I am Bless with a Girl Friend of 12 years
Her Aunt died at sea some time ago and she was nervous about being on the
water. She helped me with ordering my M15 from Bob. She was there every step
of the way. When the new boat arrived we were both excited. But the test was
getting her (Boat) in the water.
We did this together. We sailed in protected Bays and she loved it! Now she
wants to go to bigger waters i.e. Columbia River Portland Oregon. What's a
guy got to do?
She feels really safe in the M15 and she is getting use to the heeling (tippy
boats).
My Advise:
1. Never yell orders
2. Let everyone have time at the helm
3. Pay attention but don't yell!
Thanks,
Peter D
M15 618
Like some of the other guys I have been blessed with a wife who enjoys
sailing with me. That is not to say that if I fell off the earth tomorrow she
would ever go sailing again and have Dauntless sold to the highest bidder by that
afternoon!..but she does enjoy doing it together. Does she get a little
nervous when the going gets rough? Yeah, she does, but as long as she seems to
think that I have it under control she's cool with it. There are some things
she just doesn't want to do. For instance, she'll take the helm all day long
out in open water...put her at the entrance to a marina or in close company
of other boats and she wants to get rid of the tiller like it's a hot potato.
No big deal. I try not to ask her to do anything she's uncomfortable with. I
have found that this approach, where she only does what she's comfortable
with, has allowed her to gradually accept more and more of the sailing
responsibility over the years we have sailed together, but totally at her own pace.
That keeps it fun for her.
My only observation/advice would be this. Don't yell. Sounds funny I know
but I can't believe how many guys who would never think of yelling at their wife
ashore, start barking out orders when they feel their own stress levels
rising. I think that most don't even know that they are doing it and certainly
don't mean any ill will by it. It just happens and it doesn't seem to get a
very good reception from the spouse involved. A couple of outbursts per trip
finds most guys with a wife who despises that freakin sailboat in the yard as it
only represents an afternoon of ridicule and embarrassment for them. At that
point your sailing career as a happy couple will probably be over.
Keep it low key (I know it's hard sometimes..for me too!) She'll enjoy it
more, feel like a worthwhile asset to the crew, get a sense of accomplishment
and who knows before you know it....maybe she'll take the
helm............................maybe! :-)
Oh yes don't forget.....the "don't yell" thing includes when she's
struggling with the trailer on the ramp. We've found that a set of FRS radios, one in
the boat and one in the truck, allows very quiet "coaching" to be sent from
the boat cockpit to the truck cab without any yelling or crazy gyrations.
We've even gotten comments from spectators at the ramp about how smooth our
launching process was. Little did they know that we were talking back and forth
the entire time, just not yelling "Stop!!!" "Go!" "WHOA!" "LEFT" "Little
More!!!" etc.etc. etc. hahaha (Dont get me wrong...we've had our bad days too!)
That's my 37cents
Have a great trip!
Three cheers for all the gals out there that share the sail with us!
Sean and Jo
M23 "Dauntless"
_www.havasumontgomerys.funtigo.com_
(http://www.havasumontgomerys.funtigo.com)
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