Sea(wo)manship

[Warren Milberg]

Here are

a few anonymous quotes pulled off the web...."There really is an element of chauvinism, they will take the mick out of you for wanting to learn and once you are on board they will give you all the easy jobs.""But the fact is, that if you have two boats all kited out the same, a woman can beat a man over the line. Sailing is all about technique, maybe that’s why they don’t want us around – they know we have the ability to beat them.""But it’s not just the chauvinism that prevents women from sailing. Samantha says success stories such as round the world yachts woman, Ellen McCarther *not even close* and Whitbread racing competitor Tracey Edward have failed to draw more women to the sport because women are still afraid of big seas, bad weather and seasickness."

 

[CharlieCobra]

A little slice...

My Wife, hates to rig up and down. She hates stearing because she has no confidence yet. My Daughters on the other hand, love to go fast and to run the helm. I think Mamma will come around with more boat time so until then, I'll be patient and pinch up higher.

 

[Foamy]

They can do it.

I married my wife 15 years ago. Since I had a boat for several years prior to our marriage, I slowly reintroduced her to sailing. She had some experience many years before. After some time she, and some of her girl friends took classes in Lidos and Shields at OCC Sailing Center in Newport Beach Ca. Best investment in time. Now for the past few years, she and her girl friends take our Cat 38 to Catalina for a week at a pop. I love to hear the stories about the macho men sailors, and especially the powerboat kings that watch them sail into the coves, drop sails, and pick up a mooring; all without so much as a few spoken words, and probably better that the men could...and then wonder where the men on board are. My wife is 57 and 5'-2"...it's all in the desire and the willingness to learn...and get out and do it, and don't worry about the consequences.

 

[Franklin]

brains vrs strength

Brains can beat strength. A two HP engine can pull a tree out of the ground giving enough mechanical advantage. A woman can trim any sail or sail any boat given the right equipment (windlass, electric winches, bigger winches, large wheels or long tillers). Sure, the equipment can become expensive, but there is a way.Speaking of a way, if your having a hard time trimming the sail, just round up into the wind and pull the lines tight and then fall off and slowly let it out. Much easier on the muscles to let out then to pull it in. On a tack, pull the sheets tight in the middle of the tack. Makes trimming easier.So any woman can captain any boat if it's outfitted right and she is taught the tricks.I would however agree that on average, women are much more scared on sailboats then men are. Friday a boat came back with 3 women on board. All 3 admitted to being scared at one point or another that day. It was the first time for only one of them. The two guys were only scared when they ran into the finger at a knot or more (seems I've also been recruited to show them how to dock since they can't seem to get that right in 4 months time).

 

[Stephen Prusinski]

A lot of women do sail.

Our Hunter 28.5 is originally in my wife's name. She bought it so we can learn something new together. We both took sailing lessons together and we both have equal knowledge and experience on sailing and our boat. We basically share the "skipper" duties based on whose at the helm. She hates doing mechanical maintenance, but she keeps the boat clean inside and out. I keep up on the maintenance.Our relationship isn't unique. There seems to be a lot of husband/wife teams throuhout our marina and at the local yacht club. Quite a few women own and skipper their own boats and many of 'em sail singlehanded. They're out there...I guess they just don't take the lime light as they should.--Steve and Melinda--sv El Elyon

 

[Bob W.]

"OH, To Be Young Again."

Years ago, I had the chance to trailor my C25 to Pensacola, FL for a week of Gulf sailing. I stayed at the Pensacola Yacht Club where I made many friends and asked them if anyone ever wanted to crew. They all replied by suggesting I check the club bulletin board. Sure enough on the board was about a dozen names, half women and half guys. I called the guy's---they had to work etc. etc. The first girl said sure and what slip are you in? Next day we met, fired up the motor, left the club and she was forward and rigging the sails. "Mr. W. Do you mind me taking the helm?" No, Please do! She reached for the wench handle, gave the jib acouple turns, put the starboard rail in the water and said, "I like to go fast." I never touched the tiller all day but made a "Hellva lunch for us." Don't under estimate woman sailors..

 

[roland20244]

women under sail

My 66 year old wife is the captain at the helm when we are motoring. I (70 year old) am the captain at the helm when we are under sail. We sail a Catalina 36 MkII.

 

[r.w.landau]

four or five years ago

we ran into Womenship aground. The captain's wisdom shown. This was on the east coast of Fla. Womenship was aground in an inlet from the ocean/inland. As most know, a hump forms in most inlets on the east coast. They change as often as week to week. The Womanship we encountered, had a draft almost 1.5 feet deeper than ours. They were aground for almost 2 hours and already waiting for high tide. The one thing that they did was, by their determination, demand the we did not fail at our attempt at making that inlet.They ,though they knew it not, challenged us to be extra careful in that inlet. We used a lead line an the depth finder through that inlet.We offered help and they were confident that in two hours they would be free. They were right on, in two hours they anchored in the same area we anchored in. A definition of we: My dad, my self, two brothers and a friend.To the women of WOMENSHIP sailing from Marathon to Miami on that date.Nice job. You knew what needed to be done, and you did it!r.w.landau

