Thrill seeking, Bubahide?
Hey, you're still a youngster! This may be heretical to say in this forum so I'll whisper it ... windsurfing ... kite sailing *x There are few better places to learn than right in your home state. Take a trip to the Outer Banks and look up the professionals in Avon to get you started. Get yourself a sound front rental home for a week anytime from now until the end of June. Bring your kayaks along so your wife can paddle out and laugh at you (or you at her) while you're learning! The upside of the these sports: these are the only sailing activities that have exactly the same adrenaline rush that you get from sports like skiing, snowboarding or whitewater kayaking. When you harness the wind on a windsurfer, believe me, you know it. Think of the rush you experience on Class III or IV whitewater. It's the same on a short sailboard, sailing at speeds up to 35 MPH with carving turns and aerials possible in waves or flat water for even the recreational enthusiast. I've owned a Hobie Cat and liked sailing it for the speed, but it doesn't come close to windsurfing in this regard. Besides, I got tired of flipping it when single handed and enjoyed it far more with a crewmate (actually, that's a plus for the Hobie). The downsides: the learning curve is very long and steep, and many people never even come close to getting past the intermediate abilities. You have to be athletic, agile and willing to suffer extreme embarrassment (just like a newbie to whitewater kayaking) while looking like a total geek when you're learning. Upper body strength and exceptional balance have a significant role in the early phases, but the importance of brute strength diminishes greatly once you learn balance; however, overall conditioning is always very important. Before you get to experience the thrills from a short board, you will need to learn on a long board, which is like a tandem sea kayak in a pond in comparison to whitewater. It may be different if you talk to the pros about kite sailing, maybe the thrill factor comes more easily (for me it was an easy transition after years of windsurfing). Windsurfing can be a bit of a loners sport because you are always doing it alone, even if you have friends around. Your wife can get real bored on the beach if she doesn't want to participate. This is the main reason I have been turning away from the sport. So give it some thought if the thrill is what you are seeking. Otherwise, a cruising sailbaoat is a fantastic way to kick back and really enjoy some peace and happiness, while getting that sense of freedom that is unique to sailing. My goal is to cruise on a beautiful sailboat, and have the kites stored on board (kite sailing gear is much more compact than windsurfing gear) for the occasions when anchored in a high wind location. Right now, we are just getting started on our 27' Starwind with shoal draft lead keel, that is perfect for our lake in New Jersey. Just an alternative thought. Good luck!
