What do THEY think of us?

[Ray Bowles]

My wife and I learned 47 years ago that we had "very low inclusion needs." We sail and don't worry about the other stuff.
Ray

 

[LuzSD]

Exactly, Bill!!!

This is all speculation is it not?
I have for the past 4 years had a "Friday night sailing" invitation to most of my office and former co-workers. I have to confess that if I wanted any crew at all I had to email invite over 100 people. Some already have plans, for some it is too far or not far enough or we would be staying out too late or not late enough........about 98 excuses on a normal go round.
While it could be that I'm inviting the wrong people they all did say they would be interested in being added to the list of invitees.
What does that say about "what they think of us"

I think is says lots of folks enjoy the idea of doing stuff like sailing but few actually can get organized or motivated enough to actually get there. So does that imply that the sailing community is more organized or motivated than the mean person or perhaps even more than the upper standard deviation person???

I think that to the rank and file person out there we are a curiosity, but not one that is worthy of much investigation.

Bill, Could not agree more with everything you say here. I think it is fascinating how many miss the opportunity to enjoy such peace and quiet and exhilaration as a day of sailing affords, but what more can we do beyond inviting and then inviting again. Maybe that is why our crew together is such a sacred little group......we all share 'the secret' of our awesome times together.

 

[LuzSD]

What has not been mentioned is what we sailors actually think of each other. I have friends from way above the upper middle class, to a guy who has an old C22. Each and every one of them considers the rest of us an equal. There is no elitist mentality, nor class envy. Among my circle of friends, a sailor is a sailor, and the rest of the world don't count.

Very wise! and true.
maybe this is my favorite "people" part of this conversation..... I love all of our sailor friends and acquaintances ( even those I don't know, but just recognize) because we all share this common love. And you are right that the most expensive awesome boat owner rarely notices what you are sailing.....just how you do it, and visa versa!

 

[Jared1048]

I really like this topic...... the non-sailing world only see's the upper end of the spectrum...

aaaaand your avatar is of a great big square rigged ship! lol. the irony was to great to not say something...

 

[Jared1048]

What has not been mentioned is what we sailors actually think of each other. I have friends from way above the upper middle class, to a guy who has an old C22. Each and every one of them considers the rest of us an equal. There is no elitist mentality, nor class envy. Among my circle of friends, a sailor is a sailor, and the rest of the world don't count.

I think your right for the most part but it does bring up one incident I had with another sailor. Its probably wrong to take this instance and apply to all but it still sticks with me.

So I was sailing a course to this island and another sailboat with no sail up and obvioulsy underpower were on a near collision course (When I say collision I mean 20-50 yards). I thought about tacking back to give him right away but being under sail decided not too. I proceed to pass in front of this guy by about 50 yards and not much after hear this guy on channel 16 have the audacity to call me an idiot?! As much as I wanted to reply with some smart ass remark such as "As a fellow sailor i'd expect YOU to know who the give-way vessel is here!"...I didnt though to not clutter up 16 with this bs. anyways...rant over:cussing:

 

[BobM]

My experience also...

This is all speculation is it not?
I have for the past 4 years had a "Friday night sailing" invitation to most of my office and former co-workers. I have to confess that if I wanted any crew at all I had to email invite over 100 people. Some already have plans, for some it is too far or not far enough or we would be staying out too late or not late enough........about 98 excuses on a normal go round.

I pretty much just gave it up. One season I sent out an email every week to about 20 people. One came out. During an average season I have company maybe three times. The rest of the time I sail solo. Last year was abnormal by far, but I gave up chasing friends and coworkers. If they want to go, they know I have a boat and I tell everyone I am happy to take them out. But I refuse to chase them. When most people find out that I can't control the wind and weather on the particular day they might want to go three weeks hence they lose interest.

 

[WayneH]

From my motorcycle forum signature: "I don't care what other people think. They don't do it very often!"

So I ride/sail like the other guy's not thinking. And most times, I'm right.

 

[CPseudonym]

From my motorcycle forum signature: "I don't care what other people think. They don't do it very often!"

So I ride/sail like the other guy's not thinking. And most times, I'm right.

Much wisdom in those two lines.

 

[Kettlewell]

Occasionally I have some landlubber tick me off enough by saying something like "must be nice to be able to afford a boat like that," so that I am forced to point out that the two cars in their driveway are worth a lot more than my boat and my two old clunkers, plus I live in a small apartment, have always worked at least two jobs, and instead of spending thousands of dollars going on vacation a couple of times per year I go sailing whenever I can. It is a matter of priorities. If you want to do something you can figure out how to afford it. I have many times been anchored in some amazing spot in probably the cheapest boat in the harbor, but that doesn't make my view any less wonderful, the water any less beautiful, the sea life any less interesting, etc. One time I was in Hawksbill in the Bahamas and a megayacht pulled up and anchored near us. The crew all dressed in uniforms came out and rigged up one of those side stairways so the owner could board his dinghy, which was about 30 feet long. Eventually the owner came out and practically skipped down those stairs wearing an old bathing suit, some flip flops, and a battered hat. He gave me a big smile and wave and blasted off towards the beach. We were enjoying the same thing and my boat was worth less than the outboards on his dinghy. Now we could have been looking down on that rich guy for his showy boat, and he could have been looking down on us for our cheap boat, but what good would that do either of us? As everyone points out in this thread, it's not worth thinking about what someone thinks of you if it is what you want to do.

