Newbie looking for an opportunity

[rgerl83]

Hi everyone, my name is Ryan and I’m a total newbie to sailing. I’m 29 and have been traveling/working around the world for the last 6 years, and have always had a deep desire to learn how to sail and travel the world on the sea (possibilities seem endless). I grew up in a small coastal town in Oregon, and have always loved the water. Spent time fishing and crabbing off the coast, but never learned to sail. Have never had any issues with seasickness. I’m a PADI divemaster. I’ve been living in New Zealand for the past 5 months, and have decided to get serious about trying to make the dream happen. I’ve been reading as much as I can on forums and googling all kinds of stuff trying to get an idea about how to go about it. I’m currently in Christchurch doing some remodelling/construction work, but am ready to head north away from the winter. The different ideas in my head are: trying to get on a boat leaving the north island of New Zealand for Tonga/Fiji/Vanuatu? Getting a flight up to one of those countries and trying there? Or heading to Australia and trying my luck somewhere there? Any advice would be awesome and much appreciated. I’m in good shape, a hard worker and fast learner, with an easy going positive attitude. I can fly to anywhere and have no time schedule. Also, I am able to contribute to shared costs. Thanks again for any advice or ideas
Cheers, Ryan

[Sysiphus]

Well Newbie,
I have a Ta Chiao 41 ketch that I will be sailing from Port Isabel, TX (Just east of Brownsville and Matamoros and west of S. Padre Island) in just a couple of days. I will make a romb line to Key West, and beat to its southern side. I will lay over in Key West a couple of days to rest and then weather prevailing, round the southern tip of Florida and passing Jupiter Inlet and Hobe Sound, head straight for Hampton Rhoads and Portsmouth, Virginia, skirting the Gulf Stream. Expecting each leg of the passage to be 10-12 days and ovrall trip around 30.

Interested? This is a long ways from Christschurch...

[rgerl83]

hey sysiphus, i actually just got back into the states from Asia and checked my email for the first timein awhile. I already missed ya, but thanks for the offer. Hope the trips goin awesome.
Ryan