Comments on: Get Her On Board (Secrets to Sharing the Cruising Dream)

By: Ruth Allen

Ruth Allen — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 10:35:07 +0000

I had no idea when we bought that first boat if I would like to sail or not. I knew my partner had a dream and that we should make it happen. So I learned to sail on that boat.
I was comfortable with his competence, and learned how to do things myself.
One very IMPORTANT thing, when I was uncertain, confused or frightened my partner never got excited, or yelled. He always remained calm with me and with whatever situation came up. That solid quiet patience kept me on the boat when things got a little too hairy for me.

By: Capt. Suz Wallace

Capt. Suz Wallace — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 22:42:02 +0000

Me thinks this has more to do with relationships than it does sailing. Sharing a passion is ‘best’, otherwise one person is compromising in the name of love. Most of the women I know whom sail either are competent themselves or trust their husbands’ competency. I have heard quite a few women say they will not sail because they do not have either and their fear is bigger.
Recently read a quote, “it’s easier to find a sailing companion than to teach a companion to love sailing”

By: Jellybean

Jellybean — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 20:19:21 +0000

I was the one with the cruising dream and knew both of our boats backwards and forwards. My husband did not share that dream and retrospectively, it’s probably a good thing that we did not loose the lines and leave the dock. He was more experienced in the actual knowledge of sailing in extreme weather and I don’t think ever trusted that I could manage the boat in tight or dire circumstances. Consequently that translated to my being uptight when sailing with him, etc. I still dream of going at times, but now it is only a dream. The years to have gone, are passed and I am too old and not able to manage the physical rigors of heavy water sailing.