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People who don't "get" sailing

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windsong
Captain

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USA
318 Posts

Initially Posted - 06/16/2009 : 08:27:10

Recently, I've taken out a few people who've never sailed before. All three pretended to enjoy themselves, but I had a feeling they would have rather been on a jet ski. Am I a poor host? Or do you think sailing is like opera - you either 'get' it or you don't? How do you host someone new to sailing?

Michael Hetzer
"Windsong"
2009 Catalina 250 WK HN984
Myrtle Beach, SC

Edited by - on

redeye
Master Marine Consultant

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3476 Posts

Response Posted - 06/16/2009 : 08:29:46

Hand them the helm and say "Here, hold this while I get a beer" and watch them. I just love it..

Edited by - on

aeckhart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1709 Posts

Response Posted - 06/16/2009 : 08:50:43

I don't take anyone out unless winds are predicted variable 10-15. Once out they handle the steering duties. They either love it or not......and it's apparent almost immediatley.

Edited by - on

DaveR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2015 Posts

Response Posted - 06/16/2009 : 09:22:44

Opera? I don't get it

(not that there's anything wrong with that)

Edited by - on

tinob
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1883 Posts

Response Posted - 06/16/2009 : 09:26:18

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by redeye
 Hand them the helm and say "Here, hold this while I get a beer" and watch them. I just love it..

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
That's about what I'd suggest, and perhaps is the reason that I seldom have company while sailing. More interesting might be finding out the breakdown on those who became pro sailing and the others.

Val on the hard DAGNABIT # 3936, Patchogue, N.y.

Edited by - on

Renzo
Admiral

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USA
621 Posts

Response Posted - 06/16/2009 : 10:33:59

I agree with Al, They either get it or they don't. I get Opera but I don't get power boating.
A friend took me out on his 30 foot Searay, handed me the helm and pushed the throttle all the way up. After I completed a circuit of the lake, he asked me how I liked it,(probably thinking that he had lured me away from sailing.) I told him that it was like driving a '57 Coupe-De-Ville at 90mph on a on a muddy road in a thunderstorm with the radio blasting rap music.
I can see the atraction of cruising in a trawler and it might be fun to take a spin on a PWC. But the rest of it leaves me cold.

Edited by - on

Nautiduck
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3704 Posts

Response Posted - 06/16/2009 : 11:41:48

I don't personally have interest in a jet ski or "go fast" motorboats but some folks do and that is fine with me. I see lots of vary happy families on motor boats pulling squeeling kids on tubes around the lake.

I believe an interest in sailing has something to do with being in harmony with the elements (water, wind) rather than dominating the elements. Still, I could see a trawler/tug as a fun way to cruise.

Edited by - Nautiduck on 06/16/2009 13:10:19

redviking
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1771 Posts

Response Posted - 06/16/2009 : 13:19:33

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by redeye
 Hand them the helm and say "Here, hold this while I get a beer" and watch them. I just love it..
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

That's my policy - I do that just after hauling the hook, leaving the dock or dropping the mooring. If they object, I know it's going to be a short day!

sten

Edited by - on

JimB517
Past Commodore

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USA
3285 Posts

Response Posted - 06/16/2009 : 13:36:22

On a typical late spring/summer night after work here in San Diego's Mission Bay there will be about 60 people out in 10 outrigger canoes getting a workout, 2 or 3 small fishing boats coming and going, and one sailboat (me).

I just don't understand why more people aren't out sailing.

As to non-boating guests, I've taken out many. Most people expect that we are going somewhere, like to a dock to have a drink. They don't understand that we are just sailing in circles for the joy of it.

The average person just does not enjoy sailing at 5 knots ducking spray, rolling and pitching and going nowhere.

My guests usually have a good time, get seasick, and never come back. But they say they love sailing.

Race crew is a little different and people will show up for a race who would never come for a day of social sailing.

Edited by - on

Prospector
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
3159 Posts

Response Posted - 06/16/2009 : 13:53:54

Every year our town brings half a dozen med students for a week of wining and dining to try and get them to set up practice here.

