Who's Your Captain Now?

So, after two weeks of HELL, I passed my Master's 100 Ton Near Coastal US Coast Guard test yesterday. I actually got the highest score in the class. It was pretty difficult, but well worth it. I can now skipper a vessel with 320 passengers or up to 100 gross tons of displacement (Length x Beam x Draft x 0.5)/100. I also got the Sailing and Towing endorsements, so I can do that for money too.

In CA, you need a captain's license to teach sailing. I've already talked to Club Nautique, OCSC, and Lake Merritt Boating Center about teaching positions. Captain Lisa, Miss SailTime - San Francisco, is probably going to have me do some teaching for her members, once I get ASA certified as an instructor.

We've also talked about having me skipper a 41 footer for daysail charters on SF's Pier 39 for tourists during the week. That would be a pretty cool gig if it works out.

The Captain, Arnstein Mustad, who taught the class does a lot of yacht deliveries, so I'm now on his list to crew for him. He's a big wig out here in the sailing community and starting one of the popular lists. I found out that I can also teach the OUPV class now that I'm licensed. The down side is that getting a DWI in a car will cause you to lose your captain's license, as well as a 0.04 while on the water, so it's a big responsibility.

In addition to the ASA certification for SailTime, I need to get US Sailing certified also to teach in some of the schools mentioned above. The ASA class in later this month, so I'll be back in the classroom. Fortunately, it should be a cake walk after what I just went through. Also, much cheaper.

Anyhoo, sorry for the lack of blogging. Once I got my hand working again, we've been REALLY busy. The next blog will be about the new place we just moved into in the Oakland Hills.