Sailing, any good?
- Thread starter Murv
- Start date
Resolution
Well-Known Member
You guys on the dark side are far too generous. I bet that if someone came on the scuttlebutt saying he wanted to take up motorboating there would be a chorus of negatives.
davids0865
Well-Known Member
I don't think it has to be either or, JFM has a sailing dinghy on the flybridge of Match, and when I permanently join the dark side I think I will try to do the same. Some of the best fun on water ever was being taught to sail a hobicat in the bvi's....................by a 14 year old!!
Trundlebug
Well-Known Member
My father always loved sailing, so I had quite a few years experience of it - and I learned that it's definitely not for me.
The idea of being gently whisked along in silent elegance whilst you enjoy the peaceful journey and look around at the beautiful views - is a MYTH.
Sailing = endless rope pulling. Pull that rope tighter - then the wind gets up a bit, so you have to let it out a bit. Then pull it in again etc.
Just when you think you've got it about right, you have to let that rope go and pull the rope on the other side, and repeat for the next x minutes.
And so on.
There's simply no peace, very little chance to look round and enjoy the view as you're too busy looking up at the sails or under the sails to see if there's anything coming you hadn't spotted.
As for dinghy sailing - that's simply purgatory. Allow 2 hours to stand around in the cold (and wind, and usually rain too) to fit and adjust hundreds of ropes before you even go anywhere.
Then do as above but it's all a bit more frantic as timing is critical (otherwise you get seriously wet i.e. capsize).
Then allow another 2 hours to de-rig, which means removing all the bl00dy ropes you spent 2 hours fitting earlier. Whilst you're freezing cold, tired and just want to go home.
Oh, I forgot one key point. A major difference when sailing is you have to be outside, regardless of the weather, when going along.
It doesn't compare to having the option of being inside in a lovely warm cabin and driving from there.
And also - mobos have plenty hot water on arrival, and plenty of battery power too.
The difference in the level of luxury, comfort and relaxation (and therefore, for me at least, enjoyment) is huge.
Yes I can see the fun, and attraction in sailing, but for cruising it's too much like hard work to be enjoyable.
I'd rather be enjoying the scenery, and the journey, and the arrival.
The idea of being gently whisked along in silent elegance whilst you enjoy the peaceful journey and look around at the beautiful views - is a MYTH.
Sailing = endless rope pulling. Pull that rope tighter - then the wind gets up a bit, so you have to let it out a bit. Then pull it in again etc.
Just when you think you've got it about right, you have to let that rope go and pull the rope on the other side, and repeat for the next x minutes.
And so on.
There's simply no peace, very little chance to look round and enjoy the view as you're too busy looking up at the sails or under the sails to see if there's anything coming you hadn't spotted.
As for dinghy sailing - that's simply purgatory. Allow 2 hours to stand around in the cold (and wind, and usually rain too) to fit and adjust hundreds of ropes before you even go anywhere.
Then do as above but it's all a bit more frantic as timing is critical (otherwise you get seriously wet i.e. capsize).
Then allow another 2 hours to de-rig, which means removing all the bl00dy ropes you spent 2 hours fitting earlier. Whilst you're freezing cold, tired and just want to go home.
Oh, I forgot one key point. A major difference when sailing is you have to be outside, regardless of the weather, when going along.
It doesn't compare to having the option of being inside in a lovely warm cabin and driving from there.
And also - mobos have plenty hot water on arrival, and plenty of battery power too.
The difference in the level of luxury, comfort and relaxation (and therefore, for me at least, enjoyment) is huge.
Yes I can see the fun, and attraction in sailing, but for cruising it's too much like hard work to be enjoyable.
I'd rather be enjoying the scenery, and the journey, and the arrival.
Houleaux
Well-Known Member
This made me smile. Sailing is clearly not for you and you know that. But for me the pleasure I get from sailing is, in part, because of all that "endless rope pulling"! Looking at the sails and trying to work out what I need to do to get that little bit more boat speed; continually trimming, tweaking and learning. Overtaking another similar, or maybe faster, boat because of the effort I'm putting in (or wondering why that similar, or maybe slower, boat just passed me despite all the effort I'm putting in!!). And it's not just because one of us is burning more (or less) fuel.
