More the merrier?

[Dan]

expensive to get in

At 39, it is still a dream to one day just sail away to see new places and meet new friends...But unfortunately, the cost to get in to sailing is so much. Twice I got close... They say the third time is the good one...

 

[SailboatOwners.com]

Final results

Final results for the Quick Quiz ending 8/25/2002:More people don't sail because: 51% Intimidated by all there is to learn28% Perceived cost13% Fear of wind and water09% Lack of adventurous spirit

 

[beauchene@yahoo.com]

Sailing may not be for everyone.

I almost feel at home on my Mariner after a late start in sailing. At the age of 40 my wife gave me my first sailing lessons. Before that I never had the opportunity to sail.On a somewhat lighter note, my wife says that the reason more people aren't into sailing is because it too hard to work the sails while holding a beer can. Drinking and boating a big problem in Michigan.

 

[Steve LeBlanc]

Why not learn to Sail

I believe that all sail boats do hold some sort of romance. No motor, just wind and the sound of the sea. I have owned both, stink pot (ski boat) and rag ship (sail). I have always enjoyed the sailing the most. What may turn most off from sailing is the learning of all the terms and technique, which I still haven't mastered yet. Still there are those who look at salt water and get sick and then the last, those who have obligations and are afraid to take the step away from just 1 of them.All I know is when I am up there in front of St. Peter, I can at lease say, I sailed.

 

[archie christian]

Are You Kiddin' Me?

The answer is simple. Competence. Sailing demands it. Does that say something about the NASCAR,MonsterTruck,WWF,Tattooed,Bodypierced, human race?

 

[Mark R.]

Reflectin and Reverence

I will contribute this:That is that we humans...we spend 5 days week turnin' and burnin'.. working hard, meeting deadlines, fighting traffic jams and over all going fast to our respective destinations. Most people don't catch on that sailing isn't about the destination - it's about the journey. People how want to go fast in their jet boats, ski boats and ski doos simply are taking for granted what mother nature offers. Sailors on the other hand, respect what mother nature brings and offers. It's the journey that is the reward. I have a 23' O'Day and cannot wait to be able to break free of the hussle of work 'n life on the weekends...just to set sail...feel the breezes and see the sails catch the wind..taking me to whereever I want to go.Why don't they want to learn to sail? Simple..if it can't be learned at the speed it takes to email someone....they don't want to bother with it..fuel it and go would be their motto.Not our style, not our way of enjoying life.....set sail...and enjoy!

 

[the Pirate of Sha-lin]

More Fun

I've asked several people, boaters and non-boaters why they don't sail. The answer is always the same: too slow. Ours is a culture that always moves fast, so I can understand that. The thing that I don't understand happens when I see those overpowered racing type power boats. (My kids and I call them "Lock Delaware monsters). There might be 4 or 6 people aboard, and only one might be having fun: the driver (helmsman? pilot? whatever...). The rest of the people are just sitting there. They can't talk or listen to music over the noise of the engines, they can't even stand up or go to the head without fear of being thrown overboard. They just sit. Where's the challenge? Where is the excitement? Where is the conversation? Why are they there? Give me a day with my rails in the water, hopping from cockpit to foredeck 20 times, doing 8 knots. Let me adjust my sheet lines with all three hands to make the most of the wind and water, and I'll thank goodness I have something to do besides sit like a statue, and call it fun.

 

[T.Leighty]

Publicity

I think that the sport does a less than adequate job of promoting sailing on a local level. The clubs are quiet about what they do and they don't encourage the youth outside the club to join in. Perhaps it is a characteristic of sailors.

 

[Rhett Lloyd]

My Dad

From my small and limited view here in a small harbour town on Northern Lake Michigan.The question of why do we have so few sailiors amoung us is I feel, due in a large part to parentage. I grew up on sailboats and remain a sailor. My two boys are growing up on sailboats and I suspect they will remain committed to the sport. Without any exposure to the sport during the formative years, I see few who become enamored with it latter in life. Let us be thankful that fewer are comming on board these days, as that leaves the waters of the world more open for the few of us who do sail.

 

[Dave]

Early starts are best!

My parents and older brothers were sailors when I was growing up. As a 1st grader or so, I thought nothing of being out in my Pram in enough wind to snap the mast in two. Thank goodness for beamy boats for grade schoolers.I have a love for sailing, but I'll have to admit, as a young man, it was more attractive to run off with the gang on the powerboats, than it was to introduce them to the finer points of sailing. Most of the other club kids got more frustrated than infatuated with the racing scene soon after we graduated from Prams.That mentioned, the emphasis on racing is time consuming and can add to the time required to "enjoy" sailing with the spouse, friends, and other family.

 

[Thom Broyles]

My story

As for me, I have always WANTED to sail, but for the longest time I just didnt think that I could afford it, or I couldnt at least justify the cost of buying a boat when there was so much more in day to day life that HAD to be done. Finally, this last summer I just decided that I had wanted to long enough, and if I didn't start sailing soon, I probaqbly never would.After shopping around a bit and talking to some people that had sailboats, I found a great deal on an O'Day 23 and I absolutely love it. I had never even stepped foot on a sail boat until i took this one out for the first time. Truthfully, it still scares the he!! out of me from time to time, and I get frustrated that I havent come to grips with how to deal with the wind gusts, of how to trim the sails and so forth by the second day. But, I am gettin much better, and more comfortable each weekend. And I have met some people at the lak that are very helpfull when giving advise. Oh, and yes, one thing that I noticed, people with sailboats love to talk about them!!!The one thing that I wished was around here was some kind of sailing school, or classes that teach specifically about cruiser boats. The only classes I have seen concentratemore on sailing dingys'. And I do think that more people would sail if there was more availiable exposer to it.The other thing that is too obvious around here is... there are no stores that have sailboats. the only thing that you find at marinas are power boats, bass boats and Personal water crafts.