Can anyone tell me where to start? newbie and proud!

[Kero Musa]

Everyone keeps telling me I can't do it, it's impossible, and then I come across you guys and a movie called "Hold Fast." First let me say thank you for being like me with huge dreams! It makes me want to shed a tear of joy for real. :']
 
Now for the seriousish stuff. I live in the desert (Inland California) and don't know anything about boats. I do research when I can get some time (I'm currently a full time college student studying marine biology, but it's not my goal. When I get my BS my parents will be happy and then I'll do my thing) but nothing seems to stick in my head and I cant seem to find any really reliable sources that aren't books written by what seem to be rich yacht people who don't understand my situation. Boats, parts of boats, basic things like starboard and port side? I don't know which is which and don't know where to learn without spending money I don't have for a "sailing academy," which is what everyone else is saying is the only place to start. I've always believed I can live the way I want to but it's very hard to find support these days with all the narrow minded people I live around. You guys are my last hope for support. Whether or not you decide to help I will fulfill my dream if it kills me, but it'd be nice if I could live a long time and enjoy it. :]

So any advice on what I should learn? Where to learn it? And next steps? I have about two more years left till I finish school (with no motivation) and this fall I will be transferring either to CSU Long Beach or CSU Monterey Bay, both areas which I think can have some value towards my aspiration. I'm trying to save as much money as I can but you guys should know the life of a college student is drab and broke, so I'm struggling, but hanging in there. I'm learning knots right now :] best I can do in terms of a solid resource. Help me out with some replys if you can please people! Thanks so much in advance, I'm glad I found this community and I knew I wasn't alone in my thinking.

Yours truly, Kero

P.S. sorry for the longass post. Peace brothas and sistas!

[coral clearwater]

hi Kero
For some inspiration;
Here are some people who took it upon themseleves, with little or no money, and found ways to round up people and gather resources in order to live among the water by making rafts themselves.(I was amongst them!)
Please Checkout: www.missrockaway.org & lookup: the swimming cities of the switchback sea.(created, in part, by the artist known as "Swoon")
Also, for proof of whats possible, beyond all doubt:
Lookup: "poppa neutrino" (r.i.p. poppa)this man has inspired generations of us both young and old (including missrockaway) toward living freely and creating dreams into reality through pure ambition,stubborness,,and hard work.
He is written about in a book called "the Happiest Man in the World" which I highly recommend that you read. Also! You may maight be very interested in reading "Kon Tiki" which, in fact, was what first inspired Poppa to pursue life and adventure on the water!
Remember,
Keep that flame of inspiration alive!(and try to consider maybe going to a sailing school on scholarship if possible and online you will also discover sailors with boats who seek crews to help sail and may be willing to teach!!
Yours truly,
C.Co.r.al C.c. Clear.water;Cc. ;) !!!!

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[SV Drummer]

also check out the new and in progress website/mediazine  currentsagainstus.wordpress.com/ ....  and go down to the closest harbour and pester folks to take you sailing. offer to pick up a grinder or paintbrush.....   and the library of course.... we didnt invent any of this, folks have been living on boats and D.I.Ying their way around the world for allot longer than we've been alive, theres always allot to learn from the old guys.

good luck, see you out there.

[Tyler En Cavale]

Hi. Also one of the girls sailing with us now is getting along well doing online courses from the boat. And my buddy just emailed me about another free boat there out there. Nor cal has more gypsea kids as far as i know. Ask back here if your planning a trip that way and I'll try to get you in touch with some folks.
Sent from my Kyocera Hydro

[Donna Lange]

Hey Kero.
Sounds to me like you are in the perfect place. All possibility with a
sense of minimalism. Some terrific advice here. Here is my two cents.

I started sailing in a vacuum of experience but went to the caribbean
and started working on boats, chefing, crew...Then bought my own boat
with a bit of help from my brother, $5000, and a good recommendation.
I bought it on credit. I hoofed the next year and every cent from my
day job went to the boat loan. I ate and fixed my boat on my night job
pay. Boat needed a crazy amount of work but in doing it, I gained
confidence. In July 2002 (bought boat in Nov 2010) I headed off to
solo sail to Ireland via RI. Eventually, I soloed the North Atlantic,
and then the world. I did a solo around the 40S parallel stoping only
in NZ and Cape HOrn. Who would have thought.

Before I left for RI, I had done one offshore sail from the Caribbean
as crew then some day tripping around the Caribbean on my boat, but
had little sailing experience, mostly what I had was in the boatyard.

I just have to say, learning to sail just requires having access to a
boat and the willingness to get out there. Once you have mastered the
basics of tacking and docking a small boat, navigating, gaining an
awareness of the forces involved in getting where you want to go
(wind, current, tides...)...You are really set. I would then suggest
spending some time crewing for local yacht club races. YOu will learn
the intricacies of changing sails, use of spinnakers, gennakers, and
getting drunk. This all creates context. Racers tend to be very good
sailors, though not necessarily seaworthy or good with maintenance.

The key to safe and fun sailing is 90% in the maintenance of the
boat...it is only 10% knowing how to sail. that is the easy part.
Dealing with heavy weather is another component but you can avoid it
by choosing your windows until you get to figuring out how your boat
is best hove-to, or use of sea anchors and such. All good.

The start, is just to get sailing anywhere. But I had to be alone on a
boat to get the hang of it. I am a bit dislexic...I need to take time
to think through relationships between forces. I rather fumble around
on my own. I don't do well with anyone telling me what I should do. I
rather just try stuff until it all makes sense. Then I find that I
have specific questions which someone can answer instead of just being
told what to do.

Just some thoughts.
Best of luck...
We need your Marine biology skills in OceansWatch. GEt in touch with
me if you want to help us with all our conservation programs...Do you
Dive?
Big hug
Donna
Fastest American Woman to Solo Sail the world 2007
www.donnalange.com

Captain Donna Lange
Executive Director
OceansWatch North America
do...@oceanswatch.org
401 323 1484
skype: inspiredinsanity

I had totally rebuild the boat. I sang at pubs every night and worked
on the water days. On Tue, Feb 26, 2013 at 1:55 PM, coral clearwater

--
Captain Donna Lange
Executive Director
OceansWatch North America
do...@oceanswatch.org
401 323 1484
skype: inspiredinsanity

[Kerollos Halim]

That was actually how I found this group! Very good stuff. I'm hoping I will get the chance to do that soon, offering to help with some chores in exchange for a lesson. It's a plan. Thanks a lot!

Kero

[Kerollos Halim]

There is a big chance I'll be going to school up in NorCal so I will definitely keep in touch! Thanks!

--
Kero

[Kero Musa]

Everyone thanks again for all of the feedback! All of it has helped me get reinspired and I will try to get started on this goal of mine as soon as I can! Best wishes, and hopefully I'll see you all out there.

[Donna Lange]

See you on the Water Kero...Keep in touch. We may have opportunity for
you to do some crew if you can volunteer. We are going to be at the
Pacific strictly sail...Best to you.
Donna

Captain Donna Lange
Executive Director
OceansWatch North America
do...@oceanswatch.org
401 323 1484
skype: inspiredinsanity

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[Kero Musa]

Will do, I'll be around so just let me know. Thanks again for everything!