gay friendly sailing?

[sailortobe]

Hi I am in Toronto and want to participate in sailing.
I am gay
I would like to buy a boat and join a sailing club...but not into the family thing
Anyone know about a gay or gay friendly sailing club?

Thanks!

 

[shorty]

I have never heard of one's orientation being an issue. Sailors tend to be too obsessed with boats, wind, & water to care.

 

[Ross]

As long as you are not recruiting or making obscene public displays of affection, who will know or care?
My Mother asked me if we allowed 'gays" in our church. I told her I didn't think that anyone was standing at the door checking. There are good reasons for doors on bedrooms.
Buy the boat and enjoy, your sexual orientation is of no concern as long as you avoid any "in your face" attitudes.

 

[Paul Mermelstein]

I don't think it is an issue, any more than in other parts of society. There are bigoted sailors, and non-bigoted sailors. I would guess that sailors MAY be a bit more independent thinkers, but who knows.

Join a sailing group that you feel comfortable with. I belong to several, and I don't think anyone would care about sexual orientation. Go have fun. Focus on the sailing and you will be accepted for who you are.

 

[chuckpeterson]

If you only join a gay pool league or softball team then maybe you need only look for a gay sailing club. Its your attitude, courtisy, and genuine friendship that will determine your acceptance by others.
Chuck

 

[Henry Scurlock]

Welcome to sailing Sailortobe,

Check out these links www.relocatecanada.com/toronto/associations.html www.boatowners.com/sail_clubsAtoZ.htm

 

[higgs]

What difference does it make? Sailors are sailors - some have families, some don't. It sort of sounds like it makes more difference to you than to others.

Having visited quite a few of the clubs around Toronto I have not come across any dedicated to any particular culture other than money. I am not one inclined to enjoy the "upper crust" life style, but have found some of those clubs around Toronto welcoming and enjoyable to visit.

I have no doubt many gays have found good YCs around Toronto.

My personal favorites - the friendliest with down to earth types - are Highland in Cathedral Bluffs and Queen City out on Algonquin Island. Give them a call and tell them you are considering a club and ask if you can visit..

I don't think you are going to find any special "gay contingents" in any of these clubs, but you will find a lot of nice people from varying backgrounds.

 

[David10790]

Please send me an email

I am the Commodore of the Island Yacht Club in Toronto's Inner Harbour. Please send our General Manager an email: paul@iyc.ca.

 

[Ron20324]

STB, Not in your area, but in the Chesapeake Bay there seems to be such a club, identified by their rainbow burgee.

 

[Allan12210]

In the SF Bay area there is a very active organization: http://bcbc.clubexpress.com/

 

[John Howitt]

I don't care if you are gay. But you live in TORONTO!!!

 

[Nik]

Gay, Lesbian, or what ever... It doesn't matter as long as you are into sailing. Yes, you will find people that are accepting of your lifestyle and the bigots that are not, wherever you go. Do not let your life choices prevent you from enjoying your life. Nothing beats the wind in your face, sails and the quiet solicitude of no MOTOR and going no where fast (most often) or depending on the wind, going (no where fast). Just be true to yourself and your partner; and (explative) others opinions. Welcome to the world of sailing.

 

[Hermit Scott]

I don't think you will ever find any club that is 100% friendly anything. I think that's hoping for a bit much out of humanity. You will however find people everywhere that will take a stand and treat you like a human no matter what people around them think, even if they disagree with you.
Even if you don't find a yacht club where every one is flying rainbow penants, I hope you do find some descent people.

 

[Chuck Creel]

HMMM if this works , maybe theres hope for a red neck southern yacht club or a yankee yacht club. I vote Dick Dixon for commodore or nice-n-easy.

 

[Rick D]

Actually, in SoCal, there is a gay YC; Horizon YC. If there is no such thing in the Toronto area, maybe you could start one. However, in the 30 years we have been associated with three yacht clubs, all of them had gays represented and they and their partners were well respected, involved in club activities and participated in leadership. So, I doubt a dedicated club is necessary; I'm sure you would find people you can relate to in most clubs. Try them out; you don't have to join to give them a trial.

 

[kenn]

I don't know of a self-described gay sailing club in Toronto. As others have pointed out, with most clubs the shared enjoyment of sailing/boating is the common denominator, and the rest is irrelevant.

Some clubs are more "stuffy" than others, some are oriented around cruising (no pun intended), some are race clubs, some are party animals, some are barely more than restricted marinas. And some are closer to home, and some are more/less expensive. And there's marinas for those who want to avoid clubs altogether.

I believe that families are unavoidable at most of the Toronto clubs/marinas. We don't have kids; the fact that others do hasn't materially affected our enjoyment of our club. Some of the "executive" sailing or fractional ownership outfits may be more adults-only.

I would say that around Toronto, you'd feel welcome in just about any of the clubs. Of course there's nothing stopping anyone from running a gay-targeted sailing group without a club affiliation, or holding a LBGT sailing event.

Anyways, the standard advice to a new sailor is to take some lessons, visit some clubs, and figure out what you want most from sailing, and choose your club to meet those goals. See you on the water!

 

[sailortobe]

thanks for all the great comments and suggestions!

 

[sailortobe]

Hi
I am looking to meet other gay people that sail in Toronto.
If you are interested in meeting, please let me know
Thanks

 

[TN]

Hi Sailortobe,

To follow up on Kenn and Rick's comments...I'm gay, and I understand your interest in finding other gay people with whom to sail. However, based on my experience, you should worry about becoming a sailor FIRST. Once you start sailing regularly, over time, you will find and make new (gay and straight) friends who share this interest. Some towns do have gay boating clubs - Seattle does - but I find my sailing schedule usually takes us in other directions when their outings are scheduled.

I would also say that everything I learned about sailing, I learned from straight people There are just more of them!

Don't limit yourself to sailing only with other gay people - you are limiting the number of people from whom to learn, and there is a LOT to learn.

 

[sailortobe]

Hi Sailortobe,

To follow up on Kenn and Rick's comments...I'm gay, and I understand your interest in finding other gay people with whom to sail. However, based on my experience, you should worry about becoming a sailor FIRST. Once you start sailing regularly, over time, you will find and make new (gay and straight) friends who share this interest. Some towns do have gay boating clubs - Seattle does - but I find my sailing schedule usually takes us in other directions when their outings are scheduled.

I would also say that everything I learned about sailing, I learned from straight people There are just more of them!

Don't limit yourself to sailing only with other gay people - you are limiting the number of people from whom to learn, and there is a LOT to learn.

Good point TN..Thanks!