Introduction and first question

Will Gilmore · Jul 10, 2020

Hi Chris,
Welcome to our awesome little group. It sounds like you have an exciting retirement planned. Sailing is one of the best adventures you could choose.

You sound like you have thought things through and are making some good choices already. Hey, you joined SBO,

point made.

As far as your immediate question, I'm sorry, I have little to offer. Bring some Dramamine or Scopolamine, but I would think the ASA course would cover all things sailing specific.

If you have a favored PFD, bring that

-Will (Dragonfly)

Captain Larry-DH · Jul 10, 2020

Welcome, Chris.
First and foremost- make sure your first mate (or admiral) feels that she can bring the boat to a safe port if something were to happen to you. It will go a long way towards making her feel comfortable and confident aboard. It’s her boat too. Couples tend to settle into roles, so that means you need to regularly switch roles with her when navigating, docking, sail handling, learning how to use electronics, decisions about crossing courses other boats, etc.
As for your question about “gear”; If your boat is 30’ plus I recommend you buy a set of Sena SPH 10 headset intercoms. AKA “marriage savers”. When working as a team when docking, anchoring, lifting a dinghy using a halyard, etc. it eliminates shouting and facilitates nuanced communication you wouldn’t have otherwise.
Many people will say “real sailors use hand signals” but we used hand signals for more than 30 years and let me tell you this is money well spent. (BTW these are not cheap for a pair, but they work really well and they are full-duplex (which means you can both talk at the same time) unlike cheap units that cut out one person while the other talks. They are also good at minimizing wind noise interference.

Charlie Jones s/v Tehani · Jul 10, 2020

Welcome aboard- I sat out a hurricane tied up in a creek off Mobjack back in 2011. Some very interesting sailing in that area.

kloudie1 · Jul 11, 2020

Welcome, Salty.. Sounds like you guys are doing the right things to start another adventure!! The classes will reveal the things that you'll need.. a lot of stuff is "comfort" stuff that is personal.. for instance, I have to have my coffee in the morning and the type of pot/brewer is critical .. I use an old French drip pot but many folks use a French press or a little vacuum pot..
Good to have ya aboard!!

sailme88 · Jul 11, 2020

Reading your post, your request was for "personal gear". My offering will be just that. Your clothing should be athletic in nature. Something that readily dries and can wick moisture away. 2 pairs for each of you will allow washing one wearing the other. A great feature in many outdoors clothing sets now id UV protection and zip off legs..Stay away from cotton, Fleece is great for warmth. Because it's made from recycled plastic bottles it sheds water quickly. Outer layer needs to be breathable. Foul weather with ventilation IS essential. Reinforcement in critical areas ( knees, elbows, butt) is also a top priority. Positive locking cuffs as well. Don't forget a goos sun screen and a wide brim hat. AND... when trying on that foul weather gear, don't forget the PFD... It needs to function with the gear...

rgranger · Jul 11, 2020

Welcome

I also have a great loop fantasy and have read a few books on the subject... from what I can tell from my research ....you choose to do this in a sailboat you will need to think about a boat that can easily instep the mast and then transport the mast on deck for a stretch.

rgranger · Jul 11, 2020

BTW I lived 26 years in central VA and trailered my boat to the Chesapeake and/or the outer banks every summer.
Great choice

BigEasy · Jul 11, 2020

Chris,
First, welcome aboard. Ask anything here, after researching the archives, and I am certain that you’ll get a diverse response. I think that was very smart move to enroll you & especially your wife in sailing lessons from the start. Nothing like learning in a controlled & methodical manner, without the mayhem. After completing the ASA103 course, you will be “certified”, but not necessarily experienced enough to charter 30 something foot boats. Definitely different from sailing a sun fish because of all the systems on board. And, you will be instructed about those systems in the 103 course.
My understanding is that you asked about items to bring aboard for your live aboard course. The sailing school should provide a list of essential items to bring. Keep in mind that they will ask you to pack lightly because other students and captain will be on board ....there will be minimal storage space available. A small duffle bag with a couple changes of clothes & toiletry kit will be adequate. Also bring a light weight rain suit and perhaps a very lightweight sleeping bag, if allowed. As others have suggested, be sure to bring a hat & cap as well as sun screen. Because your wife will be doing her course in late October, the weather will be quite different, and she will will have to layer appropriately as compared to your August trip. Ask the school about PFDs, there will be USCG required pfds on board. Depending on weather forecast & your swimming ability, I would bring an inflatable PFD, one that has sewn on metal rings on which to attach a teather for future outings in rough weather. Don’t forget your headphones if you want to listen to some tunes at night while relaxing or studying for the ASA exam, sometimes given onboard. Ask the school about bringing your favorite alcoholic beverage for consumption at night while anchored or at the dock, some allow it & some don’t. Also ask them to send the ASA book a few weeks before the actual course so that you will have ample time to prepare before getting on board. Each ASA course has numerous learning objectives; that’s what you will be tested on. Have fun!

shemandr · Jul 11, 2020

If you can beg borrow or steal a dry bag I think you will find it useful. If it rains, and it usually does, the cabin will become wet. It will dry out but it will be nice to have dry clothes to change into. More so in October than August. Also you're electronics will be safe in it. Kudos for taking the course separately. I tell folks not to try to teach their wives to snow ski. Let a Ski Instructor do that and stay friends.

rgranger · Jul 11, 2020

shemandr said:
I tell folks not to try to teach their wives to snow ski. Let a Ski Instructor do that and stay friends.

