What don't women like about sailing....

[MissFitz]

Seriously, though, I do wonder if fewer women than men come to boat ownership through the dinghy route due to the fact that so few boats are made for their weight. Basically, if you're under 9st & over 18 it's a Laser Radial or crewing - unless you can find a hefty chap prepared to dangle on the end of a wire while you take the helm.

(Same with keelboats incidentally - one or maybe two women in a crew is fine but most of them need a fair amount of dead weight in a breeze.)

 

[oldgit]

"So I wondered what particular aspects put some ladies off? Is it weather, size of boat, the Skipper (or the First Mate if the women is the Skipper)? Dianna"

Women tend to be far more intelligent than most males,who one suspects had to be coaxed down out of the trees a lot later on in the journey of evolution.
You will find far more ladies on motor boats who actually want to be there simply because motorboats have actually progressed way beyond the stage of most yachts ie.glorified dug out canoe with sail.
What sentient being actually wants to get cold and wet and then actually drone on about it in the club as some sort of an achievement .
Get you act together girls and leave the neanderthals to whip there warps and dress up in strange unbelievably expensive "technical "gear.

A wonderful world of central heating,hot showers/ electric toilets/plasma TVs/Hair dryers,washing machines,microwaves,beds more than 2ft wide awaits and your clothes will not stink of damp bilge.
Ps.You will not need one leg shorter than the other to stand upright either .


Ps.We also do not consider going round 2 rusty old bouys 1 mile apart 4 times in the pouring rain ....a good day out neither.

 

[Seajet]

Ladies,

gender is no excuse if you are a keen sailor !

I bought my first ' racing ' dinghy - a Scorpion - at 16 ( after a lot of sailing on a 10' gunter rig boat since 7 ) because I loved the looks of her craftsman build, and I and my crew - both around 10 stone then - could handle her easily.

Stop waiting for everything to be presented on a plate, if you are sailors you'll be able to sort it out for yourselves.

 

[WestWittering]

"So I wondered what particular aspects put some ladies off? Is it weather, size of boat, the Skipper (or the First Mate if the women is the Skipper)? Dianna"

Women tend to be far more intelligent than most males,who one suspects had to be coaxed down out of the trees a lot later on in the journey of evolution.
You will find far more ladies on motor boats who actually want to be there simply because motorboats have actually progressed way beyond the stage of most yachts ie.glorified dug out canoe with sail.
What sentient being actually wants to get cold and wet and then actually drone on about it in the club as some sort of an achievement .
Get you act together girls and leave the neanderthals to whip there warps and dress up in strange unbelievably expensive "technical "gear.

A wonderful world of central heating,hot showers/ electric toilets/plasma TVs/Hair dryers,washing machines,microwaves,beds more than 2ft wide awaits and your clothes will not stink of damp bilge.
Ps.You will not need one leg shorter than the other to stand upright either .


Ps.We also do not consider going round 2 rusty old bouys 1 mile apart 4 times in the pouring rain ....a good day out neither.

Sounds lovely when you put it like that! But how I would miss my trips up the jetty in my bedroom slippers with my bilgy towel over my arm.... central heating is very drying for the skin and I sail to get away from the washing machine not take the bloody thing with me. Microwaves make a great Faraday cage, so that would be useful.. TV??? Too late for the leg, already had the starboard leg shortened specially...

Could be forced to put up with it all at a pinch though. It must be nice arranging to go somewhere for lunch, rather than dinner (or breakfast if you are specially unlucky)..

Di

 

[Keith 66]

I have noticed in our club that many women seem to enjoy sailing at first but that wedding cake seems to afterwards put them off sailing for life. I am lucky that my other half is fully marinised.

 

[prv]

No SWMBO in my life, but I will say that in my parents' relationship it's my mum who drags my dad out sailing, rather than vice versa

Pete

 

[WestWittering]

No one seems to have offered the reason of aversion to Fray Bentos pies yet!!

Di

 

[Tricia]

I am female and I post on here a bit, read the forums regularly...but then I am always on t'internet
I don't love sailing but I do like living on our boat. I like the lifestyle and decent weather.
Unfortunately I get seasick. That I don't enjoy. And also, I find sailing very boring.
My other half is the sort of person who likes to do everything himself and is also quite competitive so I just let him get on with it for the sake of marital harmony.
I am afraid of long sea passages and don't like night sailing at all. I am scared of bad weather.....and I have experienced some very nasty weather over the years.
I also find it very boring when you get a load of blokes discussing batteries or some other such thing ad nauseam in the bar. (I much prefer fluffy kittens myself)

You sound exactly like my best friend! Almost word for word, weird.

I agree about the ad nauseum in the bar, please gentlemen let's have a bit more variety in our conversations.

I don't like getting cold and wet, but one of the best sails was from Pinang to Langkawi (about 60 miles) which we did in 9 hours, yay! It was wet but fast and, since the autohelm is broken, I hand steered most of the way, mind you it wasn't cold. I also get sea sick, but find that after the first couple of days it wears off.

