Newbie or Old Salt?

[CaptEdTeach]

sailing again - after a pause

I started sailing when I was nine at a church camp. I continued to sail until I found motorsports and my need for speed increased thru motocross, karts, drag cars/boats then road racing. I bought a sailboat again a few years ago and have had LOTS of boats since then. The need for speed is now satisfied by BeachCats. I JUST got back from Navarre Beach FL where we were racing in 25-30 knts!!! OH yeah I have a nice Saleen Mustang for sale CaptEdTeach

 

[Chris]

Youngin'

Alright, I'll speak up for the younger crowd. My ownership experience is 1.5 years with only the last 2 monthes of that being on the water. After graduating from college, I needed a project for non-work time. I bought a 1963 Oday Mariner in bad shape for less than the cost of a can of paint! After extensive refit and a few sailing lessons, I've got her proudly floating in Boston Harbor. Lots of great sun, introducing other young newbies to sailing, and unbelievable sense of accomplishment. Plus always looking to check out crewing opporunities on different/bigger boats in the area (drop me a line!)Cheers,Chrissportsguy2114@hotmail.com

 

[Bruce Trotter]

Gray beard/ Weatherd face/ New salt

I am 63 and semi-retired and just took up sailing in June this year. I have a friend who sailed around south America with his wife and two daughters and he got me interested in sailing. I attended a seminar on sailing in June and by July I had a Mac 25 that had not been sailed in two years. I am slowly getting her in shape.

 

[Stan Glover]

can't get enough salt

At 17 I joined the Navy, 3 months later I was in Scotland on my first tour of duty. In 1989 I found a passion for canvas on a hobbie cat in Pensacola. In 1996 I bought my first boat a 1976 hunter 30 from the original owner, spent every penny I had fixing her up. In 1994 I met the most wonderful woman, she loves the sea and she even loves me, our two kittens Snow and Boxer think so too it must be why they lick my face so much. In 1997 we got married on our second boat a hunter 40 and its going on 5 blissful years of good times and lots of salt espesially with our margaritas. With 3 years to retirement we opted for a tour of duty in Oahu Hawaii, and with hopes that the bank will approve our loan request for a Beneteau 50 coming out of charter, we intend to transport her to San Diego CA and sail here to Hawaii from there. far winds and following seas Stan and Rita Glover

 

[Paul Nebeling]

Searching for my lost shaker

Well, I've owned my boat for five years now. I'm probably going to have a boat until I die. After 20 years in the Navy, I've got saltwater in my veins.

 

[r.w.landau]

In the BLOOD

Thanks to all that have contributed. It is posts like this, that I like to wait so I can read the heart of all those people touched with the boating bug. I do believe that water and being near it is something that is in or gets into your blood.It is a passion! It motivates the day..... even in the winter. My wife says I am possessed. I tell her this can only be from God. The love of being near water. The respect of what the weather can do.The respect of how a sea can go from still to a rage! The peace it brings to troubled souls. The desire to share it!I have had boating in my life from 3 months after my birth. Dad was as possessed as I am now (at 48). He taught Power Squadron and was Commander in 1963. He had the drive to be a charter member of a branch Power Squadron here in Pittsburgh. He is 79 now. We just got back from a trip to the Dry Tortugas. He Is still pretty healthy. My heart goes out to those who have that BOATING (water) Bug that can no longer participate in the activity of boating!I dread the day that I am not physically capable of boating. May your memories fill your your desire.New or old, fair or grey, I think the SALT is something that draws us all! r.w.landau

 

[Jim A]

Always learning

30 years of sailing and I learn sometime every time I go out and everytime I talk to another sailor!

 

[Jim]

Long time..................

While in training to become a Naval Aviator, I was a guest at the Pensacola Yacht Club, where the members graciously allowed me and fellow pilots to crew. Caught the bug, and have been sailing since 1956. Still fly, ski, and sail!

 

[Jenny]

Pure seawater in my veins

I have been sailing since I was 3. My Dad, who grew up on a ranch in Wyoming, joined the Navy at 16 because he 'had to see the ocean', moved our family from Boulder, CO, to Long Island in 1957 and bought an 18' Cape Cod Knockabout before we even had a place to live! By the time I was strong enough to raise the main by myself, I knew every inch of that boat, inside and out. We scraped and caulked and painted her every spring, one year even replacing a 10' section of keel and steaming in new ribs to stiffen her up. I have since sailed everything from sailboards to Windjammers in 4 Oceans and numerous bays and lakes, anything and anywhere I have the opportunity - it's an addiction that I have no desire to kick.

 

[Henry Barousse]

How I started

I had always had an interest in sailing, but had never had access to opportunity. Actually, I thought it was limited to wealthy folks in the northeast. While serving in the Army in Vietnam in 1969, I visited a Special Services facility on an inland lake where Sunfish sailboats were available for use by military personnel. I got out on the lake in a Sunfish, and soon got the hang of how to make the boat go where I wanted it to go. I was hooked. As soon as I returned home to Baton Rouge in 1970, I found a used sailing dinghy, sloop rigged and have not been without a sailboat since.

