Have you ever been asked...

Freedom77 · Jul 18, 2012

Explaining the attraction of sailing is like trying to describe the sound of one hand clapping. If one doesn't sail then it is hard from them to comprehend the excitement and contentment that can be experienced all at the same time. I have sailed for 43 years. I have also water skied, surfed, scuba dived and all sorts of other water sports and nothing compares to sailing. No noise, no fuel, no fumes. I could go on but as I said it is hard to explain. I think other of us ragsailers will agree. Anyone can get into a 454ci powered speed machine and go flying across the water. It's not the destination, it's the voyage.

sailaway78 · Jul 18, 2012

not surprising

I have never had anyone actually say it like that. But I have seen the look that indicates the same thing. More than once. And more than one time I have had someone tell me how much fuel they burned, as if it was a status symbol. You know the one. The guy who glibly tells you that his super duper go faster, burns XXX gallons per hour.

sailaway78 · Jul 18, 2012

not surprising

I have never had anyone actually say it like that. But I have seen the look that indicates the same thing. More than once. And more than one time I have had someone tell me how much fuel they burned, as if it was a status symbol. Once had a guy ask how much diesel I burned,and told him about 1/2 gallon an hour. He looked at me for a second, smiled and says, "Hell, that wouldn't even get me out of my slip."

Sailm8 · Jul 18, 2012

I have the same problem explaining why I cruise and refuse to race. I guess I feel my time on earth is limited and running around in circles has no appeal. I can understand the compeditive streak and teamwork and blah blah but it just holds no appeal for me. I guess it's sort of a zen thing. The appeal of milking the most from the wind, finding new places I've never been, the quality time spent with my spouse is enough to fulfill me.

sailaway78 · Jul 18, 2012

not surprising

I have never had anyone actually say it like that. But I have seen the look that indicates the same thing. More than once. And more than one time I have had someone tell me how much fuel they burned, as if it was a status symbol. Once had a guy ask how much diesel I burned,and told him about 1/2 gallon an hour. He looked at me for a second, smiled and says, "Hell, that wouldn't even get me out of my slip."

kloudie1 · Jul 18, 2012

The challenge of learning something new every day .. while enjoying yourself.. My buddies at work used to laugh about how slow sailing is.. I always said.. lets race to Mexico.. but we can only bring 25 gallons of fuel..
I used to fly sailplanes too.. now there is a tough one to explain.. there is no aux engine.. and ya have only your cunning and some luck to keep ya aloft.. like sailing in three dimensions .. Both are enjoyable for me! and both aren't very easy to explain to folks who've never been.

Merlin Clark · Jul 18, 2012

Slow Mo^cean said:
I know some places of the country are slower than most, so maybe you havent been asked this question, but Im dwelling on this conversation I had last weekend with a guy who asked me what the attraction of sailing was. Mind you, my local lake is small, and usually full of fishers and college kids beating the crap out of their parent's boat. 9 times out of 10, we're the only ones sailing on the lake. Anyways, he also asked how I could spend so much time setting up something that takes so much effort to move across water (yes, he is a real champion in the gene pool). This was the question that changed a casual encounter into a hostel one in my mind. I let him know that pretty much any retard can pump gas into a tank, hammer a throttle down and cover the length of a lake in 1/2 hour and have nowhere else to go, along with the fact I can spend an indefinite amount of time on the water, limited only by food and water.
I know his limited capacity for thinking didnt intend for him to be so demeaning with the question, but it made me think about how long it will take for the rest of America to think of sailing as an archaic mode of transportation.

If it happens again, just ask him to go out for a sail. The look on someones face when they see that YOU can make the boat go where you want it to go just by pulling on some ropes and steering a bit is priceless.
You might end up with a convert and maybe even a friend.

Joe · Jul 18, 2012

There are a number of reasons why people choose sailing over power boating. For me, it has never been about counter arguments with power people.... you know, the economical aspect or the noise thing.... or taking your time.... 'cause I like power boats too... and I've taken enjoyable trips on both.

If you come up through the dinghy ranks....... you're sailing for the sake of using your skill and athleticism to get your craft in tune with what nature has given you that day... that's kind of my spirit.....and, I think the real essence of sailing..... but as I get older I sometimes think there can be a lot of work in sailing a boat.... and I am more appreciative of what a nice cruising trawler or sport fisher has to offer.... they're all cool.

My little sailboat also provides me the retreat and solice we all seek.... except when it needs work, heck, I enjoy that also....... but you can get that with a power boat also....

A power boat buddy used to come sailing with me quite often, before he died, and he always commented about how relaxing and enjoyable he felt.....but of course, I was doing the work heh, heh.... but it was cool to have a pleasant conversation at 5kts in comfortable seas..... rather than plowing over the waves at 20.... going nowhere in particular and the engine drowning out the conversation or stereo.

Then.... there's those of us who dream of crossing oceans... the freedom, if you will, a sailboat represents......... the legacy of the adventurer and explorer... from Leif Ericson to Jessica Watson.... it's just an overwhelming image.

For those who enjoy speed, sailing has its high tech multi hull crowd.... another world completely that perhaps a power boater could understand.... except the equipment and preparation intimidates them..... they would rather drop the jetski in the water and take off jumping wakes.... than spend an hour setting up their Nacra .... not realizing the sensation of speed is much greater in the beach cat.

The party barge crowd can never understand the weekend pocket cruiser people..... forget even trying to explain something incomprehensible to them.

Working on sailboats is pretty easy... and less expensive than power boats....so the sailor tends to be more of a DIY kind of guy.... on a blue water scale the term would be self sufficient.....

Musing a bit.... because I fit into every one those categories.

Siamese · Jul 18, 2012

I think you mistook his condemnation for a question. His rhetorical question, that is. He told he doesn't like sailing, and told you why he doesn't like sailing. I don't waste my time on those people.