 

[KathyL]

I've got to chime in

I'm a sailboat owner and like Steve and Melinda, my mate and I basically share the skipper duties. I would never call myself the captain. Speaking for myself, I love the fact that whatever success we have on the water depends entirely on our ability to do what needs to be done in the circumstances. It's just us and the wind and the water. In this age of computerized, automated new and improved everything, who (man or woman?) in their right mind wants to actually have to work to have fun? Hmmmm... maybe that answers the question. More women than men are in their "right mind" and therefore don't sail. For what it's worth, I also have a motorcycle. Kathy

 

[Kay]

Some will Some won't

I have owned three sailboats, it was my project and my money that bought them. I found that for the most part I could get helpful advice when I needed it. I learned quickly that not all advice is good. I found that as I got better and the boat got bigger there was from some men a little hint of resentment. Sort of like what are you doing here?I also found that Yacht Clubs are not welcoming to single females period. Some sailing clubs because of their membership makup like military clubs are welcoming (they sorts haveta). I still found that when they have a Capt's meeting that they sort of look over my shoulder as if they are looking for my Capt'n. When they figure it out (that I am the Capt.) they go with it as they have no choice, but I don't feel like I am accepted at the same level. I like sailing for a lot of reasons the feeling of a boat going through the water the sun and wind and yadda yadda. I also like being the Skipper making the decisions and plans, carrying them out and being responsible. Some of the women I know don't want to be responible for the boat or what it does they would rather their man do that, they can sail but they don't want to be in charge (conditioning?). I like being in charge and I'll tell anybody on my boat what to do in heart beat. If I screw something up I take the blame. This whole admiral thing is to keep the little woman happy and in her place. Believe me some of them want to be there. Not me, that's why I own the boat, so I can be the Skipper. I crank the winches, weigh anchors and get muddy doing it, I change the oil and filters, I dump the potty, scrape the bottom, and do repairs as well as cook and clean. At the end of the day I have my cold cervaza with lime and salute the sun with a grin on my face. I love being the skipper of my own boat and I have met a few mostly younger women that feel the same way. Can't wait around for some nice old man to give me a boat ride. Smooth sail'n ya all

 

[sailorgirl]

Women in sailing

I see a number of women sailors, but we are outnumbered by men by more than 10 to 1. I've been sailing with friends for 25 years, but only knowing how to sail myself for 14 or so. I've skippered a J24 for a woman's team, done foredeck on a Catalina 27, and crewed on a 42' boat as the only woman doing such races as the Mac on Lake Michigan. Several years I bought my own boat, a 27' Hunter, and am getting into cruising, as well as learning about diesels, bilge pumps, and the like. Most women do not have the mechanical know-how that so many men have, and it's rather daunting. The past year has been a steep learning curve for me. I must say I take pleasure from the looks I get from men when I'm singlehandling under sail going through the mooring fields, going out to Lake Michigan or coming back to the dock or my mooring. Now if I could only meet some nice guy who loves to sail as much as I do! P.S. I bought my boat on ebay. How's that for adventurous?!

 

[Kay]

You GO Girl

That's the spirit hope you find your man too!Smooth Sail'n Kay

 

[Ross]

At this point I must tell you about my Nancy.

About 1988 I rigged a Grumman canoe for sailing. Complete with out riggers, pontoons, a sprit sail that Nancy sewed. And we sailed around the Havre de Grace- Susquehanna flats area for a couple of years. But Nancy wanted a little more of the comforts of home. ( like a toilet). So we searched for a proper boat and we found one on Thanksgiving weekend 1989. A full keel 30 foot Islander for 5000 dollars delivered to our side yard where I could work on re-fitting her. Little did we know just how much refitting was involved. We persisted and in August 1999 we launched the completely refitted "Bietzpadlin". Nancy reveled in the new boat, we were down there every night for a little while sailed when we could take time. In early September she received word that the latest Mammogram had a place that needed to be investigated further. We sailed some more that fall but her heart wasn't in it and we put the boat on shore for the winter. She had surgery for stage one cancer and followed with chemo and radiation therapy. Understand Nancy is no wimp. She finished her therapy in April and said that it was time to put Bietzpadlin back in her slip. May 11 2000 her birthday we have the boat put into the water and motor to the slip . So far so good. Approaching the slip I ask Nancy to fend off forward, She grabs a boat hook places it against a pile and nothing happens, there is no push left in her. so she sits down and bawls. and a slip neighbor and I get the boat and Nancy into their berths.Fast forward to this summer Nancy is feeling like she has recovered from the cure and is ready to try sailing without being scared to death every time the boat heels. We have tried sailing every year and she does very well, takes the helm while I tend the sails but has been very fearful because she has very little endurance. This year she is saying that she feels like she can start learning some of the fine points of boat handling. She is truly a good helmsman.

 

[Tereza]

Young female salts up and coming!