Oh SNAP! I made that mistake. It ended in tears... it was on our honeymoon. Somehow we are still together 30 years later but I'm still not sure how I pulled that off.

Tedd · Jul 11, 2020

Welcome aboard, @Salty Cracker .

I'll never forget the advice a padre gave me while preparing for a field exercise during basic training: "Any idiot can be uncomfortable." Little luxuries, like coffee (as others have suggested), can make a big difference. But keep it to one or two that are important to you. I would imagine that space is pretty limited when you're on one of those courses.

Regarding PFDs, my wife and I bought Mustang inflatables years ago, when we had an airplane that we regularly crossed water with. We use them on the boat now, and love them. They're expensive, but worth it if you're in the game for a long time.

dlochner · Jul 11, 2020

rgranger said:
Oh SNAP! I made that mistake. It ended in tears... it was on our honeymoon. Somehow we are still together 30 years later but I'm still not sure how I pulled that off.

Maybe because there isn't much snow in Charleston or Alabama? And you took up sailing instead?

Kings Gambit · Jul 11, 2020

Hi Salty Cracker,
Welcome to SBO, and congratulations on your plans! As for personal gear useful on deck for an overnights trip (I’m assuming), a small personal flashlight is a very handy item. If you normally use reading glasses, better bring them as well for seeing, inspecting, or manipulating small items like shackle pins or rings in dim light. The boat may have its own set of binoculars; but then again, it may not. I‘ve found common-use ones to be of low quality, and thus not “user friendly.“ If you’re going to be sailing much you’ll need a good pair of your own binoculars. It’s better now if they are not big and heavy. So, I would not get the 7x50 Fujinon Polaris right now. Something smaller in the 7x30 or 8x30 sizes. Also, a belt-tool is good. One of those multi-function types you can get at ACE; foldable, with the pliers. BTW. Since you and your wife are going to be on separate ASA trips, you wouldn’t need any talkie gear right now (if ever).

Hope this helps. The list could get quite long!

BigEasy · Jul 11, 2020

Kings Gambit said:
Hi Salty Cracker,
Welcome to SBO, and congratulations on your plans! As for personal gear useful on deck for an overnights trip (I’m assuming), a small personal flashlight for each of you is a very handy item.

The ASA 103 course, "basic coastal cruising" does not include an overnight sailing experience; however, weather permitting, you might anchor overnight . King's flashlight recommendation is a good one or your smart phone's flashlight app will suffice. Speaking of smart phones, be sure to bring your charger. Ask the school if the boat has a DC charging adaptor for recharging in the event that you are anchored without provisions for your AC charger.
Also, be sure to bring sailing gloves as you will be doing quite a bit of tacking, jibing, and MOB drills.

jssailem · Jul 11, 2020

Welcome Salty.
As you can see our groups is full of helpful hints. We all hope your first experiences are positive so we pay it forward.

I find it nice to have gear I know when traveling on another boat. So I invested in a PFD. The dry bag suggestion was sneaky valuable. Nothing ever is fun when your wet and cold and have another 30 minutes on watch. The training center will likely share the minimum suggested requirements, but to distill it down, where what will be comfortable in wet and dry, warm and cold conditions. Out on the water in August can be sweltering while October can have frost in the air. Wet in cotton in 45 degrees is not good just like heavy weight water proof dry suit in August would be a sauna unbearable.

Since this is experimental by nature you want to choose clothing that you can wear even if you decide that sailing is not for you after the training.

Dry socks.. Nothing like them to put on after the Midnight to 4AM watch when your struggling to get into your sleeping bag to stop shivering.

Have fun and enjoy the new experiences. Let us know how it goes and share pictures of your successes and not so much...

BigEasy · Jul 11, 2020

Last but not least,
some items taken from my list when I used to charter several years ago.

Chap stick & sunscreen, Medications
lightweight sleeping bag or sheets/pillowcase, 2 bath towels/wash cloths
Wind breaker type jacket, long sleeve "t"s or UV shirt , sunglasses & strap
bug repellant, gloves
cap/hat phone & charger
light weight rain gear, boat shoes, shower sandals ( for showering ashore)
PFD

Kings Gambit · Jul 11, 2020

BigEasy said:
...or your smart phone's flashlight app will suffice.

I must disagree. Attempting to use an expensive smartphone as a flashlight on deck if doing anything important, or even at all, is folly, IMHO. Leave the smartphone in your bag for use below deck, You may suddenly need your flashlight-hand to grab & hold something to keep from tripping or falling in. Flashlight should have a wrist lanyard. Think “simplicity“ when doing tasks on a sailboat. Many tasks have to be addressed or completed with one hand only free.

rgranger · Jul 11, 2020

dlochner said:
Maybe because there isn't much snow in Charleston or Alabama? And you took up sailing instead?

I move around a lot. Lived in many places.

Ron20324 · Jul 11, 2020

rgranger said:
I move around a lot. Lived in many places.

Statute of limitations is my guess ?

Introduction and first question

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SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John

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