Black sailors

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Jules

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Mate of mine was in Capetown at local yacht club and remarked on lack of coloured peolple sailing. Was told by locals it was because "blacks don't float". I couldn't believe this, and rubbished the statement, but someone else said they had heard the same, so a little web searching brought up opinions from NBL coaches, scientists etc. Some of it was wild and extremely racist, but a summary would be that black athletes have less body fat than whites and consequently swimming involved more energy useage than whites. All well and good, but why would this preclude them from sailing? I have several friends (white!) who sail and can't swim a stroke.
Are the world's yacht clubs universally racist? Is the sailing environment perceived as exclusively white? I don't believe this, so what gives?
Do we need a Tiger Woods to change this?
Sorry if this raises an ugly dilemma, but I would be interested to hear of others experiences.
Cheers
 
Known some great black sailors, don't know if they swim, but my own experience was that the 'officers' of my yc at the time were v racist, but in a patronising way, rather than directly rude.
 
There are loads of black sailors, most of them professional though. In places like Cap Verde, Brazil & the Caribbean you won't see a white face on a fishing boat.

The local Yacht club in Mindelo (Cap Verde) and Fortaleza (Brazil) have many "slightly darker than white" members all sailing Optimists, Lasers and Hobie Cats.
 
Weren't the originals the Corsairs ... well known for their sailing as well as other things
 
I can't recall seeing any blacks, non whites, (or whatever expression is PC) on any boats, or in any clubs I've been to in UK. But I've not been looking either so I may be wrong. I hope that there isn't any discrimination; there may be a perception of it that keeps people away from the sport.

I've heard the story about not being able to float and have my doubts, but I just don't know. Unfortunately, in these PC times, if it were true we would still not be allowed to do anything about it as everyone has to be exactly the same regardless of the facts!

Personaly, I hate discrimination, but I hate Politcal Correctness just as much.
 
I suppose not being able to swim relates to having a fear of water thus not enjoying being on a boat. I don't think there are more black people who can't swim the're just not so good at it. You just have to look at competitive swimming e.g. the olympics, this probably relates to the percentage of bady fat theory.
 
Firstly, in the same way the black's don't float, white folk can't jump (basketball) or run very fast (100 metre sprint and marathons).

The only people that are truely PC are white males.

Think about it before you slag me off.

White males must bandy too:
- equal opportunity with women and darker folk in the workplace
- not having Music Of White Orgin awards but MOBO awards are okay
- not being able to say "I don't like you" because peeps say I am racist when I in fact I don't like that person because of their ethics and manners but it's ok for a dark person to say they don't like me.

I could moan for ages. I won't. I'll just say how amazed I am at how many white folk are beginning to become intolerant of black folks PC demands.
 
Wrong!

"White heterosexual employed males" is more like it!

Apart from that I'm not going to slag you off.
 
If anyone here thinks that Affro or Black people can't swim, then I suggest you pay a visit to Mile End Swimming Baths E1. A shock awaits you /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Near where I live there is a council run sailing centre, on a school day if visited you will probably see the next generation of black yotties!

Also...I spoke to a black Yottie once whom owned a Macwester 26 moored at Mersea Island, Turned out to be a really nice guy and other members walking along the pontoon gave him a wave and a hello!

Black yotties are out there but I wear specs! /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
 
Black people don't float because of less body fat???!!! I've never heard such b******s in all my life it's unbelievable the amount of quack science that's on the net. Don't believe all you see on the net.

Colour has nothing to do with a persons abilities.

As for why there aren't more black, indian, chinese etc. etc. sailors in the UK in my experience I've found this comes down to a few things.

BTW this is all very brief as there are MUCH deeper issues here.

Environment & economics
Many blacks, indians, whites etc. cannot break from the daily struggle of making enough money to live from day to day let alone pay for a yacht. For the majority of people it's an accomplishment just to keep a decent car on the road.

It's a sad fact that many black, asian, indian etc. families cannot get out of the various inner cities around the UK not because of not having enough money simply because a lot of the "nicer" areas in the country still has a problem with non whites in their community. So why leave the relative safety of your present community to risk abuse in another?

Investment is needed to help promote to all communities to have a go on the water sailing or hiking, mountain climbing, bob sledding, kayaking and so on. However, due to under investment in schools and sport awareness by the government and councils this doesn't happen as they have more important things to do like wars, car parking profiteering and so on.

