Does sailing have to be "fun"?

[Bru]

Contrary to the view of 'getting away from the wife', I would rather sail with my wife, even with her very limited sailing skills, than anyone else. Sailing is something we can do together, enjoying the peace and quiet of an anchorage and relax.

On the boat we are both restricted in what we can do, we are saved from the drudgery of life. At home there would be some chore to, on the boat, well, just chill.

+2

With our working patterns and what have you we hardly get to spend any time together at home, on the boat we haven't got any alternative!

It's a challenge! For about 5% of my sessions I know that by some fluke of circumstances of wind, tide, heading and my randomly set up rig, that the boat is actually sailing properly, and the challenge to me is to get that percentage up to some acceptable figure, like 20%.

I know that feeling EXACTLY!

My instinctive feeling is that when sailing to windward last (our first) season we had Brigantia going right maybe twice including one time when for three tacks we were gaining on a much bigger boat. Then we lost the plot and they sailed away from us with ease

So this years challenge is to figure out what we were doing right when we got it right and what we were doing wrong the rest of the time! Can't wait to get on with it

 

[onesea]

As other say its how you define fun!

Sailing has so many aspects, there is something for every one, speed with no speed limits, endurance, intellectual, physical, patience.

When sailings getting a bit full on and fun, I have a little giggle. SWMBO has learned to hate that giggle as she knows something is about to happen but not what .

When it is cold wet windy and generally not fun, is the time I normally ask (with big smile "Are we having fun yet?".

9 times out of 10 it raises a smile on the 10th time it gets me a bruise which raises a smile from the giver

 

[Seajet]

After the roughest sail I've ever had, ( my experienced crew admitted later that he thought our time was up ), once the boat was berthed and we stood on the pontoon I said " I suppose in retrospect that'll be a good sail ! "

Everyone has a different idea of fun, but the reason I'm not a huge fan of singlehanding is that I like to turn to my companion / crew and say 'this is great, isn't it ! '.

 

[Sans Bateau]

Your next sail always promises to be your best sail.

 

[RobbieW]

My belief is messing about in boats, is messing about in boats and should be fun, sailing, rowing, motor,whatever form it takes, the same thinking goes into the employment during my work life if it ain't enjoyable change jobs.

Exactly so, as Ratty put it so eloquently:
`Nice? It's the ONLY thing,' said the Water Rat solemnly, as he leant forward for his stroke. `Believe me, my young friend, there is NOTHING--absolute nothing--half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats. Simply messing,' he went on dreamily: `messing--about--in--boats; messing----'

 

[Sans Bateau]

Exactly so, as Ratty put it so eloquently:
`Nice? It's the ONLY thing,' said the Water Rat solemnly, as he leant forward for his stroke. `Believe me, my young friend, there is NOTHING--absolute nothing--half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats. Simply messing,' he went on dreamily: `messing--about--in--boats; messing----'

 

[Chrissie]

Its certainly not always fun, often completely exhausting, when you're soaked through, tired and scared and wishing you were safely tucked up at home in bed, but then you get in safe, the sun comes out and glistens on the water, you get a nights sleep and the world is wonderful again, and you love sailing, its exhilarating and gives you the biggest high.

A bit like having a baby, really hardwork and so so painful, then you cuddle your baby and the world is great, a year later and you have forgotten how painful and awful it was and thinking of doing it all again.

 

[Angele]

A bit like having a baby, really hardwork and so so painful, then you cuddle your baby and the world is great, a year later and you have forgotten how painful and awful it was and thinking of doing it all again.

Many of us will just have to take your word for that.

 

[Seajet]

Miles Smeeton of 'Once Is Enough' fame said he 'didn't feel alive unless he had a really good fright at least once a month'...I'd be quite happy to endure freshly caught Mackerel on a beach barbecue !

We used to drag my fiancee's young sister around off Towan beach, Cornwall on a line from my Scorpion dinghy; it was fun and I was careful, but I hate to think how many Elf laws I was breaking, presumably I'd be in the Tower of London if doing it nowadays...

 

[Babylon]

Its certainly not always fun, often completely exhausting, when you're soaked through, tired and scared and wishing you were safely tucked up at home in bed, but then you get in safe, the sun comes out and glistens on the water, you get a nights sleep and the world is wonderful again, and you love sailing, its exhilarating and gives you the biggest high.

A bit like having a baby, really hardwork and so so painful, then you cuddle your baby and the world is great, a year later and you have forgotten how painful and awful it was and thinking of doing it all again.

