Is "a tendency to seafaring"...

[TiggerToo]

... a "condition" with a genetic determinant?

Probably not (Where science meets fiction: the dark history of eugenics) but sort of weird that someone (one Charles Davenport; Charles Davenport - Wikipedia) even considered it to be.

 

[johnalison]

Yes, of course it is. My father was very fond of sailing but never got the chance to own a sea-boat, due to the war. My children both enjoy sailing, so that proves it.

 

[WoodyP]

None of our family went to sea except me, so that disproves it

 

[Biggles Wader]

I grew up in a seaport and worked deepsea for a few years. Then I swallowed the anchor and moved to London where I got a proper job just as our marine industry went to ratshit. All of which proves nothing at all. HTH

 

[WoodyP]

I grew up in a seaport and worked deepsea for a few years. Then I swallowed the anchor and moved to London where I got a proper job just as our marine industry went to ratshit. All of which proves nothing at all. HTH

Proves you had good judgement.

 

[Chiara’s slave]

My great great grandfather was a Captain in the royal navy, his son too. Grandfather a naval architect, father a keen amateur, I have sailed for about 60 years, since I was about 2. Not sure it proves anything, nature or nurture, who can tell.

 

[Stemar]

My father was a chartered accountant. That gene certainly passed me by.

I know I always loved the sea and boats, but I never expected to be able to own a boat we could sleep on.

 

[LittleSister]

I would have said logically it was a ridiculous idea, but . . .

My grandfather spent most of his working life as an able seaman in the Royal Navy, and my father had a similar role in the merchant navy, but died when I was very young, and my step-father came from a very different world, so I never heard navy life discussed nor was leisure boating a thing in my conscious childhood until by chance I left the Scouts and joined the Sea Cadets aged 13.

Aged about 15 I wanted to train as a radio officer in the merchant navy, but can't recall ever particularly thinking I was following a (biological) family tradition - I'd just come to love the sea through the Sea Cadets, and was interested in electronics. Unfortunately (or perhaps not?) I was rejected because I am blind in one eye, and the alternatives offered of deck-hand or catering officer didn't appeal.

Only later did I learn that my mother said that when I was very young I'd been taken out in rowing boats (on the Thames, perhaps, or a lake around London?) with my mother and father (before he died), and I'd always try to get out the the boat into the water, so they dangled me by my reins over the back of the boat.

Later still, my sister had some family tree research done, and found that our great-great(?) grandfather was recorded as retired Irish Sea Captain (though by that time was resident in a Welsh workhouse!).

So, maybe there is something genetic?

 

[alahol2]

I come from several generations of Midlands factory workers. The earlier generations probably never even saw the sea.
My introduction to sailing was on a gravel pit at a schools sailing centre. That's what started it for me.
My own children were 'sailing' from 6 weeks of age. They are now buying houses, starting families, getting 'established'. Maybe they'll come back to seafaring later in their journey.

 

[jac]

I suspect it's nurture. Historically the only way to get into sailing was if someone you knew took you, and even now people with kids and boats will probably take the kids on the boat a bit so greater opportunity to love it. Same thing as football supporting of a specific club being hereditary . Doesn't mean that all will like it but probably numerically more than those who have no introduction by friends and family.

 

[KevinV]

A poll would be quite interesting - but more so if split by age. I suspect that online has a big influence in people getting interested now, whereas in my day (and I'm only 48) it was very much a closed shop - you only got into it if someone you knew was into it.

 

[Yealm]

I think on the Y chromosome (at least in our family)

 

[LittleSister]

And what of the evidence in the other direction? How many of those on the forum have taken their offspring/partners/others sailing and put them off for life found they are lacking the inclination to continue such activity, and if so do they put this down to nurture or genetics?

 

[Chiara’s slave]

And what of the evidence in the other direction? How many of those on the forum have taken their offspring/partners/others sailing and put them off for life found they are lacking the inclination to continue such activity, and if so do they put this down to nurture or genetics?

both of my kids have sailed since babyhood and still do. It still doesn't prove nature or nurture.

 

[The Q]

You have to go back to a couple of Great Uncles in the Merchant navy 1910-1950 And my grandfather an electrician in a Glasgow shipyard. . Other than that I'm the only one that sails or has anything to do with the sea permanently.. Though my much younger brother has dabbled in windsurfing but that might be my influence.