Why we bought our boat

[Kermit]

My wife and I found out all over again this weekend why we bought our boat. We took our 9-year old granddaughter on her first sail. She was as excited about going as we had hoped. She inspected every inch of Palmetto Moon and seems to know it even better than we do. She now has her own Wateree Sailing Club cap. Perfect weather and just the right amount of wind this past Saturday.

We've found that most "real men" would rather be on a powerboat and go where they want when they want. It was nice hearing our granddaughter say, "I wish my Dad had a boat that didn't make noise." Ahh, youth!

We picked up the pictures from Walgreen's on the way to take her home. She left us a few and is so excited to show her classmates what she did over the weekend.

I'm glad we bought our boat!

 

[Ed Schenck]

Lucky guy! My four grandkids are too "mature" to go sailing with G-Pa as they call me. Here's a picture when they weren't. Fortunately I have a new 7-month old grandson coming along. I'll get him before he discovers girls, cars, and the X-Box.

 

[Rich Stidger]

Excellent post to cure the mid-November doldrums! Congrats on indoctrinating a new sailor!

 

[inarathree]

Excellent! Grandparents are the best! If I had known how much fun they were I would have spent all my life with them first.

 

[richk]

Our seven year old grandson made our day this summer. His dad and other grand dad are both powerboaters. When the seven year old went out with us and we killed the engine and sailed he just smiled and said "It's so quiet!"

Wonderful.

 

[Kermit]

What a great surprise to read everyone's fantastic remarks to my post.

My parents gave me sailing lessons on a Sunfish when I was a teenager. I sailed all through high school and a little as a young adult. Didn't sail again for about a million years. My wife and I sailed on a Hobie Cat at a resort just a few years ago. She had never been aboard any type of sailboat and immediately fell in love with it. Although not quite like riding a bicycle, most of my knowledge came back fairly quickly. We bought an AquaCat soon after returning home, then got the urge to have a boat we could sit in and not just on. Although it didn't take too long to learn that a 23 foot boat is considered small, our Hunter 23 is the first "big" boat I've ever sailed. We love the simplicity and challenge of our new pastime.

Sailing doesn't seem to be nearly as popular now as it was when I was a teenager. I plan to introduce the sport to friends this summer. I hope at least a few people will discover the thrill of actively relaxing to the sound of the wind and waves.

 

[C Jones]

And a great time was had by all. Wonderfull post. My son has sailed with me since he was 5. He is now 20 and serious about it. I'm giving him lessons and loving every minute of it.

 

[jblersch]

I got hooked on sailing when I was young sailing with my grandparents on their Aquarias 23. Once you've got the bug, you can't get rid of it!