Yes, fact is, more men doing it than women. But it's not the sharp dichotomy many of you men seem to think it is.I'm the captain of my small boat, with my husband as a reluctant first mate. I'm pretty mechanically adept (owned, restored, and repaired lots of unreliable little British and Italian sports cars). Learned plenty from men and women, and am quite happy that my very mechanically adept hubbie does like helping out with the boat while on the hard. And I definitely appreciate and won't turn away help when needed from a muscle-bound man, or one with greater sailing savvy.More men - sure. Why? History, tradition, the way things were - no mystery, and no need for revolution.This week, went out for a sail with my 10 and 12 year old nieces - they captain the Capri 14's that they have been taking sailing lessons on...they were naturals! They didn't know they were outnumbered. Perfectly comfortable young salts they were, too.There favorite instructor? Lisa. Least favorite? Donald. (Names changed, but not genders.) Donald was conceited and arrogant, putting down the other instructors. Lisa just taught them sailing. Change will come, naturally, now that sailing is a leisure activity, not (for the most part) a way to earn a living as it was up till a century ago, women are being drawn more to it.And I don't mean earning a living by running sail charters in the Caribbean - I mean the harsh, dangerous, necessity that it was generations ago, when boys were drawn to the sea in spite of the dangers. Now we all can be drawn there, but under much less severe circumstances. That alone is a sea change (pun intended!)

 

[Ross]

Tereza, I haven't seen lake candlewood

since I left Connecticut fifty years ago. Grew up in Newtown, Watch them build the dam across the Housatonic river in 1953-4-5. Used to Ice skate on the new lake. Enjoy the world of sailing and don't let anyone get by with gender specific roles.

 

[Stephanie]

Women Sailing in Minnesota

I only got into sailing at age 30, I've been charting my own boats for 4 years, and now, I have my own Hunter 26'. Mid size boats are much easier to handle than the 34-38' boats I chartered. This summer 'Exuberance' has been a rookie training ground for my friends. There are at least 2 other women boat owners in my marina, and I've met many competent women sailors in the Northern Lights sailing club, good role models and mentors.

 

[Joan of WIND SONG]

Teach your daughters to SAIL!

Some of the posts by men on this topic are outrageous and insulting to women. The attitude they show is archaic. It's downright unbelievable that men today still talk with such controlling terminology about the women in their lives. I can only guess that most of the men who replied are younger, probably much younger than I am too, which is really scary for the noose they are holding around women. If Dads a generation or two ago had only taught their daughters to SAIL, there would be a lot more women on the water today. TEACH, MENTOR and enjoy sailing together. About 10 years ago, a woman friend and I took the Coast Guard Aux Sailing course at the local adult ed program. Some male class members were complaining how hard it was to find crew. We were anxious to sail and offered to crew for anyone in the class. Not one invitation all that summer!  I bought my first sailboat for my 60th birthday...wish I had been able to do it years sooner! I was thrilled 2 of my 4 adult daughters actually went back home and took sailing lessons. I was thrilled to sail with them, when they came back north for Labor Day weekend. Ofcourse, they learned a lot faster than I did. I may be the Captain by ownership, but by skill level, they outshine me...and that's OK. I love being out sailing the Lake Superior waters with them or other friends. My one rule for myself, is to always go out with at least one crew member who has more sailing experience than I do...that insures that we all enjoy a great sail!Sailing is such great relaxation for women! Fair weather sailing is fine for me. But there is no reason that women aren't capable of competing in any sail races. LEARN YOUNG, feel the power of the water. At least I was introduced to sailing as a child, by participating in pram races at the local yacht club. But, for me that was a long way back! Fair winds young women, TAKE THE HELM!PS: Our harbor master is a woman, an experienced yachtswoman too.

 

[Greig Carroll]

Women in Sailing

There are plenty of women in sailing. Almost every boat in our marina has one or two. Some of our boats are owned and sailed only by women. In the case of my (our) boat, my wife is an equal partner. Okay she is a more equal partner. She has no problem letting people know that I am the skipper, undisputed. Mind you in the same breath she lets them know that she is the owner!! I have to face facts, without her I'd still be watching from the beach but with her help and love of the sport we now have a Hunter 30 and we are activly searching for a larger boat to retire on. Ask most guys around any club and you'lll get the same response. They are the skipper but they answer to a higher authority that has just as much fun and sails just as well as they do.

 

[Warren Milberg]

The Issue

isn't "how many women sailors are out there" (plenty IMHO), or if you let the "little woman" take the helm of your boat once in a while, but rather why so few women own their own boats and captain them? Since skill and resources would not seem to be the problem -- as women have them in the same measure as men -- it must be that owning a boat just doesn't appeal to women in the same numbers as men.

 

[Dick Westwood]

Not true on my dock

I'm in amongst the 17 to 25 footers, and I see plenty of women on board: at least two of them skipper their boats. Just opposite me is a 22 footer that a very cute lady single-hands. I've not convinced her yet that I'd make the ideal crew for her boat!Dick