To Wave or not to Wave (that is the question!)

I think you are missing the point.

Raggies find it exactly the same with Mobo's not returning waves......right down to it being laughable, with blank looks, hatred,...the lot. Not just skippers, but whole crews as well. It really is exactly the same from "the other side".
 
A few weekends ago, on a nice sunny day, I went into Yarmouth for the night..... As we worked our way through the harbour to the visitors pontoon, we passed a 34ft sailing boat, already tied up.

Two guys in the cockpit, one stood on the sugar-scoop, looking straight at us..... We motored slowly past about 10ft away, and as we did, I called out "Good afternoon" (me being a jolly soul, and it being wonderful day to boot!") and raised a hand to wave.....

They "blanked" us...... stared right through us as though we were spoiling their view.

I turned to my partner and said loudly enough to make sure thay heard "There are some miserable bas***rds around, aren't there."

Tribalism??? Maybe, but I'm a raggie too..... though with only a 25ft boat, so maybe it was a case of "Mines bigger than yours, so I'm more important...."
 
No, it's because you were East of Portland. We find that the nearer you get to the Solent the worse it gets. Give me the West Country any day, much friendlier! Even the occasional Mobo has been known to wave!
 
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But its often the whole raggie crew who just stare back at us without waving.

[/ QUOTE ] Perhaps they have been sat in the shadow of the sail in a biting wind for 2 hours. Their faces are frozen. /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif
 
Noise travels so well (and so pervasively) across water that one reason why (us) raggies don't always wave at mobos is that sometimes when sailing quietly along we are all too aware of your presence . Agree that that may come over as arrogant and rude !
 
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I wave to all Mobos, and most raggies (except those flying blue ensigns, as that's a waste of time)

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As a wearer of the blue ensign I wave at anyone close enough to recognise that I am waving not gesticulating.

The blue ensign doesnt signify ignorance of custom, but only some blue ensign are ex-RN, there are some yacht clubs who seem to think a different coloured ensign that puts them a cut above the rest of us plebs is a major rule for club membership.
 
well we will continue to wave and suffer the consequences if not returned, as actually as barge owner maybe I can be forgiven for actually liking all types of boating. Boating is boating. Just don't see the need to not return a wave and upset someone with a good intention, and hey you might need our help sometime!
 
Across the great divide between raggies and stinkies, the non-wavers and wavers seem to fall into similar categories......

1... Those that wave as if they've known you all their life, and leave you wondering "Who the hell was that? Do I know them?"

2... Those that nearly wave, but end up scratching their heads instead because they're not sure if you'll wave back.

3... Those that scratch their heads, and then hurriedly turn it into a wave beacause you waved at them.

4... Those that sit solidly staring ahead, holding onto the wheel or tiller as if their lives depend on not missing something under their nose.

5... Those that purposefully turn their heads away, making you wonder if it's too long since your last shower....

Any more??
 
.......and you may need my help; which will be readily given! I towed a Mobo into harbour just a short while ago.

I get the impression that you feel you are the only person who has ever experienced the non-returned wave. We all do.
 
When out at sea I give a wave to power or sail acknowledging a fellow enthusiast.

However, if someone passes unnecessarily close with a big wash, the wave will become an arm thrust upright with either one finger erect or two, depending on mood.
 
Or you are having a really crap day and not in the mood for jollities. You can not be bothered to wave back or have more on your mind, your reward for that is a barrage of insults about being a miserable ba'@%$£d or ooh you must hate MOBO's or we are not going to tow you home now when you need it!

I am quite amazed by this thread, I do generally wave, but it can be a right pain when close to a harbour as everyone 'expects' a wave back.

It is akin to those annoying gits who catch you not smiling and suggest that you should and will not leave you alone until you give them, a complete stranger a smile. They get most offended when you tell them to fek off as I found out.

Good god this thread is weird. After reading this I am more determined now to never wave back at other boats, if it causes this much hot air on board the other boat it will keep me laughing for hours!

Nah, I am generally the first to wave, but don't think twice if not returned, it is so irrelevant really.

MoBo vs Raggie with respect to waving - pathetic!


Rant over, in a cr<font color="black">ap</font> mood tonight, don't expect me to wave back!
 
I will always wave at other boats irrispectiev of whether they are Mobos or raggies (I am a raggy, but I also drive RIBS).

Personally I feel that it is just a matter of good manners. When I lived in Cornwall it was usual to say Good Morning/Afternoon to people when you passed them, when I lived in France it was usual to say Bonjour Madame/Monsieur to people when you passed them, when you walk in the mountains in the Lake District or the Pennines or Wales or Scotland it is usual to say Good Morning/Afternoon when you meet other walkers.

It is a matter of politeness and good manners IMHO

I will always wave at other boaters no matter what their calling, if they are too embarrassed to acknowledge the wave then I feel sorry for them.
 
I'm with you. I invariably wave to others, unless I have more important things on my mind, in which case, other boats likely do as well.

You are far more likely to get waves back when sun is out and sea is flatish, and windy enough for raggies to sail well

Always brought up this way then walking, and it's worked well in other spheres of life. If someone doesn't respond when walking you ignore them, same works when out on water, and no reason to get all het up under collar. The ones's that wave back more than make up for it.

Personally, I love the little kids waving out of the back of cars on motorways, when grumpy gits tailgating suddenly go all soft and start waving back! <g>
 
As it appears you're replying to my post. I'll point out one thing..... It wasn't a "torrent of abuse" I directed at the other boat, it was a tongue in cheek comment as we past, and it raised a smile from them.

As I thought I'd said, it's nothing to do with raggies versus stinkies... it's people being people. Lifes too short to get het up about it.

As with many threads on this forum, and has been pointed out many times, the written word often appears harsher than the same words would do spoken face to face. To take them all seriously to the point of having a rant would drive one to an early grave...... /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
Well, if I run out of hands and am not about to be thrown about too much, I do try and give an acknowledging nod, but then my cap falls off if I make it too obvious!
 
Being a raggie who also does a bit of moboing I have noticed that boating is quite a lot less friendly when on a mobo than it is on a sailing boat (in the Solent anyway).

After a bit of thought about who I wave to myself I have come up with the following categories:

Always wave:
Friends (power and sail)
Beautiful old gaffers
Sailing cruisers
RIBS that slow down when passing
Other motor boats that slow down when passing
Any motor boat being driven in a seamanlike manner

Sometimes wave:
Large racing boats (sail)
Other racing boats (these guys are usually too busy to wave back)
Ferries
Dinghies/windsurfers/canoes etc. etc.

Never wave:
RIBs
PWCs
Motor boats passing too close/fast


I suspect that my last categpry includes a significant number of mobos who don't realise it!
 
I wave to everyone who's eye I catch. Almost in all cases get at least a nod back. Those who don't well sod em'. No loss to me the grumpy gits......
 
It's always been a rule that you wave to all boats, especially the passenger ferries, but, you must shout out “wave if you've got no knickers on” !!!
Surprising how many people go commando these days./forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
I know , I know!! It’s childish but who cares we enjoy it /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

Tom
 
Thanks for that - I didn't think it would generate so much debate. All these answers probably explain really well why we get a mixed response. I always slow down when passing any yacht or slow boat (pretty much any boat really), as I think its just courteous (yes I had to use a spell checker to get that right)!

However I suspect more people wave back at my wife than do me, and I guess in a really busy area you would spend all day waving rather than actually concentrating on what is out there!.

Anyway thanks everyone, interesting debate and I am sure one that will continue for a long time

Martyn
 
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