Just introducing myself...

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