As part of it we take them sailing. Usually none of them have ever been on a sailboat before.

Without fail, they leave with a comment about joining the sailing club when they come back.

I think sailing is like skating, or jogging, or a lot of other activities that folks can understand. The joy depends on doing it, not on where or how you do it.

Edit to add...

We have a charity race out of our club this weekend that skirts one of the more popular beaches in town. I heard rumors that the local camera club is using us as a target. So many folks are drawn to the romance of sailing, but think it is beyond them to figure out.

Edited by - Prospector on 06/16/2009 14:36:01

DaveR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2015 Posts

Response Posted - 06/16/2009 : 13:54:41

I also have trouble getting people to go, or they'll go and then not want to go again. But the other side of the coin is; When I'm out cruising down the river and a million dollar yacht goes by, 9 out of 10 times they're giving me that, "damn I wish I was sailing", or ,"How beautiful is that!" look.

Edited by - on

Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5906 Posts

Response Posted - 06/16/2009 : 14:40:50

I agree that newbies won't like a light air day very well, but, if you have winds of 10-15, and the boat starts to heel a bit, and they feel the breeze, they'll usually love it. I also give them the tiller, but I don't go get a beer. I explain how the wind drives the boat and teach the helmsman (or woman) to steer, and teach the other person to handle the sheets when we tack the boat. After they have tacked the boat 2-3 times, and the helmsman is steering a fair course, then I get a beer, and sit back, and point out to them that they're sailing the boat, and I'm just along for the ride. They can't believe that they're actually sailing the boat. As they near the shore, I'll tell them when it's time to tack the boat, but let them do it themselves. Later, I'll show them how to sail wing and wing, because it's a pretty point of sail. That's a good time to explain about relative wind speed, because they'll think the wind has died, but, when we gybe the jib and turn onto a beat, all of a sudden the wind will become strong again, and I'll explain that the wind never went away. It just didn't feel so strong, because we were running with it, instead of into it. If you teach most people the basics of sailing, so that they understand how it works, they'll realize that they can learn how to do it, and there's a good chance they'll want to learn more.

Edited by - on

redviking
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1771 Posts

Response Posted - 06/16/2009 : 15:20:25

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Steve Milby
 then I get a beer, and sit back, and point out to them that they're sailing the boat <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

That's it - Like he said

I forget that there are possibly newbies here who might take some of this literally. Remember the fin keel guy who cut 2 feet off of the keel so it would still float at low tide at his dock after my suggestion?

sten

Any advice from me should be taken with a grain of salt or a whole lot of common sense. Should that fail and you screw up badly, send all legal correspondance to my counsel - www.youactuallybelievedthatLAW.com

Edited by - redviking on 06/16/2009 15:28:55

GaryB
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4310 Posts

Response Posted - 06/16/2009 : 16:59:27

I took my 16 yr old nephew out a couple of weeks ago. (He's a pure city boy). He didn't say a lot for the first hour or so but later asked if he could steer (we had asked him earlier but he declined). We put him on the tiller and did a quick explanation of how to steer and how the boat would react during the lulls and gusts. After about 3 or 4 minutes his excursions from the intended course began to smooth out. In 5 minutes he was adjusting the tiller for the lulls and gusts and I'm not kidding he sailed a course as straight as an arrow for a good 10 minutes. He took to it like a duck to water.

After 15 minutes he was done with steering. He didn't say much the rest of the day. All I got when I dropped him off was a thank you and he said he had a good time. I heard a couple of days later that he couldn't stop talking about what a great time he had that day. Apparently he talked his parents ears off about it.

I'll take him again when it cools off this fall. Our forecast for the next ten days is highs in the upper 90's and zero percent chance of rain. Too hot for a young man used to a/c and definitely too hot for me!!!

