Looking for suggestions

[TomScanlan]

Thanks, folks, for the info, and laughs. Until I heal up just a bit more I'll be reading from some of your recommendations. After that, I'll be heading from Kentucky out to Florida to find a cheap hotel with a weekly rate.... or possibly a hostel. While there, I'll rent a small boat for a bit. Assuming I don't kill myself or wish I were dead from sea sickness, I'll make friends and influence them into inviting me along on bigger boats. When I start feeling my saline content go up, I'll start looking for crew positions on delivery runs or lonely cruisers.

Do any Floridians (heck, I guess non-Floridians could have a favorite, too) have recommendations for a location in Florida that would be good for me?

[max-on]

Originally Posted by bobmcgov

(There is an absurd tendency on this board to discourage from sailing anyone who is not an experienced sailor. One suspects the doomsayers were once beginners too -- although perhaps they were born 'dry behind the ears,' dunno.)

Are you serious?? What, did you take a self-righteous pill and need to give yourself a pat on the back?

A part of me is offended by the statement; and yet, another part of me says: what the F*&% do I care what he thinks!

[bobmcgov]

Look, Max-on. The OP didn't write: "Hi! I just bought a Hunter sight-unseen on eBay. I'm going to head off around the world in a couple weeks, but I've never sailed before. Do you have any last-minute advice?"

He asked if moving to Florida and learning to sail by crewing with others is a feasible idea. And some long-time boarders jumped his s**t -- most especially TB, who is usually pretty friendly. This IS the "Learning to Sail" forum, isn't it? Beginners are often advised on SailNet to sail on other people's boats until they gain experience, aren't they? So why was everybody stomping on this guy for what seemed like a reasonable programme?

The Lords o'the Board can come off as overbearing and negative sometimes, and I'm not one to cower under their disapproving frown. You learn to sail by sailing, not from books, not from internet discussion boards, not from groveling at the feet of the Old Masters whilst pearls of wisdom drop from their lips. All those are fine resources, but I think the OP's got a positive approach and a smart plan and should be encouraged rather than pontificated at.

Better?

[TrueBlue]

Yeah Bob, I'm usualy more friendly to these "Hey, I think I'd like to try sailing, where do I go to bum a ride" type newbies. But this one just reeked troll.

Kiss up to him, but don't say I didn't warn ya.

[sailingdog]

Bob-

There's a huge difference between a beginning sailor, who knows the difference between a mainsail and a jib, and the difference between a sheet and a halyard... and someone who has never set foot on a sailboat ever.

Yes, crewing on OPBs is a good way to get experience and learn how to sail better... but you need to have some basic idea of what to do...or you're just deadweight.

[bobmcgov]

Originally Posted by TrueBlue

Yeah Bob, I'm usualy more friendly to these "Hey, I think I'd like to try sailing, where do I go to bum a ride" type newbies. But this one just reeked troll.

Kiss up to him, but don't say I didn't warn ya.

Heh. I just thought ya had a bad case of Seasonal Boatless Disorder. I'm jonzing like a meth-head three days into detox, man. They're already ice-fishing on my damn lake & it's a long time til June. Do you think four cases of bourbon is enuf?

(I have a huge soft spot for people who fling themselves headlong into whatever mania has hold of them. They're so full of life! Right up until they aren't. I'll keep mah troll goggles on, thx. )

[TomScanlan]

Wow... turn away for a week and everyone goes wild

No worries about anyone that may or may not have come across as a little negative. Having only positive responses can be like being surrounded by "Yes!" men. Negative comments can be helpful as well, depending on how they are used. In my case, I'm not looking for confidence boosters, but did need some pointers. The only downer comments I read still meshed with my picture of reality, so they at least let me know I wasn't bonkers for having this plan.

In any case, I'm picking up a car this week, and will be headed to Miami Beach. There are a handful of hostels there that I can bounce around in. In addition there are dinghy rentals in the area, and a school or two that will teach without the goal of certification for less money than I was seeing before. Once I get through a basic class and some day long dinghy sailing, I'll poke around for other opportunities.