1 Hit Wonder

[mrwrench]

Hello all,

My name is Richard,43 yy "years young" , i'm from the midwest US, landlocked .

My goals for sailing are like the topic title suggest, a 1 hit wonder.

In other words i want to do 1 trip, ie: east coast US to West coast Europe, or Houston-San Diego via Panama, west coast US to Asia....etc etc..

More than likely i will be going solo, as for most around here are of the land-lovin type, as would be expected.

This isnt one of them mid-life crisis thingy's, i just get these ideas an act on them, i'm not even sure what triggered this "craving"? or when, but it's all i can think about.

As you mighta guessed, my sailing exp. is zero, which is a good place to start.

But i do have countless hours on a river, in my powerboat. which i know still counts as zero.

So, i guess what i'm gettin at is, i'm pretty much set on doing this, and i'm definitely not going to wait till i can afford it or any other of a thousand reasons not to.

Heres my questions

1. Best boat for the buck $
   
2. Minimum recommended training, i would appreciate the same recommendations you would give a friend, as you probably already have. Don't be bashful i can take it.
   
3. Best places on the web to get info,"links" besides here, this place is awesome!
   
4. Best guesstimate on a budget an timeframes to be expected.
   

I know these ?'s have been asked and answered zillions of times, so 1 more wont hurt, right?

I've been reading the post here for a couple of weeks, and it only making me want to do this even more, go figure.

[redbopeep]

Hi,

A guy I know is a yacht broker in Maine. Says he gets calls from all over the place around mid-winter. They start thinking about sailing, warm oceans, warm weather in late fall. They start calling about boats in January/February. Desperate people. Some even buy boats unseen .

Get a little sailboat--a Thistle, a sailing dingy of some sort, something you can sail on a pond even. Really.

(The first sailing we did was in a canoe on a lake in Indiana.)

Or, get a crewed charter for a day/week/whatever to see if you like it.

Or, visit someplace wet, cold, and miserable and get a local sailing nut to take you out for a day on the ocean. (that was the next sailing we did--crewing for someone during ocean racing in the Gulf of Mexico during the winter)

Check out--

US Sailing Association Sailing education.

American Sailing Association Cert. for instructors, info on sailing schools.

Also, Boat US offers education programs via local West Marine stores.

Some of the education resources are online. Look here for their online stuff.

Good luck! and

[redbopeep]

P.S. After learning a bit via the above resources, getting certified, etc, you'd probably be able to crew for someone who is doing the type of trip you're considering. A one hit wonder type trip isn't much of a reason to buy the boat yourself IMHO.

[atavist]

I'm agree... i can't imagine buying a boat just to do a one way crossing and then turn around and sale it, most likely at a loss, and fly home.... unless this is a trip you absolutely want to do solo I would say just find one of those trips that let you share expenses and do the crossing that way learning a little on the way and saving yourself tons of time and money.... I sent you a pm.

[Nausikaa]

Hi,

I am not going to answer any of the questions as there are those, particularly those in North America, who are far better placed to answer.



What I do want to do is to welcome you to the CL Forum and wish you good luck with your proposed voyage but be warned, sailing can become addictive and what may start off as a öne off"can become a lifetime committment.

Good luck

Aye // Stephen

[Sammy]

Check out this web site reliance-yachts.com, they are a delivery compnay based in the UK and are always looking for crew. Currently there are over 20 boats on their list many crossing the Atlantic. You could probably get a crew position rather than mate. Crew pay their own way to and from the boat but all onboard expenses are paid by the company including food. They have a $75 membership fee but that isn't even a drop in the bucket compaired to what you would spend buying and outfitting a boat for a crossing. I have done 2 trips with them between Fla and the Virgin Islands. Both skippers were very knowledgeable and professional.

Also I would not discount your powerboating experience, being able to read a chart and nav aids are the same power or sail. Many sailors would welcome someone who has the knowledge and experience to keep the engine running smoothly, the darn things are a mystery to me, thats why I sail.

[mrwrench]

Thx everyone for all the advice and links, all very useful.

I found a Charter Sailboat out of Tampa Bay, they have a 3 day 2 night cruise which is priced reasonable enough, they also are a school. They assured me i would be schooled on the trip.

I always did favor hands-on schooling over text-book.

So, im off in early March, which seems like forever.

I'll be sure to report back, hopefully with a better plan........

[Nausikaa]

Enjoy your trip!

get back to us afterwards please and let us know how things turned out.

Aye // Stephen

[Trim50]

Someone needs to develop a vaccine for this sailing bug! I could have grown-up a normal person if only I had a sailing vaccine.

Good to see that you found a charter company to learn sailing...sounds like a great way to start.

[Hud3]

Originally Posted by Trim50

Someone needs to develop a vaccine for this sailing bug! I could have grown-up a normal person if only I had a sailing vaccine.

Good to see that you found a charter company to learn sailing...sounds like a great way to start.

Trim,

Why in the world would you want to be "normal"?

[Trim50]

Oh, just sometimes I wonder what life would have been if I hadn't fallen for the CSY when I was 20.

Nevis...one of my favorite places on Earth! What is the name of that beach bar just outside the 4 seasons resort?

[Hud3]

Originally Posted by Trim50

Oh, just sometimes I wonder what life would have been if I hadn't fallen for the CSY when I was 20.

Nevis...one of my favorite places on Earth! What is the name of that beach bar just outside the 4 seasons resort?

That would be Sunshine's Beach Bar and Restaurant, home of the famous "Killer Bee". As the locals say, "They'll set ya leanin', Mon!"



You've been to Nevis?

[Duane2312]

Originally Posted by mrwrench

I found a Charter Sailboat out of Tampa Bay, they have a 3 day 2 night cruise which is priced reasonable enough, they also are a school. They assured me i would be schooled on the trip.

I'll be sure to report back, hopefully with a better plan........

Hi "Mrwrench"...

What was the name of the Charter place? I may need to get away from the 20-30 degree weather here.

Thanks!

[Trim50]

Originally Posted by Hud3

You've been to Nevis?

Yep...chartered Cat with friends for a week. Loved Nevis and Sunshine's beach bar. Wish I had more time to spend there. We had to get back to St. Martin to beat a storm. Nevis was as close to Paradise as I have ever been. I plan to visit with my own boat eventually.

You are a lucky man!

[Trim50]

Originally Posted by mrwrench

Heres my questions
[list=1]
[*]Best boat for the buck $
[*]Minimum recommended training, i would appreciate the same recommendations you would give a friend, as you probably already have. Don't be bashful i can take it.
[*]Best places on the web to get info,"links" besides here, this place is awesome!
[*]Best guesstimate on a budget an timeframes to be expected.

Sorry MrWrench...didn't mean to hijack your thread there...

Best boat for the buck...there really isn't a best because it depends on the sailor. For a single handed sailor, I'd look at a Cal 39 Tall Rig.

Minimum training: Rules of the Road, Coastal Navigation, General Seamanship, Offshore Navigation, Weather, Ham General Class

If you want to see a good cruising budget month-to-month, go to:

http://www.bumfuzzle.com/Pages/Main%20Pages/Cost.html

[mrwrench]

Originally Posted by Duane2312

Hi "Mrwrench"...

What was the name of the Charter place? I may need to get away from the 20-30 degree weather here.

Thanks!

Windsong Sailing Charters, New Port Richey, Florida "north of tampa"

[Duane2312]

Originally Posted by mrwrench

Windsong Sailing Charters, New Port Richey, Florida "north of tampa"

Thank You so much... I have family in New Port Richey. This may work!