How to talk wife and friends into a sailing vacation

[h2ohouse]

Any ideas how I can talk my wife and friends of ours into a sailing vaction instead of getting on one of those giant floating hotels? It would be 2 couples, one 16 yr old boy, two 15 yr old girls, and one 9 yr old boy. Likely destination is BVI.

[maca]

maybe this will scare them off! I know for myself i'd rather be on a sailing boat in this situation!

[sailingdog]

If they don't like to sail... or have never sailed, it might be worth looking at chartering a big crewed catamaran. That way, you can participate in sailing sometime, and be passengers at others... less work, more like a vacation.

Might want to mention the recent outbreaks of disease that have plagued the cruiseline industry as well as the several accidents and people gone missing in recent months... and pitch a crewed charter as being more luxurious and private than a huge cruise ship would be...

[sailortjk1]

Do you guys sail regularly?
If not, than take them sailing. Make sure its a nice gentle day with flat seas and moderate winds. Don't take them on a cold rainy windy day. Let them experience the thrill first hand.
Like the rest of us, If they have the bug, they will be hooked for the rest of their lives.
I got bored real quick on my first cruise.

[h16Sailor]

'how do you talk some one into something?'
I am a therapist and professionally, One person can never talk another person into doing something they don't want to do.

now as a limited sailor who went on a cruise over christmas.
the ONLY thing to do on the cruise ship is Drink. its so very boring.
you see the water 50 feet below you and I hated every moment of it, never going again! not even if it were free. (if you haven't guessed I not a drunk and drinking at 8am is not my thing. )

as for a sailing vacation, well its more work. Lots more work and the activity is what is relaxing for me. can't truly describe why i like sailing, lets just say "if i can't touch it, right this second, it does not exist" this liberates me and relaxes my mind.

[camaraderie]

7 people...some unrelated and of the teenaged variety...aboard a charter boat for a week can get a bit close. Are you the only one with sailing experience that would like to do it?
I know this is heresey for me...but talking about renting a cruising CATAMARAN might ease the fears/anxietys of the others. First...there would be more room for everyone. Second it doesn't tilt. Finally...the light winds and beautiful waters of the BVI's make a Cat an ideal platform for swimming, diving and exploring.
The real benefit of a charter in the VI's compared with a cruise is that everyone will get to see unique and beautiful places that the cruise ships can't get to. You can play all day in the warm water and snorkle on reefs and in caves and enjoy beautiful beaches and little islands. All the islands are in sight of each other and navigation is easy and many people go back year after year to enjoy all the wonderful spots.
Hopefully some of the above will be useful to you in your mission!!

[sailingdog]

Cam-

I wouldn't recommend doing this in a monohull... thought the catamaran part was pretty much a given, especially with the number of people involved—eight people—two couples plus four teeangers—are never going to fit on a chartered boat, unless it is a catamaran.

The major advantages to being on a catamaran have to do with amount of living space available and the fact that you're not living life at 20˚ tilt on passages.

Also, some of the larger cats can have a sailing dinghy, kayaks, or a windsurfer along... which would really be a tight fit on a monohull.

[h2ohouse]

Not regularly. I'm the more adventurous person. We have been out several hours at a time on Hobies and Sunfish and I've spent some time on cruisers and am currently taking lessions to obtain some ASA certifications.

I'm looking into a catamaran with a cook and skipper just to make the first trip as easy as possible for everyone else, and then once hooked, I'll bareboat.

[sailingdog]

Sounds like a good plan... Have fun... keep us posted.

[tommyt]

Good Plan. My guess is, no matter what the limit on your Visa, they are not going to let you out with a sailing platform for 8 with only Hobie experience. Then again, depends on how business is I guess.