u/priusjames

TL;DR: Sailor, new to the area wants to go sailing, get to know the places to sail/store boats until I get my own boat. IME the best way to do that is to find places where the people who go Sailing who are most likely to be looking for crew are to be found..where are those? I’m a pretty mellow sailor, always follow the skipper’s lead and instructions.

The last time I moved to Spokane (for a short time, about six months in 2004) I bought a boat (one of the photos attached) and put it in Bayview Marina, and had fun Sailing… but I didn’t meet any people and I didn’t find the Sailing places or any of the social side of things and it was a bit lonely.

I thought I would start here, perhaps there’s somebody reading this who could use an extra pair of hands, perhaps could use help de-winterizing or wasn’t going to use their boat this year but would like to see it go to use, or likes to race but needs crew or skipper or tactician… or maybe even just wants to sell their boat!

Thanks -James

Long version: M(65) recently relocated to Spokane from CA after my partner passed unexpectedly and Mom (in Spokane) suddenly needed to move to memory care… so I moved here in December to start over.

Sailing Experience: Dry for about the last ten years, I spent most of my time the decade before that on the (ocean harbor mostly) water, sailing. I worked at a university with a Sailing program, took an introductory recreational course (Lido 14’s) and was instantly hooked. Before the course was over, I was crewing in the harbor ‘beer can’ races two nights a week on a Cal 20 (fun/sometimes won/placed) and a Schock 35 (competitive/usually top 3). Learned a lot quickly! Racing rules and tactics, reading the water slowly became second nature over the next ten years.

We also had a fleet of 30’ shields, got certified on those and started mixing one class racing in with PHRF. Soon I was teaching the beginner Sailing courses (21 students/class) for the University on brand new Capri 14.2’s. Did that for about ten years.

Those years were mostly spent on the water when I wasn’t at work…even work included being on the water sometimes! Was Commodore of the UCISA yacht club for a couple of years, and a member of the American Legion Yacht Club.

Raced Newport-Ensenada three times, we won third in class and walked the stage the last time… never had to do that again (lol)!

At the American Legion Yacht Club, I worked with the donated boats… jockeying them around the different mooring spaces to keep things legal while working on them before selling them for for the club.

I fell in love, and my time and attention were directed elsewhere… we sailed together for a while and then we explored different aspects of life and traveling until she passed in August ‘25.

Photos are mine.

I put up this hummingbird feeder earlier this week, haven’t seen any action until yesterday when I caught this little guy out of the corner of my eye. There was just enough time to grab my phone and take this one (not completely focused) photo. I wasn’t sure about hummingbirds right here on the river because I don’t see other places with feeders out, but now I know.