Captain Tim, getting me to pull out my dusty yelpy keyboard in order to write a most deserving review!
I really had no idea what to expect. I've been on a cruise ship, small fishing boats, canoes, kayaks, paddleboards, whatever have you, but a sailboat just tops the cake!
I had images of the wind whipping us around, getting sea-sick, and spending a precious day of my vacation puking over the back of the boat wishing I was dead.
But that didn't happen. In fact, I had one of the best times ever! After stopping by the nearest Randall's for some snacks and supplies, we drove down to Lake Travis and met up with Captain Tim.
He has a beautiful sailboat! The largest boat on the lake, it is bigger than it looks!
It may seem different to live on a boat, but this one has more living space than your average San Francisco studio!
Downstairs, it has 2 bedrooms with 2 full sized beds, 2 full bathrooms (both equipped with shower access), a fully stocked kitchen with stove, fridge, microwave, and sink, as well as a living space where you could play music, sit down and eat at a table area.
On deck, you have the captain's area with plenty of couch seating, as well as 2 spots to lounge in the tail end. Lay out a towel and sunbathe to your liking! There's a couple more seats on the very tail end of the boat as well. I sat back there and stuck my feet into the icy cold water for a while.
Cap't Tim of course started off the adventure by going over some brief house and safety rules, how to use the bathroom, and what to expect. We started the engine up and we were on our way!
It was an extremely calm day, with very little wind. Unfortunately, being a sailboat-that didn't work too well for us. We relied on the engine a lot to get us moving around, but Cap't was great at what he does. He was like a wind-hunter. He'd spot some wind, go full blast towards it, throw up the sails, and catch the winds!
After the initial I-think-I'm-going-to-be-sick feeling, I felt much better. For the next 5 hours, we cruised around this enormous lake! Drinking beer, jamming to Bob Marley, sunbathing in the warm Texas sun, eating more hummus than I'd like to admit, and re-enacting Titanic scenes (I'M ON TOP OF THE WORLDDDDD!!!!!)
Cap't seems to know everything and anything relating to boats and water. He is super easy to get along with and to talk to. The hours flew by fast, even letting us steer the boat at times!
Finally, the food ran out, we were on our last beers, and our lingering buzzes kept our eyes alert long enough to catch the sunset over the cliffs. It was super beautiful and unforgettable. Finally, the heat left the lake and coldness swept in. We drifted back to land where we thanked Captain Tim for an amazing day and made the drive back to Austin.
Here are some tips I'd love to give out to make the most of your sailing adventure with Captain Tim!
1) Wear light clothing! Shorts, tank tops, flip-flops. It was like a beach trip. Pack a swim suit to sunbathe in!
2) Wear lots of sunblock! You're out in the sun all day, and the only way to escape it is to go downstairs where you'll miss out on the amazing views!
3) Bring lots of snacks and water/beer! He has a full kitchen stocked with cups, plates, knives, etc. We brought loaves of break to make quick sandwiches, as well as veggie platters, hummus, chips, and snacks. Make sure you hydrate with plety of water. Of course, don't forget about the beer!!!
4) Bring a towel! Lay it out on deck and take a nap!
5) Bring music! Captain Tim has a music player that will play ipods/phones/etc. Bring slow-tempo music for those relaxing moments. Bring high-volume pumped up music for the party moments! Tim has some great music selection as well and he's down for anything!
6) (I learned this from my cousin who has gone a few times before). Bring along a couple Coke Zeros for the captain! (They're his favorite. I hope he doesn't see this!)
His boat can comfortable fit up to 10-12 people, so book a party! Birthdays, bachelorette parties, girls day out. This is perfect to get away from real life for a few hours.
Thanks Tim! See you next time I'm in Texas! read more