Hello

[Stheeb]

Hello everyone.

My girlfriend and I bought our first boat a 1978 Excalibur 26 five years ago and have been day sailing her out of Santa Cruz harbor every since. We want to start cruising but both the boat and my sailing skills need improvement before we get too far from the harbor. This site has already been helpful and I know that I’ve just scratched the surface of what it has to offer. Thanks.

Stephen

[DonScribner]

Steve,

What constitutes a cruise for you? Here in Maine, my wife and I have been "cruising" almost every possible weekend, long weekend and vacation for three years. We don't wander more than 10 miles out, but there are quite a few harbors and islands within out reach. You're probably much more experienced than I am, but my advice would be to just do it. Make the mistakes and get better next time.

[RedtheBear]

The Bears twp cents worth,
Here on the gulf coast we call it "Beach Bouncing". You sail up or down the coast a few hours or a day, find an interesting spot, overnight, and then go on or back or where ever. That's part of why you sail, it's not the destanation, it's the trip! And with every trip you have learned, and one day without even realizing it someone with a new boat will ask you "what constitutes a cruise", and you will answer, "It's the trip".
In those "little" trips you will encounter anchorage problems, bad weather, cold, heat, bad winds, no winds, bad seas, all those things that will be basic to those things that you will encounter if you go ten thousand miles. Yes, there are more and some different problems to be had but you will be more prepared for them because you overnighted so many times, talked to others along the way, read, studied and prepared to go just a little further each time. Take the time to get some of the classes avalible from the CG, Sailing schools, listen to the "elders" at the docks and try, each time to do it better, smoother, cleaner each time. Sailing, cruising, is a never ending learning process with an infinite number of situations. Welcome to the club.

soft breezes and smooth waters to you
Red the Bear.

[TropicCat]

There's no substitution for experience. Continue to get out of the harbor and get your sails up, and you'll soon learn all you need to.