Just introducing myself...

[TheScott]

I'm in the Houston area, just moved here after graduating from grad school--trying to start both a new career and a new hobby (sailing). I did a little sailing in Lake Travis in Austin when I lived there, and have been windsurfing a few times and love it. I figured it was time to try sailing "for real" and with Galveston Bay right up the road and being a stone's throw away from the Gulf appears to give me plenty of options.

I just finished ASA 101 today, and I'm looking for more ways to get out on the water whenever and in whatever capacity possible. I'm not so much in the boat-buying mood yet because I just don't have enough experience to commit that much money to this new hobby, but it's of course fun to shop and dream.

It sounds like we have a decent Houston sailing community, which is awesome. Any tips to get some more time out on the water? I'm dropping hints with everyone remotely connected with the sport, so maybe I'll get invited out on a boat so I can break in my sailing gloves a bit more.

Thanks for being such a great community--based on the threads I've read so far, I can tell I'll be visiting these forums quite a bit.

Scott

[smackdaddy]

Hey Scott - welcome to SN dude. I sail in Travis myself. There are several people on SN in the Houston area - so keep at it, you'll find a ride.

[merlin2375]

Welcome to sailnet.

If you want to get out and learn a ton in a hurry, I have one word for you: race. Put your name out there to crew for races and you should be able to get out there and learn a ton from many experienced folks

[TheScott]

Thanks for the tips. If anyone knows a good place to put my name out there for racing in the Houston/Galveston Bay area, let me know. That sounds like exactly what I'm looking for.

Scott

[Sailormon6]

Originally Posted by TheScott

Thanks for the tips. If anyone knows a good place to put my name out there for racing in the Houston/Galveston Bay area, let me know. That sounds like exactly what I'm looking for.

Scott

Scott,

Do a Google search for "Houston, Texas sailboat racing". You'll get lots of websites for clubs that sponsor racing in the Houston area. Some of them probably have places where you can sign up to serve as race crew.