 

[John Dorowski]

New Adventure

I've raced cars, rode motorcyles, skied (snow)and generally enjoyed a youth with only the water missing.I began sailing about 2 yrs ago, in an Optimist Pram, and then a few months later moved to our O'Day 222.I'd thought for many years that I would like to live aboard a sailing vessel, but with all my traveling, I put off the very thing I longed for.Now it seems, that as time passes I only get closer to my goal of living aboard. First came learning to sail, which, in all it's wisdom seems to be very important. The maintenance and care comes easy for me, and the love of it all is truly from the heart.Maybe soon it will be a sail off the coast to Costa Rica.....but first! a little more experience.fair, balmy winds to all. See you at sea.

 

[Rick]

Isn't it a State of Mind?

Ihave agreay beard, and grey/black hair (what's left ogf it, anyway!), been sailing since 1986, an owner sincee '88, have sailed inthe BVI, California, New England, and Great Lakes.As for the state of mind thing, EVERY time I go out, Iget the thrill of my first time, but I'm somewhat wiser now. Every time I try and learn something new. So, I guess that makes me an older, sailor who's kinda new at most of it (can you ever learn ALL there is to know???)

 

[Brian Blevins]

bald headed graying bearded salt

Been power boating and sailing all my life.all over the east coast and some inland lakes and up the chattahoochie river.gotta go now the water is calling..........

 

[Scott Mathey]

Pain Related

Learning to sail was a pain related inspiration for me. Around 38 I would camp and waterski for the weekend and by the end of then trip I would end up so sore that the next few days I would be singing the blues. The pain became more and more substancial the older I got, I am now almost 46. One day while laying on the dock in pain from too much water skiing I observed a sail boat go by and the people looked relaxed and, well,not in pain. They were a little older than me so i am thinking that looks like fun. Another thing I liked about it is the fact that sailors must posess a great deal more nautical knowledge than steering a boat and giving it the gas. The next year I sold my jet boat and bought a Hunter sailboat and have never looked back. My wife loves sailing and together we have learned a great deal. As they all say you never finish learning with sailing. I have learned how to sail from a harsh teacher, the lake I sail is very ghusty and I have mastered how to get the most out of my boat and the times I end up over powered the Hunter rounds up, forgives me, and off we go.Every time out is an adventure and a learning experience, We love it. In my teens and twentys I raced snow skiing and motorcycles and I can say that sailing has been a good replacement for the adrenalin missing from my life. Will be moving to Brookings Oregon within two years so the sailing season will remain a year round sport for us, can't wait!!. Love to hear from all of you on this 9-11-02, Take Care. Scott and Kathy.

 

[David Underwood]

My beard is grey, but my heart is....

still young.. as young as when I started sailing when I was 19 yrs old, now at 48 I'm still going strong. I have sailed one type of boat or another thur all these years, with the size growing til my present boat, Freebird.. a 1982 Hunter 33 which I have owned for 20 yrs now. She is just the right size for me and I plan to keep her. Sailing is my sanity.. sure beats the Dr.'s couch.

 

[Carol M. Davis]

a teenager up before the sun

At tiny crater Mountain Lake in north eastern Pennsylvania in the 1950's and 60's, no motor craft were allowed. So those of us there learned to sail, grateful for something to do. But more than a few of us took to sailing with a real zest, in part because our main teacher was an old salt, Lou Cerlian, who loved it, and taught us to love it as well. We even created a SunFish from a kit one year. My best memories were when Sir Louis and I would get up before the sun and talk about sailing, and practice knots and just be together waiting for the first breeze to come over the mountains. Now I have my first boat, an O'Day 23, docked just outside my front door on Parkview Island in Miami Beach. And below...a picture of Sir Louis, a great surrogate dad.

 

[Ron Keller]

Prevail

Boating, power, sail and canoe for over 60 years, the last 12 or so sailing Prevailon on Long Island Sound. I guess that makes me and "Old Salt".Anyone interested in purchasing a 1983 catalina 36 please go to www.soundsail.com

 

[Gary]

Lightly Salted

I have been sailing for about 6 years, and I was 45 years old when I started sailing. I may have the gray beard but I am still new to sailing started in a 16' Newport an now in a 22' Catilina next maybe a 30' Catalina.

 

[Jerry]

Old Salt

I sailed on friend's boats in San Fransico MANY years ago. I took an ASA certification course 17 years ago. Career and family took priority. I should have managed to follow my lust for adventure anyway. So, I'm retired and bought my 1st sailboat this summer at the age of 66. We're doing great. (I wish the stock market wasn't so bad but, what the heck! We're all gonna die someday anyway).Physically (and mentally) I'm in great shape so the challenge is to learn as much as possible in as short a time as possible and still have fun and patience. We have great sailing friends (currently on the way from Hawaii to New Zealand) who have been very helpful.The message is to get out there and do it and don't wait. This is tons of fun and it isn't really as hard as it's sometimes portrayed.

 

[Alex]

Medium salt..

I am sailing/boat owner for 15 years now , 'growing up' from windsurfing ( another 10 years), which I first started at the age of 30.It's not the same , I wish I could keep on both,which I did for a while , but money ,and time needed for them , dictated eventually to choose one of them..But from the very beginning till now I never been less than once a week(but mostly twice..) in-and later on-the water..Starting with a 27 footer racer-cruiser, I own now a 37 feet cruising sailboat , doing regattas, weekend with the family , and once or twice a year some real offshore.I am happy with that..