Hard Times...Good for Sailboat Boating

I use our sailboat more than many of our friends use their motorboats. As the cost of gasoline and diesel has gone up the use of their boats has gone down. It costs too much in fuel to run their boat all day and get food, beverages, bait and ice.  They now go out every two or three weeks not every weekend.

Wind is free, sunshine is free, going out is cheap…just the cost of food, beverages, bait and ice. Those items have also gone up, but I would still use those if I did or did not go out.  It is also more pleasurable to sail with fewer motor boaters. 8-) That’s not really true, most motor boaters are respectful to sail boaters.

Most motor boaters quickly find there is just a little more to sailing than just getting on and putting up the sails. When I take a motor boater out I let him do some of the work. It gets them involved and lets them see and do some sailing, not just sit and watch. You do not ask them if they want to, you just hand them a sheet line and tell them what to do. My wife taught sailing to women and can make most women relax and not feel left out.

One thing that always is surprising to motor boaters is you can talk in a normal voice and have a conversation. On the way out I tell the women to watch what we guys are doing because they are going to sail back. They do not believe me.  When we are ready to head back Admiral Wendy takes command.  She gets the women involved and we guys get out of the way. Women for the most part are good sailors. 

A trip like this plants the sailboat seed in people’s heads. Sailing is fun, the wind is free, and a small sailboat is often more fun than a big one. Sailing can be addictive.