Who wants to give me sailing experiece?

mabrodis · 04-18-07, 10:13 AM

Who wants to give me some sailing experience?

Planning on taking a multi-family vacation next summer probably, bareboat chartering a boat, somewhere, probably USVI/BVI...I have some experience as we were down there 7 yrs ago, my dad was the captain of our boat, but I did everything on the actual trip. However, I know that bit of sailing is not much so I'm taking classes...just finished the 10-week ASA Coastal Navigation class last night...passed the test, get me a sticker or something like that!!

Also taking the rest of their sailing classes (that are offered locally), which is a bunch of stuff, but all on their 22' sailboats (remember Colorado isn't really a large maritime community).

Soooo...I was thinking to get enough experience for me to have no problems chartering a boat from say the Moorings I would probably need some more experience. Atleast to charter a 42' cat which is what we're looking at for next summer (fit alot of people, etc). I'm actually not worried at all about the actual sailing process on any of these boats, just to get more experience so I can say I've been there and done that...versus I can envision being there and doing that, etc...

Soooo...who here is doing some sailing and wouldn't mind a hand? I'm easy going, hard working, ready to learn, a Gemini, like moonlit walks on the beach, a hell of a cook and can find porn instantly online (valuable assets no?).

I'd pay my own way, and if I screw up put me in the dinghy and tow me the rest of the way...

twist&crawl · 04-18-07, 10:56 AM

You might want to think about taking a course that would get you a bareboat chartering certificate. Off-Shore Sailing School and the like offer them in places like San Diego, Annapolis, Newport (RI), and Key West. Another vacation idea!

I'd offer you a chance to crew on my Newport41, except that I have to ship it from Maine to San Diego this summer and do a bunch of work on it before it goes back in the water.

Also, check into Sailnet.com. There are active sailing list-serves and forums. You could ask over there. I know people on the West Coast are always looking for crew.

A

mabrodis · 04-18-07, 11:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by twist&crawl

You might want to think about taking a course that would get you a bareboat chartering certificate.

I believe that is the cert I will be getting locally, and while that may suffice, it still seems a bit cheesy to put down experience and only have small boats to list...huh...just looked it up and that class was available from them...now it's not listed, so maybe I'll only get the Basic Coastal Cruising...I believe the Bareboat Chartering was just a few more on-the-water classes and some other more big-boat specifics...hmm, need to check about that...

Thanks for the link...will look that up right now...

monniepoo · 04-18-07, 09:29 PM

This is me at the helm at sea on our way to Catalina Island...I love Sailing

IdahoDoug · 04-18-07, 09:38 PM

Mabrodis,

You're doing a terrible job of marketing yourself. I think you need to put your most valuable and compelling asset in the mix here. I can tell there are people here bursting to offer you sailing positions, but like me they're all waiting. They're waiting and waiting to see how much of that freakishly tasty toffee you plan to have over your shoulder in a bag when you step on deck.

DougM

2badfjs · 04-18-07, 10:02 PM

mark, does the movie "perfect storm" ring a bell?

bigndn · 04-18-07, 10:25 PM

Mark, all you have to remember is "keep the hull down", port is left (both 4 letters), starboard is right, and pray for wind........

but not too much wind.

monniepoo · 04-18-07, 10:38 PM

THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS:
GPS
Gas
Motor
Beer
Good Company
Fishing stuff to troll

BOZ · 04-19-07, 12:51 AM

Yes, you need bareboat cert before they will let you have one on your own. The bareboat class will give you enough time to feel ok for where you are going.

I just passed my masters 100 ton class and hope to do my blue water here in AK this summer.

If all goes well, I hope to buy my live aboard in about 2 years or less.

calphi27 · 04-19-07, 12:51 AM

Where are you taking the classes? I was thinking about doing the same thing. I need to get some certification for some carribean sailing.

