Female blue water cruisers please check this out

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Olly

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Hi Ladies,

Are there any female blue water cruisers (or would be female blue water cruisers) out there who would be happy to share their thoughts/experiences with me. I am a virtual novice as I only started sailing this year but I've managed over 700 miles in the last 6 months. All of that was day sailing. Having read several books about solo and couples blue water sailing adventures I find myself thinking about this type of sailing (I suspect against my better judgement, friends advice, career and pension planning etc ). I would like to communicate with someone who is actually doing it, or is well on the way, to find out what is involved and see if I really have what it takes.

I know it's early days but .....................................

Cheers

Olly

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Re: Shouldn\'t this end with

Such a cynic! Why did you look anyway - you arn't female - or is there something you are not putting in your profile?

Not quite sure what you are getting at there John - I'm just looking for some honest women to women inside info!



<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by Olly on 20/10/2004 17:57 (server time).</FONT></P>
 
Re: Female blue water cruisers please check this o

Hi - we're not out there yet, but living aboard and well on the way. It would be useful to know what you are dreaming of - eg with a partner, singlehanded, as skipper or crew, crossing oceans or staying in Europe....? I would suggest

(i) lots of reading. Lin Pardey is always useful n lots of fronts, plus eg 'The Cruising Woman's Adviser'. Sadly all American/Canadian, but lots of useful info. Personally I LOATHE those books which always assume the woman aboard is the first mate, but I don't know what your plans and circs are. Also some good 'reminiscence' books, eg Pat Grace and Mo Jenkins (can't remember the titles) and Tania Aibe (sp?) 'Maiden Voyage'. Grace and Aiebe both circumnavigated singlehanded and Mo Jenkins too up sailing in her '50's and went across the Atlantic alone on her own Spray.

(ii) continuing with the sailing experience of course, particularly if you can find women to crew with

(iii) if you are interested in a further conversation etc send me a PM with your details and I'll give you a ring!

(iv) there are many other bluewater boards, eg cruisenews.net and sailnet which have some women specific info as well.

HTH and good luck



<hr width=100% size=1>Sarah & Pip

www.greatlittleboats.com
UK & Ireland distributors of Swifgig
 
Hi Olly,
You never know if you 'have what it takes' until you are actually doing it. The fact that you are seriously thinking about it shows that you've got what it takes to get going! Carry on from there.
I have read as much as possible but have not found a book which gives me the information I want. I'm talking about all that personal bilological female stuff that all these books pretend dosen't happen.
I agree with Abigail about how disappointing things like 'The cruising woman's advisor' by Diana Jessie is.
If you want to contact me on my e-mail about solutions that I have worked out please do.
NB. I have lived aboard cruising for several months and am refitting before leaving in the spring for a ?several year cruise with family.

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a few books

dragged aboard - don casey title says it all

the cruising woman's advisor - diana jessey less patronising but still assumes 'he' is in charge

anything by beth leonard no assumption of the 'little woman' here

taking on the world - ellen of course. 'don't EVER treat me like a girl'

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I've done a fair amount of long-distance sailing, mainly with my partner in our yacht, sometimes with larger crews, both as skipper and as crew. My partner and I are currently preparing for another extended cruise.

Are you planning on going solo? Are you in the situation of being persuaded by your other half that it would be a good idea?

The way I got into it, 20 years ago, was to do an RYA evening course and through that I was put in touch with people looking for crew for a delivery trip. I answered an advert for bringing a 33' yacht back from Gibraltar to Lymington. It was with four great guys and looking back, I was lucky to find such a compatible crew for my first time, which is important. I'd recommend this approach if you want to get a feel for what blue-water cruising is like, without totally committing yourself. There are now crewing agencies which make finding contacts easy.

Please PM me if you would like to talk more about this.
 
