Chapter 4 - Deciding to Cruise
It is overwhelming. Where do I start? I think a lot of people probably struggle with this and then quit. I want to write about the mindset I have now, the fears the doubts, etc. assuming I am going to succeed.
As an Enneagram Three (see https://a.co/d/3ExnRHX) I have a long list of things I think I need to do — and do them all perfectly — before I can cruise:
- Become an expert weatherman
- Understand how to fix a diesel engine
- Marine electronics
- Fiberglass Repair
- Take an offshore passage making class
- Get a bigger boat
- Make more money so I can afford a bigger boat
- Take 205-206 (which I’m going to do)
- Teach 105-106
- Celestial navigation and sextant skills
- Knots
- First aid
- Sail trim
That was the first list. Here is the second one after being in the middle of reading a couple books:
- The Art of Seamanship (recommended to me by Kevin Connel as he was on his way across the Pacific)
- A Seafaring Trilogy (recommended to me by Andy Van Zyll in Grenada)
- 45-50 ft
- Spinnaker
- Two fore sails
- Water maker
- Dive compressor
- Solar
- Wind vane
- Hydro Vane
- Center cockpit
- Full beam aft stateroom
- YouTube channel
- Drone
- Non profit sponsorship
- Bikes
- Onewheel
- Single side band radio
- Ice Machine
- Air Conditioner
In addition, here are some skills I know I need to acquire and there may be more:
Skills:
- 105-106
- 107-108 Passage making
- Blue water ocean class
- Weather routing skills
- Sailing off anchor
- Using a secondary anchor
It is a lot. Not sure where to start.