Hello from Monty

Hi everyone. My name is Monty, I am 36 and just started sailing in 2007. I learned how to sail in the Gulf of Thailand where I completed the IYT Crew, Watchkeeper, and Skipper certification with Gulf Charters Thailand. I left Thailand with just over 920nm mostly fair weather with a good squall on my watch and lots of night sailing.

After returning from Cuba in 08 where I learned how to dive (ACUC Open Water Cert.) and sail Hobie 16s I purchased a Hobie Cat 18 and sailed the hell out of it up by Fort St. John B.C. on Charlie Lake.

In the fall I took on a crew position on a 1 year old Lagoon 500 in Seychelles Republic for delivery to Alexandria Egypt via pirate alley. Had I known how bad the pirate situation there was I likely would not have gone but by the time I found out how serious it really was I was committed. That run was 4220 nm, 29 days at sea, 2 close calls with pirates, a force 8 on the red sea with a lazy bag failure at night with 2/3 of our mainsail trying to escape and more of the middle east then I care to see again anytime soon. I also got great experience, a great reference and a skipper with a crew list with my name at the very top for first call. That trip separated the men from the boys.

Now I find myself in Whistler B.C. which is much closer than Fort St. John to the ocean which is great but less than ideal. I thought I would hang out until spring to enjoy the Olympics but I am already over it and wanting to be either on the water or right beside it. I am thinking a move to Squamish or Vancouver is in order. I would love to buy a sailboat but funds are a little tight right now so unless the deal of a lifetime falls my way I would love to go sailing on someone elses boat pretty much anytime. I have a big diesel truck if anyone needs a hand to move a boat, and I am now Padi Advanced Diver cert. and own full diving gear should anyone need some help underwater. I am very sociable and always looking to meet other sailors and divers. My other hobbies include mountain sleds, motorcycles and firearms. The only thing I don't have a sense of humor about is pirates, understandably!!

Cheers,
Monty