Sailing has become my passion ever since I took that first lesson on a mountain lake in central Oregon. Through the years I have taken more lessons through the American Sailing Association and U.S. Sailing.
Now you may ask, "How do you sail in the deserts of southern Arizona?" Well, as incredulous as it may sound, there are several active sailing clubs in the area. If you are looking for an active club that provides plenty of sailing opportunities, Particularly, if you are interested in club racing then the Arizona Yacht Club is the one for you. I have been a member for several years, and still feel like a novice, learning something new every time I am on the water.
My latest sailing experience was an extended 5 week voyage on a 40
foot sloop, Squirt.
The purpose of this voyage was to deliver the boat
from its storage area in Colon, Panama, to its home in
California. The initial plan was to travel as far as La Paz, Mexico where
it would be stored until the captain/owner would be able to return to work
on it. And work it needed, since it had been "on the hard" for over two
years. Further consideration by the captain revised these plans to a
a location where it would be more accessible. The final destination for
the crew of Squirt was San Diego, culminating a 5 week and 3000 mile
trip that included traversing the Panama Canal, and enduring winds
estimated up to 40 kts and seas of 15 to 20 ft during one storm.