Scamper · 04-19-07, 04:36 AM

I may be wrong, but if you list your experience as only on 22' sloops, the Moorings may not let you bareboat a large cat, even with your certificate. Getting a bareboat certificate would definitely help. It might be worthwhile giving them a call and asking, but certainly note that you sailed with your dad a while back down there (they will probably want to know what role you played on that trip, etc...). Their basic concerns will be that you don't kill yourself, crew, or others, and that you can bring the boat back safely.

I bareboated out of Union Island some years ago thru Stardust on a 50' sloop and besides the rundown of the boat they give you when you arrive, they are also looking to judge your experience not just in sailing a boat, but in navigating, dealing with currents, map reading, etc. When we returned the boat after a couple of weeks, we came across this guy who did a rather poor job of anchoring this brand new 40 footer and wound up on the rocks during the night.

Sad to see the damage multiply with each wave.

The Caribbean is quite different than sailing in CO as well as the West Coast, which you probably already know from your past trip. You can't beat it for the consistent winds and always being on a reach...

twist&crawl · 04-19-07, 05:44 AM

Oh yeah, forgot something. A good thing to do is to keep a log (salty sailor talk) of your time on the water. Every time you go sailing, write down date, time spent on the water, and type of boat. You'll want to have this info later on when you go for more advanced sailing/boating certification. It counts for licensing. Use a notebook that is dedicated for this or get the US Sailing log book. My kids and I all have them. Of course, my husband has 13 years of sea time, so he is all set.

If you aren't already, start reading SAIL and Cruising World. Good info and all have lots of chartering info.

Once you get on the sailing listserves, you can also find crewing opportunities. People are always looking for crew. There are some specific websites just for crewing opportunities. Sometimes they ask you to "pay to play", but that could be worth it if it is a good enough boat. You get on the boat in one port and get off at the next after a passage. You could ask the skipper to give you a reference afterwards.

You might think about taking a class in Key West. That way you would get your Caribbean experience AND your certification at the same time. Plus, there are some great places to party there anyway!

But seriously, you can come and sail with me next year in San Diego.

A

twist&crawl · 04-19-07, 05:52 AM

Three more things I forgot:

Get your log signed by someone with a commercial license. I'm not sure of the correct rules, so look into it.

There is a really big difference between a 22' sailboat and a +40' sailboat and between a monohull and a cat. On the big boat that you are thinking of sailing, there's a lot of sail area (for instance, my boat's mast is 65' tall). You need to know how to handle those sails. You are also going to need to know how to put the hook down on the sucker and that is bottom type, tide, and wind specific.

Have you thought seriously about a crewed charter to start off with? Yeah, its more expensive, but it might be a whole lot more enjoyable for you. That way you won't be responsible for everyone - and their safety.

A

monniepoo · 04-19-07, 10:03 AM

Where are you going? I have a connection with the Newport Beach Yaht Club. I have a very close friend who charters his 40ft sailboat from there. Just sayin if ya need assistance in that department im your girl

mabrodis · 04-19-07, 12:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IdahoDoug

Mabrodis,

You're doing a terrible job of marketing yourself. I think you need to put your most valuable and compelling asset in the mix here. I can tell there are people here bursting to offer you sailing positions, but like me they're all waiting. They're waiting and waiting to see how much of that freakishly tasty toffee you plan to have over your shoulder in a bag when you step on deck.

DougM

Thought about that...but figured if I mentioned that too much I'd get stuck in the galley..

Quote:

Originally Posted by calphi27

Where are you taking the classes? I was thinking about doing the same thing. I need to get some certification for some carribean sailing.

Victoria Sailing School, their "office" is in Golden I think, but classes are held at I-25 & Colorado Blvd...

http://www.victoriasailingschool.com

Quote:

Originally Posted by monniepoo

Where are you going? I have a connection with the Newport Beach Yaht Club. I have a very close friend who charters his 40ft sailboat from there. Just sayin if ya need assistance in that department im your girl

Well the semi-not-quite planned family trip was going to be somewhere warm...USVI, BVI, Mexico, [insert warm destination]...

