Hello to all interested. I have wanted to sail for a long time. I started actively pursuing my dream in Charlotte Harbor Florida Back in 1990. I bought my first vessel there a small wet sailing planing boat. With zero experience and a huge desire I started to figure it out on my own. One friend helped me with the basic's but that was it. The boat was in bad shape, my friends skills we're rusty at best and that didn't even faze my anticipation of the activity. With some trial and error my friend showed me enough to get me far away from the starting point and that the boat really did fly when you had everything trimmed out just right. I learned by experience that even small boats have big consequences if you don't know what your doing. I flipped the boat over in a storm in the middle of Charlotte Harbor with Lightning crashing all around me. Not good. I sold that boat shortly after that. From then till the time of my exit from the U.S. Army, Sailing was a dream I did in my head. I was lucky enough to be able to travel to Exuma, in the Bahamas. Actually worked there on the Island for a couple of months in the fall of 1997. Very cool place, very nice people. There were Cruisers anchored off Georgetown, a whole lot of em. I got to know a few as I hung out at the market and drank beer and played rings on my time off. It intrigued me that all the people came from far away to this paradise on their boats and were able to hang all winter living on the water. That is when I decided that some day, I don't know when, I'd be there in that capacity doing the same thing. After returning to my home, in Sarasota, my marital situation was in question and soon divorced to pursue freedom on my own. Expensive. I was fortunate enough to live in a neighborhood of middle class and a few upper class people. One Dr. that I befriended told me stories of his boat that he had on the East Coast of Florida, Coco Beach, Canaveral. I told him of my desires and he assured me that when he would bring his boat to the West Coast, I'd be invited to be crew on his boat. That happened soon after and I began learning everything I could about sailing. The Dr. was anxious to help me out in my endeavor. You see he was also in the service many years before and I was soon to learn the importance of his direction. A former Marine, Korean Vet. Shot up bad a couple of times, all around good guy, with a slightly hidden motive. He has vast sailing knowledge. Bought me books to identify the different boats and rigs they sported. The proper terms for the equipment was also stressed and it became very apparent when he decided to enter races with the sailing club he belonged too, that I had some short comings in that area. You see he would stress to me, there is a proper way to do each and everything on a boat. I mean everything from flushing the toilet to coiling lines. I didn't realize how awful sailing could be under those conditions. I did finally get it though, and the man was a large part of my education. Racing is what he lived for and my goal was completely opposite of his. Cruising is what I wanted to do. The stress of competing with him was way too intense. We did races from Clearwater Fl, too Key West a couple of times. Also local races in Tampa Bay. We have since parted ways. He is affectionately know as Capt. Ahab, or Triple A. Abrasive Abusive Asshole. The laid back approach, don't get in a hurry is what I prefer. I mean it is a sailboat for gods sake. This is really where my own adventures start. Through him, I also met a sailor that invited me on a race to Ilsa Mujuers Mex from Saint Petersburg. I'll have to tell you about that one some time. The photo above is a 40 ft. Irwin Citation. The boat that taught me the good, bad and ugly about sailing.