[TheBlackPearl]

Hi friends! I've been lurking around these fourms for the past year or so and after browsing again this morning i thought i'd post this and see if i can't gather some interest.

First of all, for those who don't know me. the name's Tim. I'm still a bit fresh in my years, 25 to be exact; and i've grown up on boats most of my life. Actually i'm one of the few around who can say that i've been at one marina for 23 years! My boating history is condensed into sailboats mostly, with my folks making the switch on the last one to a 42' Sea Ray. Now that i'm able to jump into the sailing life, i sold my Bayliner runabout 2 years ago for a 1980 cutter-rigged 37' Hunter. I've put an awful lot of miles under my belt in the past two years including the run across "the big lake" in pea-soup fog and waves that i'd not soon care to remember (day 3 of owning the boat). Anyway... over the next two years i intend to raise my skill level, and the preparedness of my Hunter to make what i think will be the trip of a lifetime.

I'll be in a situation where i can afford to have the boat paid off and a decent enough "kitty" saved up to take off about 12 months (or so) and take the loop south down to the Florida Keys and ....? I decided to post this hoping to hear some advice from those with more experience as to how i can use the next two years to better prepare myself, knowledge, skill, whatever...wise.

I know one of the first responses will be the ASA/whomever sailing courses. While they may be absolutley wonderful, i am most definatley the guy who hates "school". Perhaps thats best illustrated by the "crash course in sailing" of taking off across Lake Michigan in the remnants of a spring storm just after becoming a "sailboat owner" (one is a sailboat owner until they have properly demonstrated such skill level as to be considered a true "sailor"). I already have planned two trips for next year on the Chicago/Mackinac loop, as it provides the best dry run around here for long-distance openwater sailing. I've made numerous trips up and down the coast of Lake Michigan, probably in the ballpark of 500-700 miles in all kinds of weather except storms. I'm still paranoid about big wind/black skies and i know thats something i'll have to deal with.

I'm going to be singlehanding this "adventure". As i haven't found a woman who i'll give this up for (or one capable enough of coming along!), and i haven't found anyone else that can take the time off. Theres discussion about a couple of capable sailors who will join me at different places for a week or two, but what are some of the subtle nuances of single-handed life that i haven't been able to dream up? Clever docking tips? Etc?

I'm also looking for anyone who has done the trip, or who is thinking about doing it in the timeframe that i'm playing around with. Looking for travelling buddies, etc.

And on that note i'll end with one final lighthearted question. I have most definately been aground in a powerboat (we'll leave the conversation of how amazing i think it is that a Bayliner survived a 45+MPH-to-0 grounding for another time), but i'm curious as if either of the following scenarios qualifys as being "aground" in our world.
#1 - while entering the channel at the marina, found a small area of roughly 4' depth (i draw just over 5'5") and the boat lurched upwards significantly (while throwing me into the helm) and heeled over twoards starboard enough to make me lose my glass sitting on the deck, though we didn't stop, we did come to a rather abrupt slow.
#2 - During my big mechanical breakdown which caused me to ram the rock breakwall at our marina, full throttle reverse, and bend the rudder over itself, not only did we hit the breakwall, but we also wound up on a shoal. Although still bobbing up and down between buoyancy and the bottom, the marina tender was able to pull us into a nearby slip.
So do those qualify as being "aground"? =)

I look forward to your replies!
-Tim