just want to learn how to sail safely and have fun.

And if some guys out there want to take their wives/girlfriends or girls wanna take their guys sailing, be generous and get them a course as a present! its a lot less stressfull than trying to teach them yourselves, and they'll have a more relaxed time on the boat when they know that if something happens, they can safely handle the boat etc.

P.S. - The Canadian Yachting Association Certifications system is one of the best. Look for CYA certification if you're taking carribean learn-to-sail courses.
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Old 05-06-2005, 03:30 PM   #26
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I'm a few weeks ahead of the original poster...

the last few years I have been in computers 24x7 (job AND hobby). Anyway, I figured I needed a new hobby so I started getting into sailing .

I started with getting my Competant Crew certificate, as well as purchasing a book on the basics. Also bought a few magazines (Yachting World) and a chart of Port Jackson (Sydney). Also reading lots of websites

And last weekend I went down to the CYCA (http://cyca.com.au/) and got a crewing position. So once a week I am crewing.

As for the future, my dream is to be bluewater cruising in ~10 years. Dream boat is a Sundeer 64

Blue water cruising is not for the unprepared or inexperienced. The next ten years will be a steep learning curve. So much to learn... weather patterns, navigation, radio comms, boat repair etc etc

Anyway, good sailing to all
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Old 12-02-2005, 04:41 AM   #27
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I posted a note Last MARCH about starting to learn how to sail.

On Saturday Dec. 3rd, TWO DAYS from Now, We [ Diana & I ] Leave for a Sailing School in the Grenadines for TWO weeks.

This is the Start of the 10 YEAR PLAN - Here we go...Thank you all for all your support
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Old 12-18-2006, 03:26 AM   #28
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Quote:
Originally Posted by name='Converted Post'
Originally posted by Tom Farley

I cant sail yet but
I recall a senior chief torpedoman in the US Navy who, anytime he heard someone say "I can't" do this or that, would gruffly say, "CAN'T NEVER DID NOTHIN'!"
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Old 01-25-2007, 03:00 AM   #29
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Hello All, Its now Almost two years later and Diana and I have completed all levels of the OFFSHORE SAILING SCHOOL program including being able and certified to sail up to 47 ' Catamarans which we just finished doing in the BVI for 3 weeks. We go to the Bahamas in Feb for another week and their Passagemaking course again...Not bad for not knowing port from starboard when we began....

I wanted to thank you all for your great responses to my questions. We are both feeling pretty comfortable sailing now and are still on track to break away for good in about 5 years....

In the BVI we sailed with an Instructor named Julian Putley who also happened to Author the Book " Drinking Mans Guide to the BVI." It is a fine guide to the better places to drink and eat in the BVI..My question is , Is there some other book like that that covers from Trinidad to Mexico , across the top of South America that highlites all the Islands and other details.Repairs ,dangers etc.....Thanks for the help and I will try to update our progress as we go......

TOM & Diana
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Old 01-25-2007, 03:15 AM   #30
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Hi Tom

Congratulations on what you have achieved - well done. And, welcome back to the forum.
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Old 01-25-2007, 03:54 AM   #31
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Wonderful, Tom! I just read this thread and all the advice, and want to agree with the folks who recommend dinghy sailing as a way to learn. I started on Sunfish and Lightnings when I was barely a teen, still sail my sharpie in coastal NC waters, and now with my husband (we're on the far side of 50/60) have graduated to a 50 footer, which is work, but I tell you, it's great exercise! I told my kids, no nursing home for us--just push us off when it gets too much or launch us in the dinghy (we have a his and hers so that he can zoom with a motor and I can row and sail).

I took care of my auntie for nine years before she died. She had dementia, but she remembered enough about sailing to ask if she should move to the high side (not a requirement on Sea Venture, but certainly was on her sailboats). We're hoping to be like the couple Jeanne mentioned...quitting only when we want to and not because we're wrinkled.

Normandie
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Old 01-25-2007, 09:13 AM   #32
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Hi Tom,

To get you in the mind set of sailing, a good read is "The Wanderer" by Sterling Hayden.

http://smartpei.typepad.com/robert_paterso...anderer_st.html

Cheers,

Ken
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Old 01-25-2007, 05:51 PM   #33
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Hi Tom and Diana,

Following this thread is an inspiration to see folk who are chasing their dreams, which you are doing as a couple – something that is too often a one sided affair. You seem to have taken the right direction in doing courses and getting out on the water and “doing it”. Congratulations!

I am a delivery skipper, delivering sailing catamarans from Cape Town, South Africa to wherever they are needed around the world for a large charter company. If you ever want to do an ocean crossing, give me a shout and I am sure we can fit you in on a trip from Cape Town to the Caribbean or US. John
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Old 01-25-2007, 06:33 PM   #34
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Hi John, Deliverys on Catamarans are exactly what Diana and I would like to do for more experience.....Let me know how to get in touch with you for details.. We are available mostly from November thru March because of my Seasonal Business. Diana is very strong and capable. and a great cook to boot.

We look forward to hearing more....

TOM
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Old 01-26-2007, 07:31 PM   #35
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Quote:
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Originally posted by midshipman

To be honest Matt's comment is very depressing. I am 40 now and also look to go sailing late 50's - 60's just dont have the money to do it any other way. Have sailed before when I was in my 20's and that was what lit the spark. Can we hear from folks that are sailing in their 60's. I suppose one wants to be real but jeez thats killing a lot of dreams. Matt just took the wind out of my sails.

Can someone suggest a good dingy to start, something that doesn't capsize to easy as the crocodiles in the local lake are bigish. I saw sunfish and lasers bandied about does anyone have an opinion?
You need to be able to right a capsized dinghy. Most people I have taught (and I am not suggesting you are one of these people)are scared of the boat heeling until they have been through the capsize process.

I would also suggest that the best thing anyone can do to discover sailing and how suited you are to it, is to get a bit of experience in fair weather and then go on a passage of some sort an see how you feel about getting bounced round in heavy weather.

There is nothing that finds out people more quickly than spending 4-5 days wet, cold, tired and possibly sick. If you get through it and want more, then the good days are like a dream.
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Old 01-26-2007, 07:39 PM   #36
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The problem with righting a capsized dinghy in African waters is the crocodiles might get you before you're back up! I can sympathize with Matt. Better to go to the local boat club and see what they are sailing, maybe offer to crew on somebody's boat.
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Old 01-26-2007, 10:40 PM   #37
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Quote:
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Originally posted by JeanneP

The problem with righting a capsized dinghy in African waters is the crocodiles might get you before you're back up! I can sympathize with Matt. Better to go to the local boat club and see what they are sailing, maybe offer to crew on somebody's boat.
Well it would teach you to do it quickly
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Old 01-27-2007, 06:17 AM   #38
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We have a similar problem with big hungry lizards here in Darwin..We have very, very good water skiers.
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