 

[AtlanticAl]

Worlds highest boat ownership per population is New Zealand, and New Zealand, is considered to be a classless society, then a huge number of boat owners in Australia, again classless society, and they have the closest wages between the socio economic groups, of any country in the developed world. In the UK its an across the board thing, but less of an interest to the upper classes, who would sooner pay half a milliion for a race horse, than half a million for a sail boat, their is also a lot of corporate sailing in the uk where companies own a racing sail boat, and their executives go out for weekend. No matter where you go though, its an expensive hobby, but then, so is drinking, smoking, gambling, traveling, and people that do those are not always rich. As to what people wear, its an identity thing, i noticed that when i used to go hill walking years ago, as soon as you walk into a climbing bar, people look at your boots, to see how serious you are, so the better the boots, like italian climbing boots, the better the climber it says you are, and the more banged up they are, the more experienced you are. Of course, buying gear to prove experience is completely false, but it does convince some people you belong in the club, it will convince the weekend sailors you belong there, but it might not convince the single hand round the worlder.

 

[fifedog]

Annapolis must think we're all rich, 'cuz they wanna jack our registration up from $25 to $125...

 

[Kettlewell]

$125 is a lot of money, but for comparison Florida has a $250 fee for the first registration of any car, new or used, on top of their regular annual registration fee. States are looking for revenue from every possible source other than where the real money is--all Hoovered up by the one-percenters.

 

[rpwillia]

Spot On

... "Friday night sailing" invitation ... if I wanted any crew at all I had to email invite over 100 people. ... I think is says lots of folks enjoy the idea of doing stuff like sailing but few actually can get organized or motivated enough to actually get there. ...

I think a lot of people like the idea but have no idea how much work is involved like you just magically show up and everything is ready. For my part I enjoy doing anything on my boat, even sanding the bottom, because it is sooo relaxing.

 

[gpd955]

I think a lot of people like the idea but have no idea how much work is involved like you just magically show up and everything is ready.

It's not for you? I usually have my people prepare my boat for me and cook all my meals and peel my grapes. After all, I'm a sailor and we're all rich!

 

[Stu Jackson]

Hey, Jack

After they peel the grapes for you, do they bottle them, too?

I've had a great deal of difficulty in teaching my minions to choose the right grapes and stuff them in the bottles.

 

[WayneH]

After they peel the grapes for you, do they bottle them, too?

I've had a great deal of difficulty in teaching my minions to choose the right grapes and stuff them in the bottles.

My minion usually tries to stuff them up my nose whenever I suggest she peel my grapes for me.

 

[Joe Diver]

..... Some already have plans, for some it is too far or not far enough or we would be staying out too late or not late enough........about 98 excuses on a normal go round.

....I think is says lots of folks enjoy the idea of doing stuff like sailing but few actually can get organized or motivated enough to actually get there.....

In my experience, people will do what they want to do. If it's something they're really interested in, and really want to do it, they will make time for it in their lives and go do it.

Otherwise, it's a passing fancy, or they're just being kind to your interests. The expression of wanting to do it is not genuine.

 

[Dan Johnson]

At my Club we have doctors, lawyers, judges, carpenters, electricians, contractors, salesmen, retirees, small business owners, teachers, and managers. In other words, all types with both power and sail boat ownership. All of us share the boating lifestyle. Some even occasionally play golf.

"THEY" have expressed envy, jealousy, wonder, and after being taken sailing, awe.

 

[Robert 47]

I love this web site! My wife wants a nice boat, and will spend money on it. She enjoys the honor of having the best decorated boat in the harbor. I just work on it and sail it. But do take pride in it. Oh, and she wears high heels all of the time. But on the boat, she goes bare foot. The other sailor is right, the media wants you to think this way, just as they want you to think........? O well I was going political there. Sorry guys.
I don't ask how much the diesel is, I usually get ask how much I use in a year. My reply is about $40.00. Usually pisses them off. No reply.

 

[Mormandeus]

I get the same attitude from lots of people. My boss was a major contributor to this with "I must be paying you too much if you can afford a sailboat". Finally I shut him down with (I'll give you the abbreviated version)
-mooring $186 to put down
-boat $4500
-insurance -under home ins policy no extra charge
-registration fees none
-licensing fees none
-fuel about $40 per year
-other maintenance and upgrades -$200 -$300 per year
-6 months of sailing -About 250+ hrs per year

Boss
2 skidoos - around $25,000
insurance -about $1200 per year
trail passes -$900 per year
maintenance - lots
registration -$180
fuel - depends on useage - about $150 per outing
purchase and maintenance of trailer for hauling
very expensive keep warm gear

No wonder he can't give me a raise!