I don't like strong winds or leaning over too far, but if I'm on the helm then I don't mind either. Rob has simplified everything so that I don't have to leave the cockpit for most sail handling and he lets me play skipper, in fact he nominates me skipper when I least expect it, but then I have to shout at him 'coz he doesn't make tea as often as I do when he is skipper.

I love my life and enjoy the sailing. Let your partner play skipper, don't turn into Captain Bligh and explain what you need them to do and why. Explain more than once if necessary. It might be easier to do it yourself, but if your partner can do it, they get more pleasure out of sailing, at leaast, that works for me.

 

[Seajet]

"So I wondered what particular aspects put some ladies off? Is it weather, size of boat, the Skipper (or the First Mate if the women is the Skipper)? Dianna"

Women tend to be far more intelligent than most males,who one suspects had to be coaxed down out of the trees a lot later on in the journey of evolution.
You will find far more ladies on motor boats who actually want to be there simply because motorboats have actually progressed way beyond the stage of most yachts ie.glorified dug out canoe with sail.
What sentient being actually wants to get cold and wet and then actually drone on about it in the club as some sort of an achievement .
Get you act together girls and leave the neanderthals to whip there warps and dress up in strange unbelievably expensive "technical "gear.

A wonderful world of central heating,hot showers/ electric toilets/plasma TVs/Hair dryers,washing machines,microwaves,beds more than 2ft wide awaits and your clothes will not stink of damp bilge.
Ps.You will not need one leg shorter than the other to stand upright either .


Ps.We also do not consider going round 2 rusty old bouys 1 mile apart 4 times in the pouring rain ....a good day out neither.

While I agree about sailing around buoys being an unproductive waste of time, there are plenty of intelligent women who understand sailing and get a big kick out of it; standing around on a vibrating smelly platform shrouded in fumes - yes, a mobo - while it corkscrews its' way to the destination is a skill-less, soul-less exercise best suited to posing bimbo's, male or female.

Look up Bery Smeeton, ace sailor and all round achiever !

 

[ArchieP]

Women have long complained about how the world is dominated by men. Then it occurred to me that these questions are nonsense. Women sailors are no different from men sailors, except they smell better and seem to stay cleaner longer. Sailors are sailors, and if women are interested in sailing they’ll be learning all the same stuff that men learn. The truth is that most people don’t like sailing. It’s a minority sport.

 

[Seajet]

Archie,

I take it you have a mobo...

The truth is that a lot of people haven't had the chance to try sailing; those with a brain who do give it a go usually love it, those without any soul play on fairground bumper cars or mobo's...

 

[Daydream believer]

Whenever some bimbo is presented on TV as the latest hot crumpet we should worship, my instant thought is ' would she stand a watch at the helm facing into a F7 without worrying about her hair and makeup ?! '

Cannot say that that is my first thought!!

 

[Daydream believer]

Just realised that vega 1447 has posted exactly the same post
At least i am not alone

 

[laffinskip]

+1

 

[aroona]

Really good to have a few of the lady forumites posting their views - the idea of passing over the skippering duties is a great suggestion.

My wife likes sailing in the right conditions - not too lumpy, too cold or for too long , I think a lot of us guys are used to the more challenging weather, and dont appreciate how it affects someone not used to them.

As for a mobo - almost sounds good, almost - except you cant beat the feeling when the battered old volvo is turned off and the sails take over

 

[ChattingLil]

Women have long complained about how the world is dominated by men. Then it occurred to me that these questions are nonsense. Women sailors are no different from men sailors, except they smell better and seem to stay cleaner longer. Sailors are sailors, and if women are interested in sailing they’ll be learning all the same stuff that men learn. The truth is that most people don’t like sailing. It’s a minority sport.

I think I agree with this. I'm a female sailor. My partner (male) doesn't like it one little bit and has zero interest. Despite my best efforts very few of my family or my best friends or any of work colleagues are interested either. Those that don't like it, just don't get it and can't understand why we would want to be out in the cold and wet, working hard, thinking hard, spending hard.

I don't know why it's an activity that is dominated by men - maybe its as simple as a child-caring issue because despite what we may say, it is difficult to have young children on board AND have active and enjoyable sailing. (I said difficult, not impossible!).

I am also shocked by some of the behaviours of male sailors, iro shouting at the first mate. So if this is what women experience it's no wonder they don't want to return.

I don't know why it is so, but generally I find that women have a lower interest in the technical stuff - it is certainly true in my case - I am constantly baffled by the interminable discussions on epoxy, gelcoat, electrickery, gizmos and gadets, dyneema, wotnots. I just don't get a lot of it. I want to know what works on my boat and what is safe, but aside from that as long as the sails go up and it goes relatively forwards and I know what the depth is - then that's it!

So, I think the reason why most women don't like sailing are the same reasons that most men don't like sailing and these are the reaons that my HWMO gives: cold, wet, uncomfortable, doesn't like heeling over, heads inadequate, bulky uncomfortable clothing, takes forever to get anywhere, boring, and he can't get off if he gets fed up and wants to go home. Generally, he'd just rather be doing something else!

