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Ok, it's going to take some doing for me to admit this publicly, but here goes....I took the written CPM test today, and I did not pass. I have never failed a test in my life - ever (including every test I ever took in school, and I have a Bachelor's with highest honors in CHEMISTRY). But sadly, I did not pass U.S.Sailing's written CPM test, despite having studied the book quite a bit.

Why?
Because about half the questions on the test were not covered in the book.
Did I know that outside material would be tested on?
No.
Did the instructor that went over the test with me agree that the questions I missed were obscure?
Yes.
What can be done about it?
Nothing.

The good news is I can take it again and it's really not that big of a deal...but it is for me personally. However, I have to give my friend Art an e-hug...he was the first to ask how the test went. When I told him, his immediate reply was, "Well, I'm glad to know you're human." That did make me feel a little better.

There is good news to be had today though. At long last I have improved a few design aspects of the site. You may notice the fixed width & centered layout. And, I finally grit my teeth and figured out how to make the logo clickable, as it should be. It was tricky because it's a background image rather than a standard image that an image map would've worked for. But no matter, fixed now.

There is more good news. Tomorrow I am going out for a test-sail on a boat that's pretty nifty. I saw her earlier this week and I haven't been able to get her out of my mind. I don't want to jinx anything, so am not going to go into the details just yet. Tomorrow I get to see what she's like on the water, and I'm bringing my trusty boat-buying-sounding-board buddy, JP. If he likes her, and I like her after the sail, I think I'm going to move forward with a survey.

My heart pounds each time I hear from the owner, and I find myself daydreaming about her. I feel like I've just had a really great first date with a guy! :-) I'm trying to keep my emotions and expectations in check though...even if tomorrow goes well the survey may not. MUST not get too attached too quickly.

More to come, stay tuned.

Skipper CPM this past weekend....and yes, I P A S S E D!!!!!!!!!
It was a long, tiring weekend though, being what Club Nautique calls a "Type II" CPM which is predominantly night sailing. Our schedule:
Friday 6pm: Leave Alameda for Richardson Bay.
Friday 10:30pm: Leave SF Bay and head North.
Sat 4am: Arrive Drakes Bay, decide to head on to Bodega Bay
Sat 9am: Arrive Bodega Bay
Sun 1am: Leave Bodega Bay and head South
Sun 2pm: Arrive SF Bay

I slept from 6am to 8am on Saturday morning, then took a couple of naps at the dock in Bodega. Then no napping once we got going on Sunday.

The instructor was pretty tough...surprising me with new requirements and changing our preliminary sail plan at the dock on Friday. But I guess the key is being able to think and perform on the fly - or on the sail rather :-)

My crew was great; very cooperative and willing to work.

During my evaluation the instructor suggested I think about becoming an instructor. Then the school director mentioned the same thing. Not a bad idea, me thinks...but a long way off yet as it requires a Coast Guard license first. We shall see.

I have 2 more requirements to satisfy before getting my CPM certification: the written test (no factor), and my tag-along. I've already scheduled my tag for August, so if all goes well, by August 20, I'll be done. For those wondering a "tag" is another CPM but without an instructor on board. I pull together the boat, crew, plan, etc. and go out on the same weekend as a CPM, doing regular radio check-ins and pow-wows at the docks at the beginning and end. It's my "final exam" so to speak. But without an instructor on board, hopefully much more fun and less stressful than what I've just gone through.

For now though, just a very relieved, very tired, very still-need-to-do-laundry girl....signing off.
-"GazingWest, Out."

It seems many sailors who go cruising try to write for magazines to supplement their income. I am not much different, except I'm more interested in the writing and less in the cash (though I'll certainly take it!)

I figured it wouldn't hurt to start early and I submitted an article to Club Nautique's Newsletter...certainly not a premier sailing periodical, but hey, it's something. Check it out. (Go to Page 5.) It's the story of the SD-SF trip.

Anyone out there have any practical information on steps I should take to further my moonlighting as a sailing writer?

In other news, went sailing 2 days this past weekend. Saturday on an itty bitty Santa Cruz 27 with my new buddy Daniele who is taking lessons at Spinnaker Sailing in SF. It was fun to be so close to the water and wind, that is until the water decided to join us in the boat. We had a good time though, and it was reassuring to be able to get on a different boat than I'm used to and still do well.

Monday I took my dear friend Rose out for the day. We slogged through some fog and heavy winds early on for a peak out the Gate, then retreated to Tiburon for a 4th of July BBQ. Another great day on the water.

My Skipper CPM is fast approaching...