Differences between the Sexes

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Sailfree

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Thamas1's post about entering the marine industry through a YM course got me thinking.

1. Is sailing both as a hobby and as a job male dominated - if so why?

2. Is it a preverbial nesting instinct that cannot be satisfied in Women by live aboard sailing.

3. Is sailing unpredictable and sometimes frightening or dangerous and it doesn't appeal to Women who have more sense than put themself in harms way.

4. Is it because we all become Captain Blighs immediately we get behind the wheel/tiller and make it unappealing to Women.

5. Is it that Men are more adventurous

I realise it can only be discussed in generalities as there will be exceptions but am interested in others thoughts! I am aware of many men who love the sailing yet it seems to appeal to much fewer women - just wondering why!
 
As a male, I cannot possibly enter into any correspondance which would lead anyone to assume that I know anything whatsoever about the female thought process or their habits with regard to sailing or any other subject.
I have a proven track record of this total lack of knowledge which I will defend robustly and if necessary litigiously with any party who cares to venture that I might have some inkling ,insight or knowledge.
So with the background and game rules established, my thoughts are:-

1. Is sailing both as a hobby and as a job male dominated - if so why?
Yes it is. I don't know why.

2. Is it a preverbial nesting instinct that cannot be satisfied in Women by live aboard sailing.
This question is ooutside the limits of my knowledge or understanding.

3. Is sailing unpredictable and sometimes frightening or dangerous and it doesn't appeal to Women who have more sense than put themself in harms way.
Yes, yes, yes. Couldn't comment on the harms way thing.

4. Is it because we all become Captain Blighs immediately we get behind the wheel/tiller and make it unappealing to Women.
A fine upstanding Officer of His Majesty's Navy, exhonerated at the Court Marshal. It was unappealing to Mr Christian, but I couldn't comment on the question apropos a similar (but not the same) situation applied to Women.

5. Is it that Men are more adventurous
Who could possibly say? Indeed who should say? I for one lack the bravery to comment.

I hope this helps


Jim
 
I firmy believe that the reason more women don't take on sailing is that they have the innate sense to realise that owning a boat is a mere frippery and totally inconsequential. Owning a boat simply makes no rational sense and is a complete waste of money, whereas owning 67 pairs of shoes, 23 handbags and £1000 worth of toileteries and make-up is completely logical.
 
Absolutely correct. Furthermore "going for a walk" is much better than going for a sail. There is no tippiness involved in walking, unless a pub is part of the walk, but that would be fairly illogical anyway.
 
[ QUOTE ]
....3. Is sailing unpredictable and sometimes frightening or dangerous...

[/ QUOTE ]
Yes, so should be nicely suited to women's character
 
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
....3. Is sailing unpredictable and sometimes frightening or dangerous...

[/ QUOTE ]
Yes, so should be nicely suited to women's character

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Ah - only when they are the one in control .... they need to be frightening and dangerous ... they usually are, to my sense of wellbeing and size of wallet. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
 
this was taken yesterday
witchyhop.thumb.gif
 
To be honest, you can only generalise. However, many women don't like roughing it, and much of boating is seen in the same perspective as camping by many, until you get up to the larger mobos which have all mod cons.

On the other hand, I know several women who enjoy the experience as much, or more than, many male friends.

In my experience, what puts many women off sailing, is the heeling, which has been mentioned here many times before.
 
[ QUOTE ]

In my experience, what puts many women off sailing, is the heeling, which has been mentioned here many times before.

[/ QUOTE ] I'd agree very much with that. My lady wife doesn't like a boat that's "too close to the water" either.
Theories on the "tippiness" phobias?
 
Having just returned from a week's sailing with my wife I can say that some of the things that put some women off sailing are:
Being seasick.
As a corollary, any swell (the "S" word).
Smelly holding tanks and bilges.
Tacking against the tide. (I'm with her on this one)
Getting salt water thrown over you while sitting in the cockpit, in particular getting a wet bum.
Getting rained upon unnecessarily.
Other boats converging on your position when you thought they should be keeping out of your way.
The noise that 30kts of wind makes in the rigging.

Fortunately none of the above, and we nearly had them all, proved terminal to the holiday. Though No. 3 came close. Heeling has never been a problem, which in our boat is a good thing.

Things that put SWMBO off helming, which is not the same thing, are:
Not being able to predict which way the tide/current is going by looking at the water.
Not being able to predict what the boat will do when maneuvering under engine.
An over active imagination when it comes to the consequences of a collision.

Most of the latter are down to lack of experience, which we agree will be ameliorated, if not cured, eventually.
 
I take you are referring to Powerskipper and not my lady wife who's domain displays only a red page and the tempting slogan 800x600.
Must have a spring clean of domains sometime.
 
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