Feeling Blessed

The few select people I've told of my plans have been very supportive. I'm not exactly sure why I find this so surprising, but I love it. They believe that I can do it.

My boss at my one-day-a-week job--an experienced sailor with a captain's license--offered to help me find job openings and lodging during training. My lifelong friend simply said it would be an awesome thing for me to do, and understood that I would love it, but that was enough.

I haven't told anyone else yet (well, excepting you, who stumbled across this blog). For some reason, my family interfering would ruin it, make it not mine anymore.

By the way, I'm currently looking at working aboard the two 74' schooners--Woodwind and Woodwind II--in Annapolis, and hoping to find a house-sitting position in exchange for a place to stay during the summer. Woodwind takes crew with some experience, pays minimum wage during training and, I suppose, slightly more once the job actually begins. Plus tips. I don't care; I'd gain experience and get to sail and race!

Wow, these posts are getting randomer and randomer.

So Exciting!

The last couple hours were spent clicking through all the links to ship’s pages on the tall ships Facebook page. Why?

Because I’ve determined my goal: sail as part of OpSail 2012 aboard Pride of Baltimore as paid crew! (In the slim chance that Pride does not participate in OpSail, by the year 2012.)

Pride does not take volunteer crew, so I will have to build my experience to that of a “professional” level tall ship sailor before I can sign on. So far I’ve discovered the American privateer schooner Lynx and U.S. brig Niagara take on volunteer crew, and Niagara even has a program that lasts up to 4 weeks.

I know I’m just beginning, but at the moment I can’t decide. I love both the ships; Lynx is so sleek and streamlined, Niagara has that 19th-century Navy look I find so majestic. One is just a few states north, but tuition prices are over $1,000. The other is in California, but doesn’t mention a cost of more than $85.

Maybe I’ll ask around about some crewing experiences others have had aboard tall ships….