for john nentz
thanks again!no dead serious - life is ful of challenges and this one of them and i can assure tempered determination for one of my lifetime challenges is this one. took my 1932 b.s.a. m/bike on a 5500 mile hike round europe one time to expain a little more. told i was mad when starting to plan as well.early febuary doing a 17 week course at united kingdom sailing academy at cowes, isle of wight, england. actually quite a formidable syllabus including training in scuba to check bottom of the hull, etc., etc. leads to u.k. license to take up to 12 passengers on up to 24 metre sailboat. called royal yachting association yachtmaster offshore certificate with maritime and coast guard agency commercial endorsement.if of interest the academy is easily found with very detailed website with comprehensive description of the syllabus and some ten or so contributory statuatory body exams, etc.i know, sir, like many who have read and/or replied to my original post, i apear green to the challenge and until i have fulfiled the challenge this i will admit not only to myself, yourself and anyone else who knows what they are talking about.but gathering the confidence to do it, asking the right questions and finding out the information including resourses is perhaps the hardest work. the confidence is accumulating slowly!yes, anyone can pass an exam. application of the knowledge and skills ensuing are another matter and such as the course i am taking will only satisfy building a skeleton of what is necessary for my at present mid-life challenge. yes a fair bit of coastal pottering the last five years but several years of teen-age serious dinghy on heavy tides, etc. on the south coast of britain. hence boat handling and everything learnt in thos formative years well and firmly established to stand in great advantage to those of my 'big boat' years.friend of mine in britain who has done several long distance blue water trips skippering told me that if i found out all for myself, he will come with me.his attitude being 'be cruel to be kind' - i.e. put me through the mill and learn as much as possible for myself and get as much done as posible for myself and prove my determination.so, yes, i do not profess to be anything more than green to the challenge. four weeks will get me on track for most i have to know - if not the experience! a steady rush this coming 2002 - too much of the world to do and see.only to add re this sort of thing that perhaps being fairly capable in the past atheletically and a man who has worked the hills and dales of great britain for the living and the extreme pinnacles of the alps for relaxation during storm and tempest, i have found the challenges offered by tub and towel more luring every day.i hope that i may have cleared some of the impressions that may have been read into my original message. in any case, i have always found that modesty can be one's greatest attribute.please, sir, and anyone one else who can help to push myself and our boat in the right direction all knowledge and experience will be greatly appreciated.barnes and noble among other sources have ther orders to be picked up - or at least those i believe to be the right ones so far - but more please on this front as well.yours sincerely,ted.please, sir,