Same goes with what Thom said...

Re Monterey/Santa Cruz... Try Pacific Yachting. www.pacificsail.com.
I know the owner and a good friend is one of the instructors.

"Intenost" wrote in message
...
Thanks! Jon, Thom, Bart, et al, appreciate all of the great info. So
looks
like I'm in for some challenging sailing, and hopefully will have the time
to get into the racing scene, although I've been more of a cruising sailor
the last decade or so. I did charter a boat, J-24 I think, out of
Sausalito
once, and had quite a ride, in fact I watched another boat get dismasted,
dramatic, although nobody was hurt, and local boaters and S&R got there in
a
hurry. Funny, I thought I would get grilled by the charter outfit, being
an
out of towner on a pretty rough day, but all they did was asked me to put
a
double reef in the main at the dock, and then they said, "have fun" which
I
did! But I was wondering about the crusing opportunities there as I feel
kind of spoiled by New England, with all the coves and harbors to duck
into,
and lobster for the taking.

Puget Sound is great, I've done 4 weeks in the San Juan's over the last 5
years, and hope to go back in 2004. It's just such a great place to get
away, great sailing, beautiful sailing, unspoiled. And nice to be able to
empty that holding tank in Canadian waters :-).

Due to work location and cost of living issues, I may wind up living
closer
to Santa Cruz/Monterey then SF Bay, so I may be back looking for pointers
on
the sailing opportunities in that area...

Regards,

-Ost

"Thom Stewart" wrote in message
...
Intenost,

You got the right man with Jon.

I think you"ll love sailing out here. I'm in the Puget Sound Area, after
growing up on Long Island Sound. I was led to believe LI Sound was the
best. Boy was I wrong.. Puget Sound tops it hands down

I sailed a little on SF Bay. Damn little but it's a hell of a great
place to sail. Maybe the best in the country. IMHO!

The big draw back out hear is the water is cold, COLD!! You don't go
swimming like back East. This is Wet Suit Country.

SAILING IS THE GREATEST!

Ole Thom