I sail…
…to get the kids to the ice cream store across the lake without spending a dime on gas.
…to start the day right by single handing and flying a hull for hundreds of yards and waking up some sleepy fishermen with a fly by.
…to keep from getting killed café racing at over 100 mph.
…to hang out with some really good people.
…to teach kids to sail whom, in some cases, have never been any good at any other sport. It’s very gratifying to see them take what an old gas passer teaches them and discover it really works.
…to try out all the good info I get from Catsailor.com.
…to be ready in case Wouter ever comes to Maui.
…to see the whales and run with the dolphins.
…because I can.
For some it's not a matter of
drive.
It's a matter of NEED to get away from land and all the responsibilities attached to it. As somebody else said, sailing is ESCAPE.
Mary:
That is why my Hobie 17 is named
STRESS FREE
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Doug and Ashleih
I have been asked this question many times, and I still don’t answer, but in looking at John Williams’s post yes some of the best times I have had are a result of a boat, friends, and all the other ingredients to go into having fun.
Must be in my genetic make up – my mother was a sailor.
Mike, very good. For me, it is a family thing. Just check the picture.
Caleb
Luiz,
the subtlety was lost on me. I agree that Cameos more philosophical approach is better. It would probably have been easier if I understood portugeese <img src=
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Dunno how pc this is going to be on a sailing forum but anyway....
I sail because I couldn't afford to go motor racing. About 6 years ago I seriously needed another interest and motor racing was my first choice but since money doesn't grow on trees, I decided to get a hobie-cat which was a dream when I was sailing monoslugs as a kid. Bought a TheMightyHobie18 and quickly found out that it was a ton more difficult than I remembered and spent the best part of a season up side down. The rest as they say is history....
Tiger Mike
With summer gas prices sure to rise to nearly $4.00 a gallon, maybe more motor boat people will try sailing. I used to work for a guy who was a big time powerboater/sport fisherman. He would easily spend $80-150 a day (and gas was less than a buck a gallon back then) on gasoline just to troll around at 3 knots. He asked me why didn't I buy a powerboat instead of that slow sailboat?
I said,
Because I can spend all day sailing at 5 knots (J-24 owner at the time) and drag a fishing line if I want to fish, but I don't spend $5 on gas for the entire SEASON, let alone $80 a DAY!
That was 30 years ago. He now owns a 48 foot Hatteras, I have no idea what his fuel bill is but he almost never leaves the dock. He likes to sit on it, listen to the stereo while drinking Gin and Tonic, not that there's anything wrong with that!
I did invite him to go sailing with me many times but he's never set foot on a sailboat, in his entire life! Oh well... <img src=
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Chap here has a big Riv and it's 2K to fill. Those wakes are great to jump off though!
HOBIE FLEET 204 <img src=
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I sail for the 'scream and giggle'
It sounds like...whoa! hee hee hee.
I thought it was the
screaming weeee's
wendy!
People...Participation and the fact that I only see sailors at sailing events, our lives and relationships are not complicated by
life
issues it is always good to see sailors again.
Heavy weather... putting my feet back on dry land after smoking across the water!
Why do I sail???
Well...ahh...
Why do I breathe?
I sail now, thanks to the guys from Phoenix who rented the beach condo next to the one we rented on Mission bay back in 1978. I was 17 and these guys took me out several times that week on their h16. We smoked a bit <img src=
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Sam
No one has mentioned one of the joys I get out of sailing.... and I'm surprised.
NUMBER 1
I think sailors are some of the most adaptive/Macgiverish people I've ever met.
Number 2. I love to tinker with the boat (all the while dreaming about sailing her).
Number 3. I like finding parts that don't say
marine
(and are therefore 5 times the cost of non marine parts) that work as well or better.
NUMBER 4. I like looking at the various parts (the rudder system for example) of my nacra and thinking up modifications. Some work, some don't.
NUMBER 5. I like thinking of ways to ready her at the boat launch (with everyone watching) in an effortless manner knowing all the while non-sailors are thinking
how in the world does he know where everything goes?
Finally,
It pleases me to honor all the men who have taught me to sail throughout the years and think of them when I pull the mainsheet in and off she goes........
Thanks guys.
Greg
screaming weeee's
wendy!
It depends on the moment. It is just fun. That is the reason to sail. Weeee! Whoa! Hee hee hee
Because it fun to go fast on the water, motor's are noisy and gas fumes stink.
And in the Begining there was Wind
....and a log...and a palm frond...and a curious monkey named
Jorge'
...and an onshore wind.................. It is the adventure that brings me to sail.
I'm with Waaaaaaaaahooooooooooo! ,wha! oooh! hehehehehe aargh!
I used to drive too fast and now some of my old friends have gone back to that. Getting about on motorbikes at fifty and taking risks. I break no laws, endanger no one but myself and mostly can crash anytime I like without ending up in A & E.
Sometimes when I am screaming along and smashing through waves I just laugh and laugh. Joy is why I sail.