I'm fairly certain I could get my dad to come on this family trip also..on our boat, he would most likely be there anyway, but I was thinking of maybe having two boats, me captaining one, him captaining the other...he has chartered boats with no problems, 40-50'.

I'll look more into the bareboat charter cert, maybe fly somewhere for the weekend and get it done..

Thanks for the info guys and gals...

mabrodis · 04-19-07, 04:35 PM

Looks like the Basic Coastal Cruising cert is typically good for up to a 32' boat...and the next class after that would be the Bareboat Charter cert...good for the larger boats...

http://www.harboryc.com/learn-to-sail-san-diego.htm

Ofcourse this is just what should guarantee you a boat, all the people I have been with when chartering boats none of them have had ANY certs of any sort, just experience and never had any problems getting a boat, sometimes they would take someone out for a quick hour-long trip to give them some sort of do-you-know-what-the-hell-you're-doing test, but still no problems.

Hmm..thinking about flying to San Diego to take this:
http://www.harboryc.com/learn-to-sail-vacation.htm

Actually looks like a pretty cool setup..

TheJackRabbit · 04-19-07, 05:28 PM

You want to bare boat charter a 42 foot catamaran and you claim limited experience??? This is not a good idea. The sail area on a boat of this size is fairly large meaning even in a fresh breeze your crew had best be alert! Get into a strong breeze or more and look out!

The 32 footer is a much better idea. Hopefully, it is a fairly stiff boat and not all headsail. Yes, the tropics are known for light balmy breezes but the Caribe can also stand up on its hind legs and shake you like a toy.

The charter skipper class is a good suggestion. You should have one additional able sailor; wife, teenager no matter.

Preperation is the key here, as I am sure you know.

Sorry, no navigable bodies of water in northern New Mexico. I like it that way.

rapovt · 04-19-07, 06:01 PM

I have done 2 week long charters with sunsail , both 35 footers. I have no certification of any kind. I filled out my sailing resume, alot of wingsurfing, hobie cats and some time aboard a j39 and colgate 24. They said okay but we would have to hire a captain for the first day ($150). We headed out of the harbor with a 20-25 knot wind. the first thing the captain said was are you going to reef. I said yes, double. The girlfriend was steering and I was running the sails. waves 5-7 feet , some comming over the bow- what a rush.
I have been down twice and will keep going back. Sunsail and moorings are the 2 big companys. Sunsail has 175 boats and the moorings has more. The hardest thing for me was bringing the boat into a very very tight marina. The first time was terrifying but it was easy after that. You should book your charter through a broker.(no charge to you) I used Ed Hamilton out of Maine. They are awesome.
This is the best vacation I have ever had and very resonable. pm if you have any questions

mabrodis · 04-19-07, 10:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheJackRabbit

You want to bare boat charter a 42 foot catamaran and you claim limited experience???

Well that is the idea...although I'm not going next week..

Will obviously have more experience before chartering that, although we talked about that during our class this evening and the instructor's own experience was that nobody he knows has had any problems chartering a boat in the Caribbean, even 40-50' boats with either no certifications or only minimal ones (some experience yes, but no experience on a boat terribly similar to what they were chartering)...often they were checked out, but after showing they knew right-of-way rules, reefing, anchoring, heaving-to, man-overboard, etc..they were given the boat with no problems...

Class is fun, learning or not, just fun to talk about sailing for 3 hours...

White Shark · 04-19-07, 11:24 PM

You can get a ton of good information and contacts here. Latitude 38 is a free monthly magazine that is available in all of the marinas and boat shops, and is available for free online. San Francisco has a long time sailing heritage and is a world class racing destination since we have good wind year round and a lot of local racers... Even those Oracle / BMW guys....

http://www.latitude38.com/

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