So sadly what's promoted more is how it's cool to have a car with nitrus oxide injection, dealing drugs and looking good at the bus stop by the media.


Yachting's media image
The glamour image of yachting is always promoted, it has to be flashy and has some half naked bird or bloke draped over the bow.

It's always about the image of the sun soaked paradise, champagne and toffs or upper middle class families enjoying the fun with other like coloured people the only non white people you see are those that are doing the local menial activities. I've never seen a brochure or yacht magazine that has a non white person enjoying ownership.

This simple fact is extremely off putting for many, many people even if you are indian, chinese and black middle class and can afford yachting the image that is promoted is immediatly white and white only.

I was at the LIBS on the 7th and I only saw 1 or 2 black people and the odd indian chap.

I've seen the work some of the charities/schools do to get kids afloat of all colours and the joy on their faces is undeniable BUT because of the way yachting is promoted parents who see their children stimulated may want to find out more however, they can be put off by the image that's projected - white only and costly.


Yachting is not affordable
It's rarely promoted how yachting/sailing can be affordable, what's rarely promoted is the joy of second hand ownership, the achievement of sailing to a new port 10 miles along the coast in yacht or dinghy why?

We calculated that for what it costs to buy and run a second car you could own and run a yacht no problem. We continue to promote that to people who have never sailed before who we know.


There's loads more and I know I banged on a bit but I think I highlighted the main points.

Oh yes my qualifications for these opinions? I'm mixed race and I fought my way out of the inner city and I've experienced everything above first hand. I've not witnessed any racism from individuals maybe that's because I'm 6ft 5, have a large build.

However, I think it's the duty of the media and yachtsmen to stamp on racism and promote sailing all we can.

PS. I can swim too, kind of blows that quack science apart.
 
I don't think that anyone has been saying they can't swim, but have been questioning the "low body fat" theory. The question remains as to why so few blacks are to be seen in boats around our shores. The fact that you can only quote one instance supports the arguement.

The original question was asking why there are so few black sailers. We still haven't had an informed answer from anyone.
 
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We still haven't had an informed answer from anyone.

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Thought Captain Haddock made a cogent response re social/economic factors, as against the twaddle about body fat etc.
 
Brilliant well thought out reply.

I was thinking about this thread. I thought that if, as I often can be, am made to feel like a creature from the swamp because I enjoy sailing but am not a yachie! Often in oil and paint covered jeans, not caring if the boat looks a little tatty around the edges am made to feel uncomfortable; It is no wonder people who have problems every day from bigots feel interpretation about joining such a lifestyle.

I would be concerned that adding 'token' blacks would be seen for what it is in the brochures, the problem surely goes deeper than that. How can we fix it, it is unjust and unfair. I will wave to the next boat regardless of crew, I may double take at a black crew because I can honestly say I have never seen one.

I hope that the situation can be turned around, or a growth in the sport as 'we appear to be quite good on the world stage' will promote it to everyone.
 
Quote. "However, I think it's the duty of the media and yachtsmen to stamp on racism and promote sailing all we can."

I totally agree about getting rid of racism, though "stamping on it" can be counter productive.
I'm not at all convinced that it is an issue which should be addressed in the promotion of the sport. That begins to sound like tokenism and so called positive discrimination which is just as bad.
Sailing should be open to all. I hope it is.
 
Perhaps its maybe because that we are not living in a persons native country, as to why there are not so many black sailors here Joe. I am sure if you visted the Caribbean you then would be the minority white sailer!
 
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I am sure if you visted the Caribbean you then would be the minority white sailer!

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Sorry to dissappoint you but the place is packed full of noisey yanks that holler and flash off that horrid fist waving yodel when George Bush shows his face on TV
 
What has floating or swimming got to do with it? In the days of sailing fishing boats the fishermen often used to refuse to learn to swim as they saw it as prolonging the agony if they went overboard or the vessel sank!
There was an interesting programme on R4 yesterday where the Beeb tried to find out why members of racial minorities in Manchester would not go for walks in the countryside. They took some ladies of Chinese origin out for a day on the moors and they hated it. Couldn't wait to get back to the city. When asked why they said they felt insecure and the countryside was boring. Could this apply to sailing if it's not your natural environment?
I go along with Capt Haddock's views.
 
I've never been to India, so I too don't know how it might be there and South Africa only makes up a very small part of Africa and there, you'll struggle to find black sailors. As for the rest of Africa, I am as much in the dark as you are.
 
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