When another good looking vessel appears on the horizon on the same tack, it's human nature to make comparisons. Perhaps the other boat's rig is tall and the lines look good. But your pride and joy is in the groove and you just waxed the hull. As much as you're in tune with the elements alone, you can't help but take a turn on the winch to tune the sails just a bit more and coax that last 1/10th knot. Do you find yourself feeling competitive on the water, or is enjoyment of your surroundings enough for you? (Discussion topic and quiz by Trevor MacLachlan)
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Hmmmmmmmmmmm
Do you find enjoyment in your surroundings on the water or do you feel competitive on the water and is either enough for you?
Do you find enjoyment in your surroundings on the water or do you feel competitive on the water and is either enough for you?
I'm Bald!!!!!
I keep my hair short and know I'm a man! I also have a great wife so I'm not out chasing the women any more....I don't have to prove any thing to my wife. I just have to make her happy. That being said, I'm more than happy with my boat, and I know there are a lot which are prettier, and faster than mine and just like my head, I don't have to prove a thing with my boat. Those who feel they have to always prove something, need to learn to develope a good view of them selves. Oh by the way if I adjust my sails more than twice in a day, I think I'm racing.
I keep my hair short and know I'm a man! I also have a great wife so I'm not out chasing the women any more....I don't have to prove any thing to my wife. I just have to make her happy. That being said, I'm more than happy with my boat, and I know there are a lot which are prettier, and faster than mine and just like my head, I don't have to prove a thing with my boat. Those who feel they have to always prove something, need to learn to develope a good view of them selves. Oh by the way if I adjust my sails more than twice in a day, I think I'm racing.
When they pass you, the answer is
'they have a better boat' when you pass them, you're just a better sailor
ha ha ha Saturday I helped a friend bring his new to him Fales 32 from St Michaels MD to Middle River MD. When I saw boats (all of them) pass us I was just glad it was the longest daylight day of the year - and we used all of it.
'they have a better boat' when you pass them, you're just a better sailor
ha ha ha Saturday I helped a friend bring his new to him Fales 32 from St Michaels MD to Middle River MD. When I saw boats (all of them) pass us I was just glad it was the longest daylight day of the year - and we used all of it.Unspoken rule
My wife never believed me when I would always adjust this and then see who was winning the race. "They doesn't even know your racing" she would say. "Oh they know." It wasn't until she spoke with many other sailors that she realized I was tell her truisum. If you have two sail boats point in the same direction, it's a race and they know it. I once raced a Volvo racer coming out of Balitmore. I had him until he put his sails up, it was a poor excuse for a race.
My wife never believed me when I would always adjust this and then see who was winning the race. "They doesn't even know your racing" she would say. "Oh they know." It wasn't until she spoke with many other sailors that she realized I was tell her truisum. If you have two sail boats point in the same direction, it's a race and they know it. I once raced a Volvo racer coming out of Balitmore. I had him until he put his sails up, it was a poor excuse for a race.
Last year
When we first went out with our new boat we had great fun sailing and playing with the new to me In-Mast Furling and trying to play with it's roller reefing in different winds. And also playing with the new autopilot and C-80,my wife loves watching me have fun like a little kid in a candy store. So what is it that makes all these other boats sailing right up next to us working like crazy trimming the sails and cranking the winches. Is it they are amazed and want to be eye ball contact at how beautiful our new Hunter 36 shines or are they really racing us. Nick
When we first went out with our new boat we had great fun sailing and playing with the new to me In-Mast Furling and trying to play with it's roller reefing in different winds. And also playing with the new autopilot and C-80,my wife loves watching me have fun like a little kid in a candy store. So what is it that makes all these other boats sailing right up next to us working like crazy trimming the sails and cranking the winches. Is it they are amazed and want to be eye ball contact at how beautiful our new Hunter 36 shines or are they really racing us. Nick
Creating Controversy?
Sailing is a sport to some and just leisure time to others. All sports includes competition. Leisure time can mean just about anything to anyone. For the sports enthusiast, sailing means competing with other boats, most notably club racing. For the guy just hangin' out on his boat with no particular agenda trimming sails and boat performance are not on the menu. Neither of these is a moral issue, it's simply a matter of choice. There are plenty of guys in both camps. It's NOT a right or wrong thing it's a choice. Why do we need to pit sailing as a sport against leisure time spent on the water? These are mutually exclusive venues.
Sailing is a sport to some and just leisure time to others. All sports includes competition. Leisure time can mean just about anything to anyone. For the sports enthusiast, sailing means competing with other boats, most notably club racing. For the guy just hangin' out on his boat with no particular agenda trimming sails and boat performance are not on the menu. Neither of these is a moral issue, it's simply a matter of choice. There are plenty of guys in both camps. It's NOT a right or wrong thing it's a choice. Why do we need to pit sailing as a sport against leisure time spent on the water? These are mutually exclusive venues.
Competition is good
Brian, I don't think competition is for the weak at all. It depends on the type of competition. I am by nature a relaxed lets just go out and enjoy the day type of sailor and am not competitive by nature. I also find myself sitting up a little straighter and checking the set of my sails and course when heading the same way as another boat. I see it as simply learning how to get the most out of my boat. A friendly compeitition with another boat can push me to rethink how my sails are set and if there are any adjustments I can make which forces me to think about the lessons of sail trim. If he passes me I relax and tip my hat to him and go on with my sail. This is to me a healthy sort of competition.
