Did you know that you can learn to sail in Central Texas? I didn’t either! When we first moved to the area I remember romanticizing lake life. I have always been a water girl and wanted a speed boat more than a shopping spree. Give me the wind in my hair, water to swim in and a group of friends and that is where I would be most happy.
When we first did all of the touristy things around Austin I remember my birthday dinner at the Oasis on the cliff of Lake Travis and seeing sail boats glittering against the sunset reflection. I remember talking with my husband about them and how I had no idea you could sail on Lake Travis!
Well fast forward 5 years and I sold a home to a family who sailed the Bahamas and adventure schooled their children. I thought it would be a fun thing to put on my “bucket list” on an instagram post. I crave adventure, novelty and movement! Another local mom commented on it about how she’s always wanted to sail as well and if I signed up for a class to let her know. What class? There are classes to learn how to sail?? She sent me the link to Outbound Sailing and within 6 hours I had the Intro to Sailing course booked with her and a friend.
Now that’s how you cross something off a bucket list, friends. Ha!
We scheduled a morning during school so that we could be back before the kids got out and met our trainer at a marina in Lakeway. We all scurried onto the boat and signed our waivers and began learning how to pull a rope (a “sheet”) with our thumbs towards our bodies so that it wouldn’t get cut off in a quick release of the rope. Gulp. Who knew?
We started the boat’s engine and sputtered out of the dock slip and into the 100 foot deep area of Lake Travis. We learned how to look at the surface of the water to see when the wind was picking up, learned how to tack (and almost lost my camera as it went flying around when we would keel over dramatically!). We had so much fun, but boy did I not realize how much thinking was involved in sailing. No wonder you need to get certified to learn how to sail. You need a mixture of science, muscle, navigation, multi-tasking and understanding of how to the boat maneuvers slowly across the waters.
We got rained out and it cut our time short by an hour and so we get to go out again next Monday! My skipper friend and I are looking into getting out ASA 101 and potentially joining a yacht club in the fall. How fun would it be if I could take a 30 ft sailboat out at sunset and invite friends and family along? They even have adventure courses in the Bahamas where you learn how to Bareboat a catamaran. Maybe I’ll put that on my bucket list next…
If you have any interest in sailing then contact Jason with Outbound Sailing and take the Intro To Sailing class! It was a great experience!
Thinking about moving to this beautiful area of Texas? I am a local Realtor in the Dripping Springs/Texas Hill Country area, just give me a call and I’d love to help! 512-569-8480
