I may well be a complete plonker!

Judders

Judders

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I am really quite keen on the latest squeeze, I would even go so far as to suggest she has SWMBO potential. So much so, in fact, that she already knows more about how the galley is layed out than I do.

She's never sailed, apart from a brief spell on a Topper at her father's insistance, but she is very keen to come with us this weekend, and being an optimistic sort of a chap I thought it would get nice by Easter. Now I am in a position of committing the cardinal folly of trying to get a girl into sailing when it's blowing a hooley from the North and it's freezing cold.

I suppose that I can console myself with the knowledge that if she likes it now, she'll love it in the summer, but I am running the risk of putting her off for life.
 
Don't do it! Tell her the forecast is rotten and postpone until it's good!

There is nothing more likely to make someone hate sailing than having their first experience a wet, cold and scary one.
 
Definitely go for it.This is the pefect opportunity to find out if shes made of the right stuff .If she is still smiling by monday night your onto a winner.
 
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Don't do it! Tell her the forecast is rotten and postpone until it's good!

There is nothing more likely to make someone hate sailing than having their first experience a wet, cold and scary one.

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Absolutely, time for a bit of diplomatic gear failure discovered during the pre start checks- so long as it's not the heater!!!

Then, suggest as you're there, a quick car, motor or tender trip up to the Jolly Sailor, or the Mercury yacht haven for a nice lunch/ dinner stopover.
A couple of pals primed to say "Hi, how sensible/professional/wise of you not to go out, old son, blowing old boots, etc.." gets you major brownie points for care and consideration etc. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Just remember BP's have a shorter shelf life with SWMBO's & SWMBO cadets than they have in our eyes. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

I'm lucky, my SWMBO was her eldest Bro's light weather all year round crew racing National 12's.
She actually thought I was easier to sail with!
Hence barring a S hooley over CHi Bar, we're out this w/end. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif
 
With the wind in the north the solent should be flat(ish) ... and quite empty too! ... if you're not sure that she'll like it, do a short hop to somewhere with shops ... (Gunwharf? Just moor in Gosport!) ... and make sure she has some decent nosh before and after!
 
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I am really quite keen on the latest squeeze, I would even go so far as to suggest she has SWMBO potential...

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Typical saily romantic!!! If she's got this far, a bit of horrible weather will be just fine.. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

S x
 
I have taught a fair few peeps to sail (or rather introduced them to it). And never frightened anyone,afaik..
Adverse weather forecast ?
The key is to keep it short and leave em wanting to come back for more..
Mainsail only,warm clothes,back before lunch,to pub for lunch and home for...a rest. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

Why inflict diehard weather on a novice for the whole of the holiday?
 
Don't chance it. You have much to lose and very little to gain.

Go for the good meal, have plenty to drink and tell her about the joys of sailing in the sun, quiet anchorages overnight under the stars, and the summer cruises to France and the Channel Islands.

Then you nothing to lose and maybe much to gain.
 
Don't do it. I introduced mine by first chartering in Croatia and Turkey. Sun, clear blue med weather, water at 22-25°C, glass of chilled white wine, a shiny new AWB.... Then took her on day trips in the summer on my own MAB. She is now ready for a weekend in the sheltered waters of the Scheld estuary, and this summer a cross channel hop to London.

Why ruin the fairy tale in the first trip?
 
I once took out a young lady (and her husband /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif ) in a Sonata in a F6. We went round Portsmouth harbour with 2 reefs in then retired to a warm pub. Her comment afterwards was "Thank you for making it so undramatic".

A few weeks later, same boat, same wind, I took SWMBO out into the Solent. Bad move - sailing on our ear, water flying everywhere. I don't think she went out in that boat with me again.
 
I'm with others on this one mate. Tell her that you want to make first experience a good one so you have decided to pull out of your crewing duties this week-end to spend the time with her.

You shares will go up massively. You never know, she may insist that you go anyway, win-win.

Cheers

W
 
Thanks Wayne.

By twist of fate, she has seen this thread and says there is no amount of cold and rain that could put her off, so it's either the 'don't say I didn't warn you' approach of the diplomatic gear failure...
 
I'll join the "don't do it" camp.

Sailing in the English Channel in March is a bit of an acquired taste. Even in the best possible conditions she is likely to get cold and wet and any sort of blow could be frightening as well.

The best way to interest a SWMBO in sailing is a charter in the Med (or BVIs) when the weather is hot and the sea is warm and you have to worry more about sunburn and sunstroke than frostbite and hypothermia.

I think most married men will tell you that SWMBO likes the warm, gentle sails but is nothing like as keen on the Solent in March.
 
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Thanks Wayne.

and says there is no amount of cold and rain that could put her off, so it's either the 'don't say I didn't warn you' approach of the diplomatic gear failure...

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Go to your boat NOW and break something. The forecast is for 30 knots and sub 5 degree temperatures.

Then send me crate of beer as a thank you.
 
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Go to your boat NOW and break something. The forecast is for 30 knots and sub 5 degree temperatures.

Then send me crate of beer as a thank you.

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Mind you if you take her out in that and she loves it then you should marry her at once. She really would be one in a million
 
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