Is sailing for old gits, really?

  • Thread starter Thread starter tcm
  • Start date Start date
Helinä is 54, can do the sock thing, with a kayak can do 25 eskimoturns within one minute but sailing is something different, somehow security is responsibility of other people, my crew, my wife. On my behalf I'm not so keen on liferaft, EPIRB, whatever.
At the end I think there are very few people who have made this life alive. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif
 
Going back for a moment to the original topic (is that allowed this late in the thread?), could the difference between skiing and sailing be this: the sort of folk who sail derrive part of their pleasure from going about their pastime on the premise that they will at least aim to be self-sufficient in times of trouble. And they take an interest in the 'perils of the sea', as just another thing that makes it an absorbing pastime. The appeal in skiing is different.
 
Re: average

[ QUOTE ]
At what age does one become an 'old git'? According to SWMBO I have been a grumpy old man for years and am only 44!

[/ QUOTE ]

Of course sailing is for old gits. It's enjoyable for anyone, but somehow it gets even better as you get older. Hence, at 76 this week, I'm looking forward to becoming an old git at some time soon.
 
Age

Can you count Peter ? You must be a year or two older if you're the Peter Broadley I remember from BRNC.
 
Re: Age re: peterb

Of course sailing is for old gits. It's enjoyable for anyone, but somehow it gets even better as you get older. Hence, at 76 this week, I'm looking forward to becoming an old git at some time soon
-----------------------------------------------------------------

Still nearer just five months ahead of you, but only a tyro, bought my first s/cruiser 3 years ago.
 
Whoa! wait on a minit. You talk about skiing, but would you rather ski with modern release bindings and solid boots or perhaps the old type of equipment I grew up with back in the 50's: Soft leather boots giving you no ankle support what-so-ever, held onto the skis with "bear-trap" binding that wouldn't release even though your leg(s) were cork-screwed 360 degrees. Of course we sailors are safety consious, but just by having all the right equipment, doesn't prevent a fool from jybing and sweeping a crewmember overboard with the boom.
 
We willingly put ourselves at the capricious mercy of the elements, far from help, in a way which would have serious consequences if we really fouled up, and we enjoy it.

Is that old gittish? Wanton risk taking? Surely an old git would polish and fettle the boat in the marina and then go home again?

SWMBO is terrified of me going out on the boat, but she's used to me taking risk. Taking risks at work, belting around on horses across country, motorcycling.... is wanton risk (however well managed) old gittish? Or would the old git be sat in front of the telly wishing they'd done something with their life? All the safety stuff is surely just risk management (not that I've got much besides radio & lifejacket) which should probably be proportionate to the consequences of us taking a risk too far?
 
But as I've already pointed out. You are going to die anyway. The older a git you become the nearer that day is.
So just enjoy life while you've got it. Health and Safety be buggered.
 
Re: How to make sailing seem less oldish gittish

[ QUOTE ]
Indeed.

It's very common these days to see cyclists (including those who can cycle quite er well) wearing safety helmets. But it's very, very rare to see it on the ski slopes, unless it's a teenie weenie thing sking through your legs down the slope. Skiing is cool and youngish but not as cool and youngish as snowboarding of course (where they also don't wear helmets as a rule). Dinghy sailing is cooler than bigger boats and clothing and gear more fashion related, though less so than surfing natch. Bigger boat clothing though is erm fogeyish. So yes, sailing is indeed for old gits who need protecting from themselves, hence the nutty safety obsession.Nothing to do with the number of suppliers (advertisers) of safety products though I hope.

[/ QUOTE ]

Actually, the reality is a little different. The majority of younger people skiing do wear helmets. I did a season 2 years ago and probably 90% of the seasonaires wore one. The only sector of society not wearing ski helmets now is the older generation. And probably 90% of all borders wear a "lid".
Partly this is due to the likes of Seth Morrison etc making freestyle cool, and wearing lids while they ski. Plus the fact that modern ski helmets simply look cool!
But how many pictures of top racing sailors do you see in full foul weather gear and lifejacket? And on the few occasions that you do, does the gear make them look cool?
 
I've rescued so many people who were not sea savvy I've lost count. Everyone from babies floating upside down in life rings to fat germans floating out to sea on air beds, a woman sailing in high heels trapped under an inflatable, bleeding mountain bikers, lost walkers, windsurfers being washed onto rocks, students choking on vomit and you know what? I still like teaching sailing, windsurfing and powerboating. So go out unprepared, you liven up my days!
 
And, isn't most of the equipment and procedures you refere to optional if you own your own boat, so couldn't you just make it as risky as you chose to make it, if that's your motivation?

There's a large, indoor, 'real snow' ski slope near me. Beginners are not allowed on the slopes unless you have had 5 lessons (2 hours each I think). The rules say you must be proficient and if you are not the stewards will immediately ask you to leave the slope with no refund...and they apply the policy, regardless of age
 
[ QUOTE ]
The day will come when I will die.
So the only matter of consequence before me
is what I will do with my allotted time.

I can remain on shore paralysed by fear,
or I can raise my sails and dip and soar in the breeze.


[/ QUOTE ]

Brilliant - sums up my philosophy - To hell with safety first - go out have fun, take a few risks and enjoy enjoy enjoy --- I have ridden bikes without helmets since for ever, find seat belts a pain and hate PCorrectness - You only have one life and you should live it to the full - cross oceans - visit distant lands - take calculated risks - bungee jump if you want
 
If I tried to carry all the safety equipment recommended on my little boat there would be no room for me let alone anyone else.

I really have thought through what conditions would put me and my boat at risk and sail accordingly. If I get caught out by the unexpected I will rely on my knowledge of my boat and how she handles and what experience and ability I have as a sailor to cope. I make different decisions depending on whether I am alone or in company and what I think my crew would want to cope with.

Like most of my generation I grew up doing the things that boys did then, taking risks, getting into scrapes, getting things wrong and learning from and living with the consequences. I am sick to death of the endless regulation and refusal of people to accept responsibility for their own actions always seeking someone else to blame.

So, I take a view on the risks and sail anyway. The alternative would be not to sail at all. No brainer really.

So, sod of Westminster, Strasbourg and all the rest and let me get on with my life and the way I want to live it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top