 

[Victoria Sponge]

I think I agree with this. I'm a female sailor. My partner (male) doesn't like it one little bit and has zero interest. Despite my best efforts very few of my family or my best friends or any of work colleagues are interested either. Those that don't like it, just don't get it and can't understand why we would want to be out in the cold and wet, working hard, thinking hard, spending hard.

I don't know why it's an activity that is dominated by men - maybe its as simple as a child-caring issue because despite what we may say, it is difficult to have young children on board AND have active and enjoyable sailing. (I said difficult, not impossible!).

I am also shocked by some of the behaviours of male sailors, iro shouting at the first mate. So if this is what women experience it's no wonder they don't want to return.

I don't know why it is so, but generally I find that women have a lower interest in the technical stuff - it is certainly true in my case - I am constantly baffled by the interminable discussions on epoxy, gelcoat, electrickery, gizmos and gadets, dyneema, wotnots. I just don't get a lot of it. I want to know what works on my boat and what is safe, but aside from that as long as the sails go up and it goes relatively forwards and I know what the depth is - then that's it!

So, I think the reason why most women don't like sailing are the same reasons that most men don't like sailing and these are the reaons that my HWMO gives: cold, wet, uncomfortable, doesn't like heeling over, heads inadequate, bulky uncomfortable clothing, takes forever to get anywhere, boring, and he can't get off if he gets fed up and wants to go home. Generally, he'd just rather be doing something else!

What a great post Lisa. Luckily me and Mr Sponge both like sailing, and I do a lot of the helming. We find it works well for us, especially going into marinas and picking up mooring buoys. He does all the difficult stuff and I just steer the boat.

 

[Zagato]

My wife and children have only been out a few times with me so far but the signs are encouraging, I remember the smile she gave when the engine was turned off for the first time and she heard and felt the 'woosh' as the sails took over. She appreciates being able to put her feet up in a tranquil, beautiful environment and we are looking forward to making a few passages around the Solent (just by ourselves for a change!) on calm sunny days.... She definitely doesn't like the cold and wet!

 

[Seajet]

Zagato,

glad to hear it, the transformation when one turns off the engine and goes to the prime mover usually wins hearts !

Just remember to get Mrs Zagato in charge and able to control the boat asap to help her confidence and enjoyment.

However I fear women like my mum may be increasingly rare; able to cheerfully rustle up steak and real chips when my 22' boat was new and very sparsely equipped, sat shut down below cradling a nervous dog as we bumbled through Portland Race, then got out the cooking gear again as soon as we tied up in Yarmouth; if I'd suggested that sort of thing to my feminist ex' I'd still be swimming ashore...

 

[onesea]

Zagato,
Just remember to get Mrs Zagato in charge and able to control the boat asap to help her confidence and enjoyment.

I fully agree, I have taught sailing professionally and as an amateur to friends, family, friends of family since I was a kid...

If a woman or a man does not enjoy sailing it comes down to two things:
1) they just do not like it.
2) the People they are sailing with have got it wrong.

IMHO woman are normally put of sailing by men. Often it is one bad decision or experiaence, nobody likes to feel they have been forced into a situation. If your misses ever says "I told you we should not go out" or similar, you NEED to be very careful.

It is the start she has started to feel out of control, she must be feel she has a choice. Once your are on a boat at sea you are trapped, you are on a roller coaster that you have no control. There is no guarantee of a happy ending.
If you are not given free choice at every stage to say no and things do not go to plan and you did not enjoy it would you go back?

Listening to the female sailors on here they seem to be the as much if not more in charge as the male. Does that not speak volumes?

There are strengths and weaknesses, females are often better at driving and trimming than grinding and pulling. Men are often better technically tuning rigging etc than women. Women are often more practical than men, making things comfier or pointing out things that could be made easier...

I know on several occasions I rescued sailing family's by teaching SWMBO or children to argue with the skipper ..

• Do not go into that marina until I have the fenders ready,
• Let me have a break before I we put the main up I have just the fenders away,
• Do not ask me to drop that anchor until I say its ready,
• If you want to go to XYZ you can inflate the dinghy and get YOUR feet wet,
• If you think its easy you do it next time,
• No point telling me to jump when I am not going to make it,
• If you want a sandwich, you can make me one to,

Basically encourage sailing to be on equal terms...

Stuff on boats breaks all the time and you need to fix it. Women tend to have much weaker technical knowledge than men and so be far less confident at trying to fix stuff. This is a definite barrier to female boat ownership.

Cannot argue there, to many men make things seem to complicated. There are also allot of women who have there own mental barrier (or lack of interest) in mechanical type things, a self induced barrier.

All I can say to that one is if your female and reading this thread get your hands dirty... SWMBO and I stripped our winches earlier this year, she showed me how to put them back together again .
Ok engines I agree they smell make noise and are not particularly attractive to work on. Do your own filter changes and impeller once a year and you will be 90% of the way to understanding your engine.
Why do men spend so much time talking about engines, cause most of us do not understand them either