Sailboat Sailing

In the spring of 2003, I was living in Gulfport, Florida where sailing is popular. Boca Ciega bay is only about 9 feet deep at the most. I was feeling a bit bored, and needed a challenge. The all-volunteer Boca Ciega Yacht Club was offering six weeks of sailing class at the lowest price in the entire Tampa Bay area. They do this on every spring and fall. The course was divided into classroom training on Wednesday evening, plus a sailing lesson every Saturday and Sunday. Great weather every time, with never a cancelled class. Other that a few drops once or twice, no rain at all during sail school.

The capsize drill was definitely exciting. They had an especially modified old boat that would be taken out to waist deep water, and intentionally turned over with students on board, then we had to swim around to the transom, this is the back end of the boat, and get back aboard. The transom is the lowest part of the boat, and easiest to climb aboard. I tried and tried to swing my legs over into the transom, but was so tired I gave up. The teach brought the boat closer to shore so I could step aboard, Embarrassing.

We covered a lot in six weeks of sail school. How to read wind conditions, safety equipment, man overboard drill, how to sail around a point, and racing were all covered.

One day we sailed to a deserted spit of land, a tiny key with a few bushes, a few miles from the Boca Ciega yacht club, and had a great picnic. We were divided into four boats, each carrying four people. Lots of picture taking. On another day we went sailing farther, passing the little key to a dockside waterfront restaurant in St.Pete Beach, which is no longer there. A big tasty fish sandwich for lunch.

At least once we held a sailboat race, which got a bit testy. I had never been on a race, and was slow to catch on. What were the rules exactly? I had no idea. I was sailing with another guy, and he got upset because we lagged behind so often. I took it all in fun, and wasn't that concerned.

Living aboard a sailboat is a lifestyle enjoyed by many. Some people live on a sailboat as small as 22 feet and find it quite comfortable, but 25 to 30 feet is more common. Living aboard on the waterfron takes a bit of getting used to, but for many who choose this way of life the tradeoffs are worth it.

If you plan on staying in United States waters, consider living in a marina where you can hook up to shore power for everyday conveniences. Living at a marina simplifies things for most people as you have access to bathrooms, laundry, and parking. Some marinas will not allow sailors living aboard.

Warmer places like Florida and California make living there a year-round possibility. That makes those states popular for many living aboard sailboats. Some people even manage to work regular full time jobs or run their own business. They can also move between seasons, such as Long Island in the summer and Florida in winter.