It is said, apparently, that men wouldn't be able to stand the pain of childbirth!

Back to boating then...

I love sailing because it is real, elemental, because it challenges me; it enables me to rise above my own everyday self, overcoming my fears, wraping my head around problems of varying complexity; at each juncture it presents me with new levels of engagement and commitment; and it enables a far-off dream of further horizons.

In the meantime, Happy Hour at the club bar is fun.

 

[Chrissie]

"I love sailing because it is real, elemental, because it challenges me; it enables me to rise above my own everyday self, overcoming my fears, wraping my head around problems of varying complexity; at each juncture it presents me with new levels of engagement and commitment; and it enables a far-off dream of further horizons."

Babylon, that is such a lovely way of describing it, just reading that makes me want to go and get on my boat, cast off and enjoy! sadly life gets in the way, but by next weekend.... four months off, I can sail loads, maybe even think about a UK circumnav. during my four months off next year.

 

[Seadog17]

Exactly so, as Ratty put it so eloquently:
`Nice? It's the ONLY thing,' said the Water Rat solemnly, as he leant forward for his stroke. `Believe me, my young friend, there is NOTHING--absolute nothing--half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats. Simply messing,' he went on dreamily: `messing--about--in--boats; messing----'

When I'm not home, messing around on my boat, I'm doing my job messing around on bigger boats. Most cannot understand why I should want to live life like this. I cannot understand their lack of understanding.

I simply love the sea.

 

[Woodlouse]

I like sailing because once I've left the harbour in my own boat there is no one who can tell me what to do. It's the last true freedom we have I think.


Working on boats however, it's a fine way to earn money, but I don't get half the satisfaction I get from sailing for myself.

 

[stav]

I love all aspects of the sea and really relish the range of challenges that sailing provides and enjoy racing, cruising and just messing around. Over the last two weeks. We have been to France for the weekend, been out with students in a laser stratos(?), sailed a 100yr gaff day boat and been out in 27 knts in my westerly conway just for a fun bash around the bay and starting to get to know her. Also added a £200 25hp outboard to my 15' open boat (with 15) and now she does 22knts! Hoping to get back in to the racing scene again as well and have 10 days of blokie sailing to look forwayd to at the end of July! Followed by a couple of weeks with family.

Still need to cross an ocean, visit the baltic, great lakes go around UK and Ireland and at some time would like to be paid for sailing.....

So I suppose for me no sailing does not have to be just for fun all of the time; to extend the range that is fun then that experience has to be gained first.

 

[jeanne]

I think that the main reward of sailing is a sense of achievement.

 

[Danny Jo]

There are times when I have wished I had sailed a day earlier or stayed in harbour a bit longer, but those times are greatly outnumbered by "fun" times. Fixing things, planning trips, getting the boat ready, sailing, finding the gremlin in the broken kit, mending it with the stuff available, good company, funny stories, arriving at new places, meeting new people, eating well, and watching the sun go down in an isolated anchorage.

The hardest bit is reconciling the fun I have with the suspicion that I don't really deserve it.

 

[Kukri]

Exactly so, as Ratty put it so eloquently:
`Nice? It's the ONLY thing,' said the Water Rat solemnly, as he leant forward for his stroke. `Believe me, my young friend, there is NOTHING--absolute nothing--half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats. Simply messing,' he went on dreamily: `messing--about--in--boats; messing----'

+2. Describes my feelings exactly. Oddly, whilst my definition of Heaven is sailing my own boat, I enjoy standing on the bridge wing of a VLCC and sitting in a tender in very much the same way.

 

[Seajet]

A bit like having a baby, really hardwork and so so painful, then you cuddle your baby and the world is great, a year later and you have forgotten how painful and awful it was and thinking of doing it all again.

Chrissie,

call me the last of the romantics, but if I had to go through that I'd be thinking to myself " well how long is it before this will be a useful crew member and able to play 'count the swearwords' on Channel 10 " ?!

 

[RobbieW]

Conrad vs Ratty

Interesting the way that replies in this thread seem to be broadly falling into two camps. On one side you have a sort of Conradian heroism, on the other a Rattyish enthusiasm.

Then theres the Tilman/Shackleton approach to crew finding - 'Hands wanted for long voyage in small boat: no pay, no prospects, not much pleasure'

I think I'd listen to a talk from the Conrad camp, then go for a beer with a Ratty