Thanks for all the feedback. I completed and passed my ASA 101 and it was a lot of fun. It was also easier than I first imagined so it seems like my initial worrying were unfounded (or is it because we have a very competent instructor acting as skipper and offering suggestions before we can make serious mistakes?
).
Hope to put in more sailing time from here on till I can feel confident about sailing close to I90 and 520.