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sailing has changed my life

4K views 26 replies 19 participants last post by  alexsylvester 
#1 ·
Hi! I'm looking for interesting stories, how sailing has changed somebody's life. Anyone who had difficult childhood, orphans, other people whose lives have changed for better after contact with sailing. Anyone whose sailing teaches life skills. Just post me on priv, if you want to tell a little about it or share it with everyone, I would be grateful.
 
#2 ·
#3 · (Edited)
I had a difficult childhood, primarily due to my parents, who would not let me do whatever I wanted, when I wanted. Can you believe how unreasonable that is? Fortunately, my dad provided a comfortable family income and I was able to alleviate the pain by sailing with my family, until I could afford my own boat.

I would like to claim I was an orphan, but that would contradict my first paragraph. I am not sure orphans even exist anymore. The whole foster care system has kind of made the whole Oliver Twist paradigm outdated. Widows remain a bona fide subject of sympathy, however. Since men seem to have more interest in sailing than women (by a ratio of about 2,000 to 3, judging by their participation on this forum), the only widows whose lives have been changed by sailing, might be those who are seen celebrating, particularly if a large life insurance policy is involved.

Anyway, I am pretty sure sailing has changed my life and the lives of others, forever, seeing as I regularly contribute to this forum, thus enriching the lives of others, more than they might possibly realize...
 
#4 ·
No doubt. Listen to this crap- the other day (a while ago) my dad says "don't buy that boat until you sell your old one"

What is that? Nonsense- the delusional ramblings of the senile. I promptly checked the old fart into a home for those with dementia- and bought the other boat. Now that I'm storing two boats and refitting one I can't afford the flipping home anymore or to go anywhere other than out for a daysail. so now he's back and I have to listen to him ramble about selling the old boat all the time.

Like he even knows.

Oh- and then some guy was talking bad about me online. All because of sailing. So yeah- it's afflicting (sp, affecting) my life.
 
#5 · (Edited)
In 1952 my first boat was a 26' 1929 Chris Craft speed boat. That led to taking the USCG safety courses, and achieving the rank of Boatswains Mate.

Changed jobs, moved and wound up at the the Rochester Yacht Club where a co-worker got me interested in Predicted Log Contests, which led me to taking Power Squadron courses. Rose to the rank of Navigator Which led to me teaching Celestial Navigation in the Northern New Jersey Power Squadron.

A friend there introduced me to the Nyack Boat Club. No power boats, so got a 20 year old Lightning and tried to compete in Wednesday night racing. HA! That got me really interested in some serious sailing.

That took me to volunteering at the USNA in Annapolis on their Racing Committee.

Now retired and sail my Cape Dory 25 around the Delaware Bay and the Chesapeake.
I'm now studying how to diagnose the 24 sensors and control modules of a modern diesel engine in the hope of (well let's not go there because it's just a dream).

Dick
 
#7 · (Edited)
When I was 2 years old.

I've had a few dry spells since then, but they never lasted. Years I didn't have a boat I'd go down to the water and watch them come and go and wish. Next thing you know I'd have another boat, although never without luck and some effort on my part.
 
#10 ·
After being in the military for the past 15 years, multiple deployments with lots of high stress and now the mind-numbing boredom of being in an office job, Anything messing around on my boat is a sort of release of stress and is so much more relaxing. It's a great way to keep the mind active and engaged.
 
#11 ·
No life-changing stories to share. But, I will say, the boat serves as one of many sources of glue that holds our family of 3 firmly together. We'd be fine without it, I'm sure, but our lives together are enriched that much more by sharing this common pursuit together. That was the whole idea behind getting the boat in the first place. When we're not sailing, we're often talking about being on the boat and the different adventures that we'll share.
 
#12 · (Edited)
I don't know how you do it. I wouldn't let the war anywhere near my boat. My dad showed me something about vets sailing on charleston and asked if I thought it might be good. Probably for them- but not for me. What would I do if I let the war aboard? I'd likely just Walbridge* myself. If I let go the sanctity of this space life would certainly not be worth living. But I can't go to groups or anything either- i hate being anywhere around it- even in my own skin its a pretty hostile environment. I just wish it would get done with me- cuz I'm sure as hell done with it.

