Next Generation

[Tom Monroe]

what justin said ...

Well, I'm 54 but what Justin said really resonated with me ...When I was 22 and going to school and didn't have two nickles to rub together, I found an old plywood dinghy in a backyard 300 miles from where I was living. I borrowed a car top carrier and drove that thing back on top of an old Dodge Dart that was more rust than metal. Untold hours sanding, painting, caulking, improvising, etc. Like Justin, I did without ... a lot!When I finally got her on the water, she wouldn't get out of her own way.But she was MINE!There's a young man in the back of the parking lot at my marina that has this old hulk, and the same glow in his eyes. Last night, because of these posts, I drove over to my son's house and had a long talk with my grandson, age 11. The one who thinks my old O'Day is boring. I was saving up for a new lawnmower, but he's going to help with the mowing using the old one, and the money is going into an old snipe I know of. And we have some great plans for the summer.And Justin, his name is Justin!Tom MonroeCarlyle Lake

 

[Tom Ehmke]

Great story, Tom Monroe

When I was 22, I began to build a sailboat in my dad's storage building at home. I ran out of money at about the time the hull was completed and couldn't buy the hardware to finish it. I moved away and he decided to tear down the building.  I moved the shell of the hull to the place in the country where I was renting. Moved the darned thing several times, until I lost it in a barn fire a few years ago... always hoping to finish it. The fire still burned within me though, and when a close friend passed away in 1995 I decided to go boat shopping and not wait for retirement to enjoy sailing. We bought our ODay 272 that year. I was 51.  I now have grandkids and have my eye on the two oldest for some summer sailing because they are old enough to crew on the boat and because I hope that they will discover the wonder and thrill I get when I sail. God speed to all of us as we invite another generation to get out onto the water and sail.Tom

 

[Brian]

Took me a while

Though I have been dreaming about and sailing since I was a teenager, it took me until I was 30 to be able to afford the boat I wanted. I understand that I could have gotten a small boat just to daysail, but the idea of weekends/weeks sailing was where my heart was at.I will agree that most young people don't want to putter along under sail when their friends are tearing up the water on a hot jetski. At the same time, there are fewer places to go and enjoy a sail on inland waterways. All of the motorboaters and jetskiers tend to lessen the experience.I will say my best friends 11 year old daughter has been out sailing with me and she loves every minute and looks forward to doing it again and again. Maybe there's still hope?

 

[Rob]

Light in their eyes

I am marrying the love of my life, a beautiful woman and her 2 children this summer. I have been slowly intoducing them all to the wonderful world of sailing.... I have sailed since I was 12 when I built my first popular mechanics boat..it "JUST" floated...But was a blast to build....One of the best desisions my parents made was to enroll me in Boy Scouts... there I learned all the basics of sailing that I still rely on today.Over the last few years our son has beamed everytime we go.....Our daughter is still wondering why the deck cant stay flat,,but loves to go out.......Since I introduced our Son to knots he is crazed. he can tie more knots than I. we gave him a visual book for Christmas and he is amazing.....We have an inflatable with a 10 hp engine and yes the kids love the speed but also love the power of the wind.well most of the time. our Yacht club's founder is the marina owner.he and his wife raised their kids on the water and have kept that family atmosphere since....Plently of youth running around our docks......As soon as they are older they will be in Sea scouts... races and cruising like us.....Not everyone wants to be a power boater.. well I guess Ill wait and see..... But I am adding Our 2 to the future of the water sports.....we have a number of water toys,,Kyaks, sailing dingys, rhodes19, inflatables and a 46'Morgan.....just need more time

 

[RICK ELLIS]

THE YOUNGSTERS CAN SAIL WHERE I AM AT

THE CLUB WHERE I KEEP MY BOAT HAS A SAILING PROGRAM FOR THE KIDS. THEY USE SAILING PRAMS. I GET A REAL KICK WATCHING THEM CUT EACH OTHER OFF AND MANUVER FOR A MORE FAVORABLE POSITION.AS I WATCH THEM I FEEL CONFIDENT THAT SAILING WILL BE IN SAFE HANDS FOR YEARS TO COME.

 

[Nate]

Thanks for the responses

I'd like to thank all of you for your responses- a lot of good points were raised. I sincerely hope that the sport has not left its future in its wake. I understand the misconception that the sport is too expensive for younger people, but i know it to be just that- a misconception. We stole our boat for a song, had our initiation fee waived at the YC and our monthly dues don't even approach the cost of gasoline for the stink pots out on the lake. I do think that there is something to my generation's addiction to adrenaline and our 3.5 second attention span that explains the lack of interest. I guess the answer is to keep exposing new people to the experience. For my part, I'll be spending the next eighteen or so years trying to infuse my two with the bug- they're both under three, so I'll have plenty of time. Tom, thanks for the story. Keep us posted on Justin's progress.