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Thanks to a laptop with a browser window open on the ybw site being on board an Anderson 22 as it hit exactly 76.47 kts running from a violent storm (in relative comfort), the development of the politics and humour of some members of the forum has been propelled back to 1953....

I sincerely hope that 76.47kt was wind-speed and not boat-speed:)
 
I would second the idea of you doing a crew or skipper course. I am involved with our club keelboat training courses. It is an opportunity to go out sailing with an experienced sailor on a voyage whose only purpose is for you (and the other 3 people) to learn to sail. It both gives you a feeling for sailing and boat types and hopefully give you some insight into what is happening and why. We have far more ladies than men do our courses. Universally they enjoy the course though many don't go on to buy a boat or crew.
What you will find when you do buy a boat is that it is all about crisis management. Poor hubby will feel being the male that he is captain and he is reponsible which of course is true. But he may ask you as crew to do the impossible sometimes to extricate him from mistakes. Just humour him go along with it all. It ain't easy being inexperienced and male captain. Captains get frightened too they just can't show it. Do remember one ship one captain. You should take a turn at being captain but do remember (or you will find) a silent crew is the best kind.
Hopefully together you can get a lot of fun and pleasure.
Just cogitating this forum is excellent for technical detail on sailing. But so much of sailing is about personal relationships on the boat especially when things get fraught. (unless you are a single hander).

good luck olewill
 
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Welcome!

In order to get a happy family sailing I would like, if I am not intruding, to give an advise to your husband: He should involve you deepely in the handling of the boat.
Why. This is my experience (now married for 49 years). I am speaking of day-sailers, not of larger boats and of cruising and pottering, not racing. Although grown in a lakeside town, SWMBO had never sailed or boated before marrying. When we had time we had a good lot of sailing with our two sons (now very keen old sailors). She enjoyed it but not enthousiastically. Now she says that she has grown old and that sailing is rather boring and I sail mostly singlehanded.
Looking back, I think I know the mistake I did. When sailing with my new wife I, out of a chivalry feeling, used to do all the work and treat her as a precious passenger. She would be the Lady, I the boatman.
I am sure If I had asked her in the first place to help me handling the boat and doing the work, she probably would have got passioned for it and not feeling bored.
Now it is too late for me to change things as they are.

Anyway I wish you, your husband and your children to find the right boat for your needs and to spend time sailing her as much as possible.
Always ask this forum. I learned a lot just by reading in it or in the PBO magazine.

Welcome again, all the best,

Sandro
 
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