It is possible to be gently whisked along in silence whilst enjoying the view. There's plenty of time for that on longer trips (and shorter ones if that's your preference). Sailing boats don't go very fast compared to motor boats, so there's plenty of time full stop!
Maybe your dad's approach was a bit too much like mine for your taste, but it doesn't have to be like that. Plenty of cruising sailors don't worry too much about their sail trim and just settle back for the ride. Nowt wrong with that.
So, in my view, it's all about perception.
Vive la difference!!
maby
Well-Known Member
This made me smile. Sailing is clearly not for you and you know that. But for me the pleasure I get from sailing is, in part, because of all that "endless rope pulling"! Looking at the sails and trying to work out what I need to do to get that little bit more boat speed; continually trimming, tweaking and learning. Overtaking another similar, or maybe faster, boat because of the effort I'm putting in (or wondering why that similar, or maybe slower, boat just passed me despite all the effort I'm putting in!!). And it's not just because one of us is burning more (or less) fuel.
It is possible to be gently whisked along in silence whilst enjoying the view. There's plenty of time for that on longer trips (and shorter ones if that's your preference). Sailing boats don't go very fast compared to motor boats, so there's plenty of time full stop!
Maybe your dad's approach was a bit too much like mine for your taste, but it doesn't have to be like that. Plenty of cruising sailors don't worry too much about their sail trim and just settle back for the ride. Nowt wrong with that.
So, in my view, it's all about perception.
Vive la difference!!
Maybe they were river sailors - I have to admit that sailing down the Medway can get a bit tedious if the wind's against you. We would motor under normal circumstances but had an engine problem a few months ago which required a long beat up river - we got pretty fed up with tacking by the end of it - on the other hand, we did have the option - in a single engined mobo, we would have been looking for a tow!
Elessar
Well-Known Member
I love both. I have a small sailing dinghy as I really cant afford 2 big boats. If I could, I would.
A pal kept he yacht next to his brothers mobo. Both had keys to both. Perfection afloat
rbmatthews
Well-Known Member
Murv
Well-Known Member
Some very interesting opinions, looks as if I'll have to make my own mind up!
Need to master the mobo first, or at least get it working long enough for a trip out!
It's fascinating how one mans meat is anthers poison though, beautifully illustrated in the opposite views on the endless rope hauling. Variety is the spice of life
Need to master the mobo first, or at least get it working long enough for a trip out!
It's fascinating how one mans meat is anthers poison though, beautifully illustrated in the opposite views on the endless rope hauling. Variety is the spice of life
D
Deleted User YDKXO
Guest
Sailing is s**t. Going in a direction you don't want to go at a speed most glaciers can beat whilst sitting on a bench harder than a hard thing, freezing your bollox off and vomiting up your breakfast, all at an unnatural angle to the world. I did it once and wild seahorses wouldn't drag me back on board a sailing boat again. Don't do it
Wansworth
Well-Known Member
I returned to boating after a few years away and bought asailing boat but as It HAS AN ENGINE THAT WORKS I have develpoed a n interest in keeping ti going,as a sailer I would quite like a small trawler with sails.....
Ripster
Well-Known Member
I agree - why would anyone ever want to do that? Thing is, that is not sailing. Same as MOBO-ing is not having your teeth rattled and spine turned to mush as you smash through the Sea burning up huge amounts of fuel. Both could be I suppose but, don't have to be. Thing to do is try both, weigh 'em up and see which one suits you - simples
D
Deleted User YDKXO
Guest
I did and that was my highly considered opinionThing to do is try both, weigh 'em up and see which one suits you - simples
Questor
Well-Known Member
Had a similar experience. Got roped into the finals day of the Dehler cup on an SQ39. Apart from being unbelievably aggressive, it's so sodding slow, and this is supposed to be racing. Racing = fast in my book, but the blimmin fish were swimming faster. Sitting is more comfortable on a concrete park bench, and at 45 degrees, you can't stand up, you can't have a cup of tea, (lunch is totally out of the question) and god forbid if you want a pee (and don't want to think about number 2s and the pendulum effect). Flappy bits and rope everywhere. It was horrendous, and took simply forever to get from A to B. It was cold and wet, and a stanley knife and a quiet corner started to become quite an attractive proposition. I was so bad tempered, they sent for a RIB to collect me, before I really did do something silly. To make matters worse, it never did turn up. Simply horrendous. One of the worst days of my life.