Brian, I don't think competition is for the weak at all. It depends on the type of competition. I am by nature a relaxed lets just go out and enjoy the day type of sailor and am not competitive by nature. I also find myself sitting up a little straighter and checking the set of my sails and course when heading the same way as another boat. I see it as simply learning how to get the most out of my boat. A friendly compeitition with another boat can push me to rethink how my sails are set and if there are any adjustments I can make which forces me to think about the lessons of sail trim. If he passes me I relax and tip my hat to him and go on with my sail. This is to me a healthy sort of competition.
We enjoy seeing other sailors
When out sailing - we like seeing other boats out there. If we happen to be on the same tack - we use the opportunity to see how STARGAZER performs in relationship to the other boat. It's not racing, precisely, but it gives us an indicator of our performance. Bill on STARGAZER
When out sailing - we like seeing other boats out there. If we happen to be on the same tack - we use the opportunity to see how STARGAZER performs in relationship to the other boat. It's not racing, precisely, but it gives us an indicator of our performance. Bill on STARGAZER
You betcha.
On the same track? Cool, tweak the trim. Sixty feet long and twice the waterline? Hey, it took a while for him to pull away. I fall into the fine tune and see how we do camp. I also realize when physics are gonna kick my butt. Regardless, I'm always looking for the best speed on a given tack, even when I'm cruising. That's just the way I sail.
On the same track? Cool, tweak the trim. Sixty feet long and twice the waterline? Hey, it took a while for him to pull away. I fall into the fine tune and see how we do camp. I also realize when physics are gonna kick my butt. Regardless, I'm always looking for the best speed on a given tack, even when I'm cruising. That's just the way I sail.
Two things I've learned over time
No matter how fast your boat or car is, someone has one faster. When people say, Lets race, I always answer with OK, you win. Second, if I go a little slower I get to look at all the girls as they pass by.
No matter how fast your boat or car is, someone has one faster. When people say, Lets race, I always answer with OK, you win. Second, if I go a little slower I get to look at all the girls as they pass by.
In our neighborhood it's any 2 boats going
the same direction and in sight, one's that tick me off are the freakin multi-hulls that will go out of their way to show you how much faster they are.
the same direction and in sight, one's that tick me off are the freakin multi-hulls that will go out of their way to show you how much faster they are.
too many boats to race
In our area, there are usually way too many boats going in different directions, that I cannot set once and go. A good reach might be 15 min. and in that time I'm constantly looking for other boats ( power and sail) and judging my distance to the next tack to avoid either a sand bar off-shore or a rock shoal in the nmiddle of the bay. I sometimes equate it to walking across a freeway. By the time I get out into clear sailing I take the time to finally relax and sit back for a while.
In our area, there are usually way too many boats going in different directions, that I cannot set once and go. A good reach might be 15 min. and in that time I'm constantly looking for other boats ( power and sail) and judging my distance to the next tack to avoid either a sand bar off-shore or a rock shoal in the nmiddle of the bay. I sometimes equate it to walking across a freeway. By the time I get out into clear sailing I take the time to finally relax and sit back for a while.
It's always a race
I do not race, I cruise, but... Anytime I am sailing, I am trying to get the best performance out of DreamBoat. I just prefer to sail that way. If another boat is around, it is a competition. I don't race to prove anything, but to improve my own sailing skills. The only time I would not push the envelope is when we are serving food and/or drinks in the cockpit. The Admiral prefers a relatively smooth ride when we are entertaining.
I do not race, I cruise, but... Anytime I am sailing, I am trying to get the best performance out of DreamBoat. I just prefer to sail that way. If another boat is around, it is a competition. I don't race to prove anything, but to improve my own sailing skills. The only time I would not push the envelope is when we are serving food and/or drinks in the cockpit. The Admiral prefers a relatively smooth ride when we are entertaining.
I'll never forget the time...
...I was cruising up to the Delta in light air, just past Carquinez Strait, when we recognized a boat ahead of us, a dude from our yacht club. My waterline was eight feet longer than his and our spinnaker was up while he was under main and genoa. The race was on, as far as I was concerned, but I couldn't catch him. Spent two hours tweaking and re-tweaking until I finally got close enough to see that the silly little snit had his engine on. Ever since then, no more sandlot racing.
...I was cruising up to the Delta in light air, just past Carquinez Strait, when we recognized a boat ahead of us, a dude from our yacht club. My waterline was eight feet longer than his and our spinnaker was up while he was under main and genoa. The race was on, as far as I was concerned, but I couldn't catch him. Spent two hours tweaking and re-tweaking until I finally got close enough to see that the silly little snit had his engine on. Ever since then, no more sandlot racing.
william
throw a cunningham on that main. quickest way to fix what ails the trim problem you had.
throw a cunningham on that main. quickest way to fix what ails the trim problem you had.
I did that once
newly anonymous, I did that to some race guys years ago. I was coming into the jetties at Galveston, and they were about 50 yards ahead of me. I'm in a little Chrysler 22 and they are on a Pearson Flyer ( I think ) Anyway there all decked out, with their matching shirts and had been out racing. Winds almost dead astern and light. I cranked up the outboard, and kept up with them, gaining just a little. Drove these guys nuts, and I could see the trimming sails and working their buts off. If they would pick up a little speed, I would just crank in a little more throttle.
newly anonymous, I did that to some race guys years ago. I was coming into the jetties at Galveston, and they were about 50 yards ahead of me. I'm in a little Chrysler 22 and they are on a Pearson Flyer ( I think ) Anyway there all decked out, with their matching shirts and had been out racing. Winds almost dead astern and light. I cranked up the outboard, and kept up with them, gaining just a little. Drove these guys nuts, and I could see the trimming sails and working their buts off. If they would pick up a little speed, I would just crank in a little more throttle.
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