Why do so many Brits go sailing.

Re: Henry VIII

yep, after the Mary Rose sank he must have been in a massive sulk about boating, and nobody was allowed to talk it as maritime matters were officially Rubbish. After son Edward VI died before old enough to join a yacht club, the next crowned monarch also had a downer on boats, hence called Bloody Mary.
 
[ QUOTE ]
I think the Kiwi's might dissagree.

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Why? They are more british than the British, I think the Queens's birthday is still a public holiday over there.
 
Re: Dunno, but I wish they wouldn\'t!

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Just think how nice it would be if 90% of those who go sailing, didn't!

Do your bit to improve sailing for everyone - encourage a yacht owner to take up golf, fishing, bird watching, curling, hang gliding, scuba diving, rock climbing, gardening - anything except messing about in boats!

[/ QUOTE ]

Now that's what I would call an excellent idea!
Sad thing is that when Mobo's stop messing about in their boats they tend to take up sailing instead! /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif
 
Re: History

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Frenchies don't have boats cos they're skint

[/ QUOTE ]

Really?? I thought you looked at some pretty expensive ones - whilst I agree that the UK is in a far better economic state overall the French are poor like Rothschild!! Lots of disposable dosh but fewer put it into boats..

I have a half baked theory that it may be to do with so many living so far from the sea.. 2nd or even 3rd homes are commonplace because land is so inexpensive - likewise housing... Certainly southern Spain had a pretty poor time under Franco... middle and northern Spain did better financially - Mind you the Spanish flagged boats on the Costa's and islands are quite smart these days...

Michael (with a smile and not looking for a fight - unless...)
 
Why do so few UK citizens own boats?

Only 1% in UK,
2% in France,
3% in Netherlands, and Australia,
6% in USA,
8% in New Zealand,
14% in Finland,
16% in Norway.

Sorry to spoil all your theories!
 
Galicia has bee under the yoke of "the centre right" for almost twenty years and Spain has thrown off the right wing ,just ayear ago after 8 years.Spain likes rules as they say more like the Pope than thePope,everything is managed fro Madrid ,which also was responsible for the last great yachting fracas......thr Armarda!!!!
 
[ QUOTE ]
Why do so few UK citizens own boats?

Only 1% in UK,
2% in France,
3% in Netherlands, and Australia,
6% in USA,
8% in New Zealand,
14% in Finland,
16% in Norway.

Sorry to spoil all your theories!

[/ QUOTE ]

How interesting - the french bit balances out with all the guys with little (ish) fishing boats - the USA amazes me - 8% of 250??? million - that seems lots more than I have seen on the East coast and California...

So if those figures are correct - and the UK has a longer border with the sea than all except perhaps USA and NZ why does the UK have the marina problem and not the others???

I have no answers - do you?

Michael
 
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The Spanish would also enjoy sailing if only the government didnt have swinging taxes

[/ QUOTE ] I always knew they were more sexually liberated than the stiff upper lipped Brits, but didn't realise that the govt had decided to tax it though....../forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
Re: History

nah, the frenchies are indeed skint - fine with nice standard of living, happy with their lot and unsackable job security but if you want to make money you go elsewhere. UK or US is a start. There are few if any jobs above £100k in france and the BMW count in central paris is pitifully low, and it's those types who can afford a boat - like loads of scuttlebutters. Except they often buy volvos or godawful 4x4 but anyway same sort of expensive tin > expensive grp theory prevails.


Note also that genetically, france has been depleted of vast hoardes of natural sailor types, all killed off in wars with english, or moved over post-1066 . All they have now is a bunch of loonies that should have been invited to 1066 invasion - but were too busy racing/sailing!
 
I'm not sure that are correct in your assertion that only the UK has marina prob. The UK has a marina prob on the S. Coast 'cos it's close to London and has a lot of relatively sheltered sailing close by (IMO, of course). You can still get berths at reasonable prices and in shortish order elsewhere.

Consider the eye watering costs and waiting lists of marinas in the Spanish, French and Italian Med.

So, why so many Brits go sailing? 'cos they can afford to, I'd guess. According to the statistics there are fewer yotties now than 15 yrs ago but the boats they own are bigger and more costly. In the 1960/70s peeps used to Xchannel in 20 footers now I'd be surprised if the average sized boat wasn't nearer 35'.

Thank the UK's increasing wealth for that, methinks.
 
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So if those figures are correct - and the UK has a longer border with the sea than all except perhaps USA and NZ why does the UK have the marina problem and not the others???

I have no answers - do you?

Michael

[/ QUOTE ]

Spain - 4964 km
France - 3,427 km
Denmark 7,314 km
UK - 12,429 km
Greece 13,676 km
New Zealand - 15134 km
USA - 19,924 km
Norway - 25,148 km (length of island coastlines 58,133 km)
Australia 25,760 km
Japan 29,751 km
Canada 202,080 km

All taken from the CIA
 
Re: History

[ QUOTE ]
There are few if any jobs above £100k in france and the BMW count in central paris is pitifully low,

[/ QUOTE ]

Not sure what parts of France you have been to?

Like London' fashionable areas, Paris has its 16th arrondissement and others with lots of folks earning far in excess of £100k and that's just the actors and singers!!!

I am sad and ashamed of the appalling bad taste of my brother in law, a mere bank manager (just retired) who runs a top of he range (whatever that is?) BMW but to be fair he does live in Versailles and not central Paris. Most French have much more class and style than to run such an ordinary car - the equivalent of running a 2nd hand roller...

Most French people run french cars, buy french boats, drink french wine etc etc - it appears that they like and are proud to be French... But for some strange reason the marinas are 1/3rd the price of uk equivalents but still have a waiting list for places.

In terms of conquered countries I would think they are about level pegging with the brits...

Not sure why I wrote all that??? Something to do with the excellent Bordeaux from the region I live in perhaps...

Michael
 
Re: History

I've been to most parts of france. A decent car is often invisible in the uk, often an oo-ah in france.

I spose there are different priorities - mortgaes and home ownership in uk, general living standards of clothes, restaurants, food and that bordeax rate higher in france. It's onlyin francewere you tell a yre fitter at the motoray serice station of the village you are going to 100miles away, and straightway his eyes light up and he asks f you are visiting that restaurant on the corner...
 
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