Visit our Popular Forums

Ukweasel · 05-11-2010, 02:49

Hi All, very impressed with the Cruisers Forum!

I spend a lot of time travelling for my business, mainly in the USA & China, but have only recently discovered a desire for good times afloat.

I very good friend of mine asked me to help crew his 61' Viking Sports Fisher from Ft Lauderdale to New Jersey back in May, and I had the time of my life... What a ride!

Since then, I've chartered a 45' cruiser on the Norfolk Broads which was possibly the most relaxing vacation I have ever experienced.

Now truly bitten by the water bug, I saw the only way to charter effectively was with a recognised qualification. So I completed the Day Skipper Theory a couple of months ago and elected to do the practical in Gib, after words of wisdom from a couple of ladies at the Southampton boat show in September (another story for another day).

I know it's going to be fun - Sail was not my first choice but now I just can't wait - Sleepless nights at 50? Come on!

When this is all done & dusted, comes the next challenge: Where's good to charter over Christmas? Tenerife is looking good. As a recently seperated singleton, is there a gathering where people look for like-minded to share a charter? Sort of a singles holiday collective?

Anyway, life is good & its going to get even better. Hopefully I'll post more on my return from the Rock!

**boatman61** · 05-11-2010, 03:05

Welcome to CF M8..... Its a whole new BUZZ innit.......

Good luck... hope you get 'the' result...

goboatingnow · 05-11-2010, 03:31

Tenerrife, can be tough sailing, make sure you have experenced people with you.

dave

simonmd · 05-11-2010, 06:57

Funny, you seem to have started out with boats the same way I did! I too, took a holiday on the 'Broads many years ago and ever since then was hooked. The pace of life, the people, the scenery and the fact that for ONCE in your life, YOU were in charge!

I now liveaboard my own boat a few miles up the Spanish coast from Gib so if you pop into Duquesa, as many sailing schools from there do, come round and say hello.

**James S** · 05-11-2010, 08:07

Welcome to the forum Weasel..good luck at the rock..that's so cool.

anglooff · 05-11-2010, 09:46

Welcome to the forum,

Let us know how the "practical" goes.

Regards

Alan

swagman · 05-11-2010, 10:45

Welcome Weasel,
Best place to charter around Xmas has to be Whitsundays in Oz or bay of Islands in Kiwiland but both a fair way to travel from the UK. If you can only sail solo you could also consider joining one of the ARC boats but they leave end November. More than a few offer single spots - the parties are good - and it would certainly give you a real offshore taster ending up in St Lucia.........
Whatever you do - enjoy Gib - sail safe.
JOHN

Ukweasel · 15-11-2010, 03:42

Just back from my trip top Gibraltar, now a qualified Sailing Day Skipper with VHF.... what a blast!

Not only was the training fun, we partied hard & had a ball - even found 5 illegals afloat in a rubber dinghy trying to cross the straits... Had them picked up by the law, otherwise they would have drifted off into the Med or more probably been run down by a passing super-tanker!