Never been on a rag boat since, and have no intention of doing so. Ever.
A friend of a friend was recently given the opportunity of doing Chi to Cherbourg on a rag boat to see how it compared to his mobo.. 18 hours it took. It traumatised so much, he came back on the ferry
oceanfroggie
Well-Known Member
Yes loved it. BUT, we like cruising and don't have the time required to sail cruise. Not interested in day boating or racing. Also prefer the bright open living space of a mobo when spending nights on board. The odd charter and crewing on pals keel boat does for me. Everything in life is a compromise.
Jamesuk
Well-Known Member
Get a motorboat with room for a Laser dinghy ;-)
deuc02
Well-Known Member
Sailing is good fun. Can be as comfortable/uncomfortable as you want to make it. Type of boat helps as well.
Mobo's (i think) have a much more relaxed approach to their trips and as already said they get there alot faster and generally have a better stocked bar. As an ex mobo type can confidently say that mobos are much more sociable with each other. Might be something to do with the fact that the next morning the hardest thing they have to do is stow ropes/fenders and push the throttles forward. There again most sailboats can do that as well (they'll just never admit to it) Don't get me wrong - lots of saily crews are a good laugh, but there are a few who take it just a bit to seriously. A quick scan on Scuttlebut will confirm that observation.
End of the day though, my sailyboat will go much further than your mobo. So stick that on your IPS drives and swivel. Believe you can do that
Mobo's (i think) have a much more relaxed approach to their trips and as already said they get there alot faster and generally have a better stocked bar. As an ex mobo type can confidently say that mobos are much more sociable with each other. Might be something to do with the fact that the next morning the hardest thing they have to do is stow ropes/fenders and push the throttles forward. There again most sailboats can do that as well (they'll just never admit to it
) Don't get me wrong - lots of saily crews are a good laugh, but there are a few who take it just a bit to seriously. A quick scan on Scuttlebut will confirm that observation.End of the day though, my sailyboat will go much further than your mobo. So stick that on your IPS drives and swivel. Believe you can do that
RogerRat
Well-Known Member
Me similar to you with a bash at Olympic circuit on Tornado Cat, Iroquois cruising cat and then to windsurfers (all types). They're all so different, speed and ride!
One of the worst things about going out for a great sailing day or making passage is that when you return, your home base is in sight, not far, just a few miles but the wind can drop or the tide may be just against and that nearly home feeling drags into another hour just when you don't want it. Then it starts to rain... again!
Also, realistically, those best halcyon days are really only 1 in 10 at best, if I'm honest, probably 1 in 20
The 'us and them' thing is simply a lack of appreciation that the skill sets are different. And comments like these made in earshot but never directly.
Brought about by a basic assumption that if one's helming a planing motor cruiser, then one couldn't possibly understand that I might need to tack.
"That ignorant twit hits us bad wake in the lightest airs and always on the bow." Personally, I never do.
"He couldn't possibly understand which mark I'm heading for." I always look to see where the marks are by checking yachts' point of sail.
"Why do they always come right up behind us? Why can't they set a course away from ours?" Probably because we try to motor the shortest route too.
"Why do they always try to head straight through our course?" Why do race officers set start lines across main channels like Chi entrance and Cowes?
prv
Well-Known Member
My mate's motorboats scared the **** out of me, both of them.
The RIB started off ok, but every now and then the engine would die and then you were drifting. And I was always worried that it was going to break off from the transom and fly into the boat with us. Eventually the bottom of the boat fell out and that was that; fortunately I wasn't on board that time.
The outdrive speedboat seems more robust, but it uses that robustness to pound my spine and kidneys to pieces - I always wonder if I'll be pissing blood afterwards (like the guy next to me when we went out in Rigid Raiders with the Royal Engineers). And the second time we took it out, the steering wheel came off and the windscreen imploded. The last time, he left me driving it while he fetched the trailer to haul out on, and the steering jammed leaving me circling in the river at tickover with no control.
Think I'll stick to sailing boats
Pete
