Are women better on the helm?

iangrant · 10 Nov 2003

Sailing back from the Folly trip (with the usual bloody hangover) two crew members from this forum took charge the helm and what one would loosley call "navigation"?.
The female member watched and stuck to near perfect tacks using the wind instruments.. The male member took over - after twenty minutes "'cor look at that the wind's dropped right off, hang on why are the forts over there, what's goin' on we've stopped..." Grins all round!!
Fantastic sail both ways, good company and a great weekend..

Ian

<hr width=100% size=1>

Neraida · 10 Nov 2003

I have to agree, women are better at everything! all the time!

Note to beloved...;
Can I have those new winches now please sweetheart???

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.quest-net.org/jamesaustin/images/Img1094.JPG>Recognise us?? </A>

iangrant · 10 Nov 2003

How long did it take to get back then, more or less than twenty minutes?

Ian

<hr width=100% size=1>

Neraida · 10 Nov 2003

took ages, left too late, no wind /forums/images/icons/mad.gif

Ended up sticking the kite up to try and get an extra couple of knots..

Trip over was fab, analised the figures, averaged 7.43 knots "pontoon to pontoon" according to the gps track....
was really looking forward to a "hairy" trip back with the wind up our chuff, but it never happened!

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.quest-net.org/jamesaustin/images/Img1094.JPG>Recognise us?? </A>

Peppermint · 10 Nov 2003

Re: Women Drivers

Better. Well they're often better at helming in the morning for reasons I can't understand. Quite often better after lunchtime too. I think they should drink more. Give us a level playingfield.

<hr width=100% size=1>

Chris_Robb · 10 Nov 2003

Its all a question of concentration - my wife can knit at the same time as helming - provided the autopilot is on.

How did your weekend at the Folly go - not been there for years. I might go this weekend, but can you tell me:

1. Do they have their own shore connected pontoon? - ie I have sent my dinghy away to have a repair!

2. Do they have electricity - to run a TV (Semi finals sunday morning on TV)

<hr width=100% size=1>

CPN · 10 Nov 2003

Re: Analised figures

Going stern- first presumably

<hr width=100% size=1>

Neraida · 10 Nov 2003

Re: Analised figures

oops! Analysed even /forums/images/icons/blush.gif

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.quest-net.org/jamesaustin/images/Img1094.JPG>Recognise us?? </A>

Neraida · 10 Nov 2003

Re: Analised figures

oops! Analysed even /forums/images/icons/blush.gif

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.quest-net.org/jamesaustin/images/Img1094.JPG>Recognise us?? </A>

suse · 10 Nov 2003

Presumably why he was called a 'male member'!

Crudity apart - I (elderly girlie) can sail a boat pretty well, but MANOEUVRING near hard, expensive objects (boats, pontoons, etc) under engine - well, frankly I'm crap, cos I dont like bashing things, so I'm always too far off. Male partner is MUCH better, but cant sail. Division of labour, I guess, but not always a good idea.

(PS to self - book that close quarter manoeuvre lesson next Spring)

<hr width=100% size=1>

powerskipper · 10 Nov 2003

I vote for the female, offten better at close quarter stuff as tend to think and go slow, men can IMHO be a bit of a speed demon. And females [ runs for cover] can offten do two things at once./forums/images/icons/smile.gif

<hr width=100% size=1>Julie ,
IMOSHO of course,<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by powerskipper on 10/11/2003 12:18 (server time).</FONT></P>

BlueSkyNick · 10 Nov 2003

"And females [ runs for cover] can offten do two things at once" - true, but one of the two things is talking so it doesn't count.

<hr width=100% size=1>Real stress is when you wake up in the night and realise you haven't been to sleep yet.

ruthhobson · 10 Nov 2003

Watch it - we'll get you with our handbags!

Ruth

<hr width=100% size=1>

jhr · 10 Nov 2003

<<And females [ runs for cover] can offten do two things at once>>

It is, indeed, true. There was a fascinating documentary on the telly a couple of years ago, demonstrating that women can multi-task far more effectively than men, though whether this is down to nature or nurture remains uncertain. The theory seemed to be that, after generations of caring for children whilst cooking dinner, doing the ironing, nagging their spouses etc., all at the same time, women had conditioned themselves to dividing up their attention, rather like a p.c. doing lots of things at the same time. Blokes, however, spend their lives single mindedly trying to catch dinner or have sex and thus operate in a linear way, so that, to extend the computer analogy, they switch down one programme before opening another. This, as I never tire of trying to explain to SWMBO, explains why men won't ask for directions - 'cos they're busy driving.

)

<hr width=100% size=1>

iangrant · 10 Nov 2003

Chris,
Yes the pub has it's own pontoon, you should get on it if you are there early enough.
The Folly Inn 01983297171, book a table. They'll give you the number of the H/M for the pontoon.
There is 240v on the pontoon but only two (maybe 4) sockets, first come first serve.
The council pontoons opposite are served by a water taxi, no power..

Ian

<hr width=100% size=1>

bedouin · 10 Nov 2003

The folly were showing the quarter finals on TV yesterday morning, so I guess they'll be showing the semis as well

<hr width=100% size=1>

Chris_Robb · 10 Nov 2003

Ian - thanks for that. If you are going another weekend - give us a yell

<hr width=100% size=1>

charles_reed · 10 Nov 2003

My experience of teaching people to helm is that women are far quicker at becoming competent and can steer accurately for far longer than men before Eysenckian inhibition sets in.

Partly this may be due to the ability to multitask, but more often than not it has to do with being able to sense the boat and become part of it.

However off the wind, when a considerable degree of anticipation is called for skilled male helms tend to be better than women - part of this may have to do with quicker reflexes and manual strength, but more to do with confidence.

men tend to be more self-confident (some might say overconfident).

However, when you get to national class helms I don't think you'll see a difference, but for me a good over-spec electric autopilot is the best of all.

<hr width=100% size=1>

powerskipper · 10 Nov 2003

In that case 3 things at once, and duck

<hr width=100% size=1>Julie ,
IMOSHO of course,

themount2 · 11 Nov 2003

Ian
I bet the "male member" appreciates the anonymity and integrity of your post. I can't lose!!
Brian

<hr width=100% size=1>

Are women better on the helm?

New member

New member

New member

New member

New member

Well-known member

New member

New member

New member

Active member

Well-known member

Active member

New member

Well-known member

New member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Active member

Well-known member

New member

Share this page