automatic racing....

[Ripster]

What is it about a sailboat compared to a MOBO that makes you want to race everyone. Maybe its just me, but if we are coastal sailing and there is another similar boat going in roughly the same direction, I go all out to stay ahead or try to catch up (much to annoyance of SWMBO when we heel too far and keep tacking). In our MOBO I never really got the urge to do this, but on this one, its like a red mist. I do go out in local races, so its not like I don't quench the racing bug a bit, its just that its becoming an automatic reflex.

Am I alone or do peops recognise this game?

 

[[70521]]

Am I alone or do peops recognise this game?

I don't do any of this racing stuff, could not care two hoots what others are doing.

 

[fireball]

What is it about a sailboat compared to a MOBO that makes you want to race everyone. Maybe its just me, but if we are coastal sailing and there is another similar boat going in roughly the same direction, I go all out to stay ahead or try to catch up (much to annoyance of SWMBO when we heel too far and keep tacking). In our MOBO I never really got the urge to do this, but on this one, its like a red mist. I do go out in local races, so its not like I don't quench the racing bug a bit, its just that its becoming an automatic reflex.

Am I alone or do peops recognise this game?

Of course we recognise it ... !

Two boats going the same direction is a race ... even more so if you know the other vessel.
Of course, you do pick and choose your opponents ...

Why do we do it? Because life is a competition - and it's a natural instinct to try and be better than our peers ..

 

[sarabande]

agree with Fireball; it's a natural competitive instinct among Type A personalities

I think it's because on mobos, it's just a question of who has paid for the bigger engines, but on raggies, it is down to YOU to to tweak and adjust the bits of string.

 

[Achillesheel]

So its not just me then.

it might be a question of "Am I getting the best out of our boat? Am I going as fast as that other boat? What happens if I tweak this/that?"

 

[westhinder]

it is down to YOU to to tweak and adjust the bits of string.

That is exactly the point for me: testing that I get the optimum out of the boat and the quiet satisfaction that gives.
Nothing to do with alfa-male stuff. I had the same feeling on my earlier, slower boat. If the other skipper has bought a faster, bigger etc boat, good for him.

 

[lw395]

It's because we half expect SWMBO to ask 'why is that boat going faster than us?'

 

[wotayottie]

What is it about a sailboat compared to a MOBO that makes you want to race everyone. Maybe its just me, but if we are coastal sailing and there is another similar boat going in roughly the same direction, I go all out to stay ahead or try to catch up (much to annoyance of SWMBO when we heel too far and keep tacking). In our MOBO I never really got the urge to do this, but on this one, its like a red mist. I do go out in local races, so its not like I don't quench the racing bug a bit, its just that its becoming an automatic reflex.

Am I alone or do peops recognise this game?

You are a long way from being alone and dont believe the non racers who say they never do the same when cruising. Times many I come up on another yacht and can see the other helm starting to look my way and to tweek things.

Why do we? I dont really know but I guess its a mixture of natural male competitiveness and the boredom that is helming a sailing boat on a long passage

 

[[70521]]

You are a long way from being alone and dont believe the non racers who say they never do the same when cruising. Times many I come up on another yacht and can see the other helm starting to look my way and to tweek things.

I shall wave as you pass by.

 

[Tomahawk]

Whilst not actually racing...
If we overtake the boats ahead of us.. we have a wider choice of moorings

 

[Sans Bateau]

Can you afford the diesel to race a mobo!

 

[sailor211]

We do not race, however neither do we arrive in second place

 

[johnalison]

The difference is that in sailing we are exercising skill as well as our wallets and the keenest ad hoc races are between sister ships. Under motor it is only a matter of how much fuel you want to use.

 

[Tomahawk]

The difference is that in sailing we are exercising skill as well as our wallets and the keenest ad hoc races are between sister ships. ......

But that doesn't explain why ther is the need to start "not comming second"

 

[wotayottie]

We do not race, however neither do we arrive in second place

That nicely sums the whole thing up.

 

[trapezeartist]

Because second place is First Loser. I don't think I know anyone who doesn't start an informal race as soon as they are close to another boat.

 

[BelleSerene]

What a great question!

Is it that when we see another (similar-ish) sailing boat going faster than us, we reflect we're not doing something as well as we could, whereas in a motor boat it's just that we're less hard on the throttle?

That does though then feed two things: a desire to do better - using the other boat's performance as a yardstick for what we should be able to achieve - and also a competitiveness with the other yacht!

Perhaps the first is a healthy reaction, and in fact one of the appeals of sailing: getting the most out of a reasonably complex system. Perhaps the second is little more than beating a car away from the lights.

But it's a whole lot more rewarding than beating a car from the lights!

 

[WayneS]

Always a race.

If I lose it is because they have a greater LWL, better sails, or because I am not in a hurry.. If I win it's because we are better.

 

[doug748]

Never in a hurry myself, hate it.

If at all possible I always sail a different course, tack or bear away.

Problem is the silly buggers follow you. I am always reminded of my Aunt Eliza's Jack Russel, which was so pumped up it used to screw table legs.

 

[benjenbav]

Always a race.

If I lose it is because they have a greater LWL, better sails, or because I am not in a hurry.. If I win it's because we are better.

Exactly. And if they overtake, a cheery salute by means of raising one's teacup is in order. I mean, I couldn't have been trying if I was drinking a cup of tea, could I?