After a considerable time of lurking about the forums, browsing topics and self-educating thru various referred manuals, the time has come to finally write an introduction to the community and even ask for assistance.
Some years ago during one of our many camping / fishing trips my wife (Maria) and I (Adrian) decided that we would both really enjoy cashing it all in, limiting our social / economic liabilities and travel the United States via a small motor home or conversion van as a retirement for as long as we could afford too. The drastic flux of oil prices over the past few years, social / political environment, and changes in ourselves made us realize that it just wouldn’t be “far enough” away to suit our tastes so a new plan was needed. We needed a plan that would be realistically achievable, within our income, and attainable at a “young” enough age to still enjoy (mid thirties currently and retirement at fifty is our goal).
Having an absolute love of the ocean (I miss it horribly) and my wife has a passion for the history of western civilizations a seed formed, learn to sail then fly to Turkey or Greece and buy a cruiser retiring in the Mediterranean? I had served in the United States Navy as a auxiliary machinist on board a Trident submarine and am a machinist by trade so I’m very comfortable with the idea of maintaining my own small vessel (thinking 30-40’ Bavaria for marital bliss reasons) though I’ve no experience to date sailing per say and my wife is more than willing to learn what is needed.
I’ve done limited research into the requirements for an ICC, what courses are available with the ASA and have a timeline with fiscal goals. It is nearing the time where we have to make certain drastic changes to actually start really working on our goal. Our son turns eighteen in two years and we are planning on selling our home and moving to area where the water would be more accessible seeing that we live in Arizona (a small challenge for blue water sailing)… but my wife is has never been out of sight of land before nor sailing though she has been on an ocean fishing charter or two.
It would be fantastic if someone in Southern California wouldn’t mind taking along some ballast for a weekend this spring or summer to wet our feet and ensure that this is something we’d pursue further, I’m not looking for someone to scare her though… no reason to show just how much you can heel
. We’re more than willing to take care of our expenses and assist with shared ones as well and this would certainly be a better experience than chartering an overnight with a paid captain (not to mention cheaper).
Our thanks to all those whom have taken their time to write about their experiences on Sailnet, the often amusing and educational stories have helped us in our decision to go this route should fate allow it and we hope you wish us well in our endeavor.
Adrian & Maria
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