Re: Female blue water cruisers please check this o

Hi Abigail

Right now it's just that - dreaming! I know I would not enjoy it singlehanded and with a partner 'sounds' perfect but it would have to be someone pretty special. I guess I'll have to wait and see on that front. Timings lousy as I'm in the middle of a PhD right now. Do I chuck it in or wait till I've finished but risk being too old to winch the mainsail! I fancy starting off with an extended cruise around Europe to get the hang of it and then striking out for distant shores but I really have no plans at all at this stage - just a feeling (does that sound too wierd?) Have read the Mo Jenkins but was a bit put off by the almost constant sea sickness - how did she cope with that? Would love to hear more about your plans, will PM you. Thanks

Olly

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Hi,

I feel the urge to go but am concerned that i may be viewing the experience with rose tinted glasses hence I am trying to get some 'down and dirty' info from real women sailors if you know what I mean. I went around Mull for 10 days with only a bucket in the absence of working heads. Not the best time in the lunar cycle to have done it! I can't imagine how I would have coped for an extended time - better check that I sail on a boat with a working loo.

Will PM you if that's OK.

Cheers

Olly

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Hi Lynnette, Thanks for your reply. Solo does not appeal and no, i'm not being pressured by a 'other half'. I'm trying to find out for myself whether or not it's for me. If it is, THEN I can start to consider the 'who with' question. There is someone I would love to sail with if it was right, but I really need to make this decision for myself - it's a huge life shift for me. (You know Miss Power Dressing Career Girl, always does the right thing!) Will PM you to find out more about your plans if you're happy to share info. Cheers Olly

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Re: a few books

Thanks Chris will follow up on these. Have read the Beth Leonard but although I enjoyed it I found it lacked 'real' insight i.e. how do you deal with boredom, the physical and psychological effects of sailing long distance, dietary considerations, keeping a relationship going etc. It was a bit poetic for me in some places and then very selective in others. Also I had absolutely no idea about what Evans is like as a person - yet there were just the 2 of them. What did he think about it all?

Will give Ellen a try but not sounds a bit scarey! I don't want to take on the world just make the most of my life. and really live it before I get too old to enjoy it!

I can recommend the 'Sea Wife's Handbook' (I think its by J Sleightholme). Totally patronising, it had us in stiches for hours and we regularly quote from it. Published in 1976 it really must be a wind up. For example a good 'sea wife' will always carry a hairpiece for those all important visits ashore ...............

Still laughing

Olly

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Re: a few books

Regarding boredom, isolation, etc one thing that you might like to consider is keeping a sea diary of your thoughts and feelings, Mrs E did this and said that it kept her sane.

Although a fair few of her entries, which I am now permitted to see eight years on, start with something like 'F***ing C has.......'

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How Deep?

Here's my story.
I'm 36. I don't see my career as having any significance in my life aside from providing me with the means for as much free time as possible and a salary.
Hence, I am a teacher in Japan. One of the many FILTH floating around here.[Failed in London Trying Honshu].
I live within my means and love my life of extensive land travel over 13 weeks of paid vacation each year.
I'm single and have no urge to breed.
The only urge I have is to get as much out of life as possible because it sure does pass quickly and nobody can be sure of when they will leave the planet anyway.
I decided years ago to live life.
This past year I have started to think about commiting myself to a full circumnavigation of the planet by boat.
I took an ASA course in Japan.
An RYA course in South Africa.
I now have my own 21 foot Yamaha boat.
I can sail it every weekend - weather dependent, of course.
I am planning to leave on a much larger boat in 2006.
Things that people say I will miss out on
Earnings from job.
Career[?]
Kids
Significant other.

None of the above bothers me. I want to smell the sea salt and meet thousands of people and see millions of things. Sharing the world with so many and with nature breathing down my neck is what life is about.