If someone actually expresses an interest in sailing and asks at least one REAL question, they have my undivided attention. However, I'm trying to remember the last time that happened.

Skipper5370 · Jul 18, 2012

Different strokes for different folks! Is that Zen or just a tv show?

Douglast · Jul 18, 2012

i explain sailing to boaters by holding up my 3 gallon gas tank and saying i refill it once a season......

i explain sailing to my high horsepower sledding buddies in the winter by stating that our 200 hundred horsepower sleds don't hold a candle in power to a sail full of wind

nightowle · Jul 19, 2012

it's been said often........

....you've never had so much fun going so slow before!

Kermit · Jul 19, 2012

My very best friend and his wife have no interest in sailing at all. She is afraid of the water and he thinks sailing is to boating as the horse and buggy is to driving. To him, it's all about getting somewhere fast and in a straight line. He loves snakes and I have an irrational fear of them. I'm even afraid of those wooden jointed snakes in gift shops. Can't help it. I want nothing to do with them.

Another friend told me he's not happy on the water unless he's going 80 mph and making lots of noise. I told him my boat will on go 6 knots (actually I think my hull speed is less than that but I'm a guy, right?) but it is the most exciting 6 knots he'd ever do.

So, as my daddy used to say, every dog to his own bone. It will always be a mystery to me why everyone in the world doesn't at least want to try sailing once. When asked, I tell people the reason I like sailing is the sound of the wind and the waves and the smile on my First Mate's face. It just doesn't get any better than that.

WayneH · Jul 19, 2012

I love sailing. Always have. I can't understand the guys who blow past me at 80-mph. Did they see the dolphin just off my bow? Did they hear the dolphin take a deep breath. Heck, have they ever been sprayed by one who was right next to the boat? THAT was really neat.

The Admiral is afraid to get into the water where she can't see the bottom "Cuz there's things in there that might eat me!"

Swimming pools, yes. Oceans, OH HELL NO!

But she saw my daysailer sitting on it's trailer and asked why I didn't use it anymore. I told her I didn't have anyone to go with me. She says that was when she KNEW she was in trouble. LOL She also has a severe problem with motion sickness.

But she goes. One of our early trips was an overnighter on the daysailer. The winds really picked up during the night and we ended up surfing the waves coming back to the boat launch. And just like me, her day gets so much better when we shut down the engine. Here she is in the Gulf of Mexico concentrating on steering the boat but she still has a smile.

joes new addiction · Jul 19, 2012

Unless you do it and like it, they just don't get it!
I had a buddy help me set my sailboat up this spring. (he;s a former truck driver, can back a trailer ANYWHERE, and is strong as a OX just what you need to step a mast)!
He and I have have decades of motorcycle racing under our belts, built our share of fast cars.
I took him out after she was all set up fora shake down run, caught some nice breezes and I kicked back to enjoy it.
He lasted 15 minutes, (the time it took to find his smokes, light one and smoke it).
"This sucks, no noise, take me in".
I wanted to explain how peaceful it was, no engine noise, just you, the water, and wind, but I KNEW no matter what I said it'd fall on deaf ears!
I had my buddy's wife (they are BIG time fishemen) ask me why I want to do something that takes so long to set up (the sails etc), when you can just hop in a powerboat, hit the key and go.
"Cuz it just more fun" is all I could say.
I tell them IF 12/21 is real the gas is gonna dry up, I can still get @!
Joe
Know what Forrest Gump said don't you?

seabrooksailor · Jul 19, 2012

I spent several months restoring my 22 footer buying new sails and sinking money into it and a friend of mine teased me about it the whole time, when i finally got her ready this past month i took him on the maiden voyage and he has been begging to go back ever since. its just something you have to experience

centerline · Jul 19, 2012

this is just my opinion derived from observation I have made and although I think it holds a lot of truth, others may disagree....
there are some people in the world that it doesnt matter what sport or activity they are doing, they feel a need to be "noticed"... it may be an ego thing, but then it may not be ego at all that cause's the desire, but they still need the attention. (there are many reasons that come to mind from egotistical ones to more subtle ones)
in the sense of sailboat vs. powerboat, the high horsepower/go fast powerboat crowd is usually more of the type of person that has this need, whereas the the sailboat owner is a bit more low key....
there are extremes in both crowds but generally speaking of the largest percent of the participants, I think this statement can prove itself just by observations and conversations at the dock and boat ramp.....

one thing i would like to add that relates here but is also for another topic, is etiquette at the boat ramp (I think all states should offer a course for this) all boats should be prepped for launch at the staging area and then pulled to the ramp for quick launching. (no matter what size the boat, from 8' to 28', if you are spending more than 5-10 minutes getting your boat floating at the dock after you pull into position to back up, at the public ramp, you didnt spend enough time in the staging area) It seems like the bigger, fancier and louder the powerboat, the more likely they are to pull in and set on the ramp while they prep the boat for the water.... sometimes loud and drawing more attention to themselves, and then get unnecessarily bent out of shape if someone mentions there is a staging area for all that... but if you mention to them how nice their boat looks, they will take the time to talk about how much it costs to run and keep up and how fast it goes..... this type of person will never understand the draw of sailing or the tranquility that comes from it.....
with 40+ years of spending time on the water and at the ramps in trailerable boats, I have seen it happen with all sizes of powerboats.
maybe its just me, but I've never seen a sailboater do this.

sorry, im not sure if this was a rant (wasnt meant to be), or a comment about the observed differences of sail vs. power boat owners.... either way Im gonna hit the submit button

kpgraci · Jul 19, 2012

When a client found out I sailed he asked 'Where do you go, just in circles?"

sure...it's the journey, not the destination.

Have you ever been asked...

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