*(sail into largest hurricane available)
 
#13 · (Edited)
My life started in 1970! My dad was not normal and still isnt, he use to drink all the time on the weekends well everyday i guess too. He started with dingys and moved up to a 33 ft, by this time i was 15 years old! He raced and i was the crew along with a few others that wanted to come along. He use to drink while skippering the races, no one took him seriously until he started to win races and he give people that took the racing seriously,, problems! Well anyways during my child hood my dad would make comments to my mother while , "we cant afford this sailing is only for doctors and rich people!" well as time went by and my dad had to get rid of his 33 ft racer/cruiser it was a sad day, as years past i wasn't my self for a long time i would try things like car racing or listen to others how they go out and hunt and do skiing and stuff! I never lost the idea of me sailing and having my own boat! As i got older and met more and more people by crewing on others boats, i finally bought my own 21 ft catamaran!

As a child we only sailed in a LAKE, but one year my dad did take his boat to a Florida Pensacola regatta race , but he didnt allow me to go at that time! "Boy i wish he did, anyhow now learning Catamaran sailing with new friends i met at the club i joined they all have "Hobie cats, this group of people maybe spend 2k on a boat and we all have the most fun that can be had chasing each other on the lake then coming back to the beach and having a cook out, this is every weekend in the summer!

I have learned you dont need a Dock or high class wanta bee people so called friends that you dont see because they are in side their boats.. Working on it..

Now i have met Salesmen, stay at home MOMS, VPs, CEOs, Doctors, Truck drivers, Metal workers! They all are Extreme sailors and are down to earth people! SO if you ever come across a Hobie guy or a Cat guy Wave at them they are cool people! Just think differently then others, but we all enjoy the WIND, just some are faster then others:)
 
#17 ·
Sailing always helped me get a better perspective on my life, especially when I was going through some tough times. It helped me raise my kids. And it gave me a great idea how to spend my retirement, as well as how to conduct my funeral... ;)
 
#21 · (Edited)
I would like to thank all of you for replies. I feel obliged to adumbrate a background of this question.

I cooperate with foundation that helps children from orphanages by teaching them sailing. Of course, we teach them real life skills. We show them, that life depends from us. And that what we know, what we can, what we've learnt is very important to succeed in life. We try to show that everyone should have life's aims and we should not drifting in our existence. We want to give them opportunity, something that could be one constant thing in their life.

I don't want to judge a system, orphanages and how government helps those children. We prefer acting, but in my opinion, they have many materials things, many foundations just give them clothes, packages for Xmas, etc. That's good. But we want to give them something immaterial, something that they could use in future.

You can say, "but why sailing, it's for rich people, you could teach them something practical like hairdressing or how to repair a car". Yes, we could or actually could not because we teach what we can ourselves. Is sailing for rich people? Yes and no. If we talk about yachts for 150k $, it's rather beyond common people's sight, but sailing is not so expensive as people usually think. I probably don't have to say it here, anyway.

I'm trying to collect some people's experiences what sailing brings to your life, how it enrich you, your personality. I'm very glad, my question has met with so big response. Waiting for another interesting stories and points.
 
#22 ·
Great cause, Alex... all the best to you in this worthy effort.
I got exposed to sailing when I was a young kid - it made a huge impression on me. When I picked up sailing again as an adult, I felt like that kid again. It was awesome and magical... it still is...
 
#24 ·
I have hardly sailed, yet sailing has changed my life- when, at 50 years old- I decided to start "investigating" sailboats.... Knowing I am not the only one with this strange affliction, I still struggle to understand the force of it.

Regardless of culture or geography, status or wealth; being in a sailboat on the water, seems to me is something akin to catnip for the soul.

I just want to live long enough to have sailed longer.
 
#26 ·
#27 ·
Arkonah I cannot send a private message to you because I'm a quite newbie here, so if you're reading this, I just want to say thank you for your message.

There is nothing better than separate from the outside world and taking a breath when something bother us.

I think there is something magical in water. It really helps to clean your mind... only you and silence or gentle whistle of wind. Few hours and you can feel that everything is clear and possible, nothing more nothing less.
 
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