Only you can decide if giving up your career is too much of a sacrifice to make.
Of course, we all need the dosh to do this. I saved for 12 years and purchased outright a rentable property in SA[I'm British]
I will also have around 40,000 pounds in cash saved for the trip.
I know that we are fortunate. We will never want for a job. I can work again in later years.
I'm not worried about missing out on anything.
I'm going to find so much.
Good luck with your decision.
Keep in touch!
Maria

<hr width=100% size=1>I'm Here For The Fish<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by LifeAtSea on 22/10/2004 00:17 (server time).</FONT></P>
 
Hi Olly

Books are an okay place to start but you really need to get out there sailing as much as possible to see if you like it. My advice would be to finish your PhD but get as much sea time in as possible while you are doing it.

You won't be too old to sail for some time yet. A lot of people, including me, go off in their 50s and are fine (wouldn't leave it later than that though as you never know when arthritis, heart problems etc. may hit you).

We have turned our cruise into a job and now run an RYA sailing school in Greece, but before we did that we had several years at sea in the Med, so I'm not a long-distance blue water cruiser, but have some experience.

Here are some personal comments -

1. having no washing machine was the biggest disadvantage. It is impossible to get stains off most clothes by hand, washing sheets and towels is a nightmare, and laundries are expensive.
2. I got used to marine loos and showers, but we did fit hot water which made a huge difference.
3. I never got bored, but I enjoy reading and never had a chance to do much in my former life. I also paint and play music and sew. If you don't have any interests that you can do alone maybe you would get bored, but I've never met anyone who does. There is ALWAYS something on a boat that needs fixed if you want something to do.
4. You have ot make a bit of an effort to start talking to people, but most cruisers are very friendly so you will have companionship.
5. A boat is a very small place when your 'other half' is driving you scatty, and there isn't much you can do about it. You can't jump ship in the middle of the sea! Usually by the next day its forgotten.
6. Do learn to skipper your own yacht even if you decide to sail with someone else as you will have to take a watch.

Hope that's ueful.
Melody

<hr width=100% size=1>Melody McKay Burton
Yacht Valentine, Greece
 
Re: How Deep?

blimey this is a good thread.

it's good if you're either a woman or on drugs, at the moment i wish it was the latter

we're sitting here devastated at a seller pulling out at the last moment and therefore we feel like 'the dream' has run away from us...

lifeatsea has really connected too.... it's that thing running through this thread where the dream, that connection to 'living' is what its all about.... as much as you can read and read about 'how to grab a swing mooring' or 'what is your idea of the perfect storm safety gear list' is..

by the way lifeatsea... we connected! i too did an rya course in south africa last year (who did you go with?) and i have a yamaha too... mine is a saxophone though!

well.. bugger it... i'm off back to bed to wallow about losing the boat... but never mind eh? life goes on... something else will turn up



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Re: How Deep?

Knackered.
Just got back from totally facking up reverse out of marina. The place looked desolate until I started spinning in circles and suddenly, out of the blue, hundreds of people came running towards the twit with the newly acquired boat who knows bugger all about nothing.
Obviously everybody within a 1000km radius was told to keep an eye on the newcomer.
I have so much to learn.
So much.
If only somebody had fallen in love with me, I wouldn't need to fill my life with adventure that requires great learning. Still, I reckon taking up sailing will be a lot easier than climbing Everest.

SA? I did my course with Ocean Sailing Academy. Great instructor but am a bit miffed that they didn't get back to me with regards to a jacket that I left on the boat. I loved that jacket!
Totally recommend SA as a place to do all kinds of sailing courses. The seas are rough and thus throw you in at the deep end from day one. I've never seen so much reefing going on.

<hr width=100% size=1>www.virtualtourist.com/m/807ed/
 
Re: How Deep?

Something really _will_ turn up. We were gazumphed on the boat of our dreams - 3 months of searching later we found another - and she's still the boat of dreams after 7 years ! You may even find a better one than the last !

<hr width=100% size=1>a pragmatist is an optimist with a boat in the UK - but serious about not being in the UK !
 
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