Edited by - on

mhartong
Navigator

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USA
152 Posts

Response Posted - 06/16/2009 : 18:40:07

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by windsong
 Recently, I've taken out a few people who've never sailed before. All three pretended to enjoy themselves, but I had a feeling they would have rather been on a jet ski. Am I a poor host? Or do you think sailing is like opera - you either 'get' it or you don't? How do you host someone new to sailing?
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

I don't necessarily think you are a bad host. Sailing is a bit of an acquired taste- and it is not something that everyone "gets". While it is not "difficult" in the sense that the basics can be readily mastered, it does require constant ongoing study and practice to become REALLY proficient at reading and riding the wind. I think for many people the ongoing effort required is just more they want to expend.

I have found giving people something to do that makes them an active part of the process, rather than passive observer's, keeps them more interested.

Edited by - on

dave andersen
1st Mate

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85 Posts

Response Posted - 06/16/2009 : 18:48:27

For most men, life itself is about getting From point A to point B
as fast as possible or at least in as much style as possible. Sailing is about a zen-like experience where you are already there,
as soon as the wind takes the sails.

Edited by - on

windsong
Captain

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USA
318 Posts

Response Posted - 06/16/2009 : 19:41:15

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by dave andersen
 Sailing is about a zen-like experience where you are already there
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
I agree. I almost named Windsong, "Already There," but it seemed a bit obscure.

Edited by - on

Deltarat
1st Mate

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USA
69 Posts

Response Posted - 06/16/2009 : 21:03:44

So far I've had pretty good luck with the people I have taken sailing. For the ones that are truly new to boating I will take them for a sunset/dinner cruise, I will sail downwind to a little slough about 45 minutes from where I keep the boat, drop anchor, make dinner and drinks, we will watch the sunset, then sail/motor back. So far the people I have done this with have loved the experience and say they can't wait to try a "real sail" day, with sailing into the wind, and a small adventure. I took a kid (19) that works for me and his 16 year old brother out a few weeks ago, and I taught them how to handle the tiller and adjust the Jib sheets after each tack (we tack a lot in the delta) we were sailing around a bend in the river when I got a phone call and had to go below to take it. The boat was heeling around 35^ but handling well, while I was in the cabin we were hit by a gust and it put the rail well under the water and I saw water rushing across the cabin windows. Before I could get back on deck the oldest had lost the wind and rounded up (?) ended up having to sail in a circle to get back on course, but they had a great time.

I took my brother (40yo) sailing on my 17' Vagabond, and he told my Mother that it was the most excitement he's ever had at 6mph.

I think the key is to make it an adventure and make your passengers active participants. I always explain to my passengers before we ever leave the dock that once we are under sail, we have arrived at out destination, if we actually make it somewhere else, like a secluded beach or river side restaurant/bar, that is just gravy to the day.

Edited by - on

bigelowp
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1788 Posts

Response Posted - 06/18/2009 : 18:09:27

My experience has been that, first, some like and some don't like being on the water in any craft -- they are afraid of drowning or any motion, etc. After that it boils down to those who like to sit and "drive" vs sit and "paddle" vs sit and "think" -- which os what sailing demands more so than other boating activities. I have a power boat -- great for going from A to B or pulling kids on a tube. Equally, I have friends who like to go out fishing on the power boat. Sailing demands patience, and thinking through actions and their reactions. Many I know just don't like to have to think about heel, speed, changing course (and ducking) etc. Regarding taking people out, you are not a bad host if you expose people to sailing. If they accept, then assume hey liked it at least some. IF you know someone does not like sailing then just let it be.

Edited by - on

redviking
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1771 Posts

Response Posted - 06/19/2009 : 09:42:26

Then again it just occurred to me that perhaps we are best served by keeping the rewards of sailing a secret. Just imagine if all of the Harley riders or all of the Winnebago owners all bought sailboats. Life as we know it would be over. Sailing sucks!

Pass it on!

sten

Edited by - on

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The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.

Michael Hetzer"Windsong"2009 Catalina 250 WK HN984Myrtle Beach, SC

Michael Hetzer
"Windsong"
2009 Catalina 250 WK HN984
Myrtle Beach, SC