Introductions / How did you find sailFar.net?

[macdiver]

After registering and posting my first post, maybe I should introduce myself.

I am a long time lurker.  I discovered this site last winter while researching pocket cruisers.  I became interested in sailing after a crewed charter in the BVI's last January.  My plan last year was to learn to sail by joining a local club for the weeknight racing.  Work interferred and I was unable to follow my plan.  This year I am planning on taking a course in the spring to learn to sail.  I am still considereing joining a club for racing to continue gaining experience.  Long term I would like to get a boat for weekend and weeklong cruising.  Who knows maybe 10 - 15 years from now I'll retire (early hopefully) to a sailboat.

My other main interest is diving hence my screen name.

Mark

[Frank]

welcome aboard Mark. I think you are on the right track...sailing school is a great start and racing will teach you a lot very quickly. You can sure combine diving and sailing on any holiday. I think you'll love it. WARNING...highly addictive!!

[macdiver]

WARNING...highly addictive!!

I noticed this after my charter cruise.  I have been frequenting several bb's related to sailing for a year now.  And I still haven't really sailed!!!

[CharlieJ]

Welcome aboard. I noticed on your profile you don't list a location. You should do that, or put it on your signature line- you just might live close to someone here who DOES sail and you could possibly get invited to go with them.

At least a general area anyway.

[Ol' Coot]

Welcome aboard Mark!

I just checked Mark's (macdiver's) profile and he's updated to include New Jersey!  k3v1n and I are here year round, and Iceman is a summer resident.  Maybe we should think about a rendevous this summer...

Kevin

[AdriftAtSea]

Welcome Mark... I'd also agree that if you'd indicate what neck of the woods you're in, you might get an invite to go out sailing.

[macdiver]

k3v1n and I are here year round, and Iceman is a summer resident.  Maybe we should think about a rendevous this summer

This sounds like a good idea to me.  Am I correct in assuming that you guys are down the shore?

[Anton]

My name's Anton, I saw the Capn's link to this site at Renegades and followed it, so here I am...where's the food and free beer?  ;D

I'm on my third sailboat and second liveaboard, the past ten years work took me to the midwest and an episode of bad health made me take a work break, meanwhile I had started a little Net business.  Then I thought "you know, I could live aboard a boat again, save some money and just plug in at a dock and semi retire and do the Net thing..."  Just then my landlord decided to double our rent  (Katrina hurricane was indirectly responsible for that, a long story)...I decided it was a sign and started looking for a sailboat I could liveaboard, cheap.

And here I is!  Going on six months.  Boat needs lots of $TLC$ and my work is cut out for me.  It's getting done...I want out of Florida!  At least out of the St. John's river...LOL

[Captain Smollett]

Welcome Aboard, Anton.  I don't have a beer handy, but here's a grog for ya!

[Anton]

MMMM...GROG... Anton like Grog...LOL

[AdriftAtSea]

Welcome Anton. 

What boat do you have or are you still looking for a small liveaboard??

[Captain Smollett]

Check out his Sig:  1977 Hunter 27 named Wind Dancer.

If it had been a snake - it would have bit ya!   ;D

[AdriftAtSea]

Check out his Sig:  1977 Hunter 27 named Wind Dancer.

If it had been a snake - it would have bit ya!   ;D

LOL

that it would'a... :)

[Bubba the Pirate]

Another long time lurker, my name is Todd.   

I am stuck in South Bend, IN for now.   I am looking very seriously at Pearson Tritons and Albin Vegas.   I hope to be back on the water by April Fools Day.  :o)

I nearly sailed a Chrysler Mutineer to death with my dad way back when and into my 30's.   I lived on an Irwin 25 in FL for about 20 months [didn't sail it nearly enough].   Then, while I was still in FL, I had a Southern 21 for a while.   I sailed it a lot.   

12 years later and I've never gotten the salt water out of my veins.   I've been dying to get back for a long time. 


TrT

[AdriftAtSea]

Getting out of Indiana would be a good start... Welcome to sailfar.  :D

[Anton]

Todd, I was in almost exactly the same "boat"...stated sailing on the west coast in the 70's, lived aboard and hopped around the Gulf during the 80's, in the 90's due to advice from a bit...errr...friend of mine who said I had to live a "more normal" life, I took a job that made me relocate to the midwest.  6700ft, 35mph winds that last for weeks, up to my azz in snow, dreaming about sailboats and sunny beaches, and one day last year my landlord decides he's doubling everybody's rent in a month.  Before rent day rolled around I was stepping onto a TLC special in S FL with a suitcase in one hand and a duffelbag in the other.  That simple.  In six months, what I paid for this boat, versus my rent in Colorado, even with my bills and slip rate the boat paid for itself.

Like the jump instructor says, "Take one step forward and commit yourself"...LOL

[K3v1n]

Someone say New Jersey?!

Yes I'm still here froze to death!

Oh, I've changed my name from K3v1n to my boats name.
Just in case you were wondering.

A Jersey rendezvous would be cool.

-Kevin

[Captain Smollett]

what I paid for this boat, versus my rent in Colorado, even with my bills and slip rate the boat paid for itself.

Hi, Anton, I found it interesting you mention Colorado.  We currently live in SC, with it's relatively low cost of living, and were planning to move back to CO within five years (of two years ago).  My wife and I "dreamed" of our ideal place in the Glenwood Springs area.  The plan would have been to trailer sail Lake Powell and maybe Dillon to keep the boat bug at bay.

Then I looked at house/property costs out there, and I just had to conclude "there is no way."  We'd be in debt up to our eyeballs for pretty much the rest of our lives to pay for the house + land we wanted - not outlandish wants for a family of four.  Instead, we bought a cruising boat that we had the cash for.  We are not living aboard (haven't even taken possession of the 'new' boat yet) but are STILL coming out cheaper than CO.  Too bad; it's a beautiful place.

Small world, eh?

[Anton]

For a place with no ocean it's pretty nice.  I floated around thru Montana, WY and CO, if you want cheap land there's still cheap undeveloped property in WY, but many people won't sell unless you're buying at least 100 acres or more. No water anywhere you can't walk across, for the most part.

I missed the salt water fishing, really bad.  In WY especially any creek wider than your hand was full of brook trout, you can catch buckets of them...but I can't stand trout period.  Pink mush.  Loved the deer and rabbit hunting, best I've ever seen.

[Bubba the Pirate]

Todd, I was in almost exactly the same "boat"...

. . . Like the jump instructor says, "Take one step forward and commit yourself"...LOL

Thanks!   I am committed to making the move.   Not the most sane thing, but after a divorce and other assorted poop, I'm cashing out the 401(k) as soon as my profit sharing gets paid in about three weeks.   Those will finance a boat, making some updates, do some work, and sail off.   

TrT