[Don L]

Am in Thompson Bay, Long Island Bahamas. In the Explorer guide it says there is a cruiser's net here. I tuned in and there was nothing. Have met a few cruisers at the dinghy dock and it has come up (all from 60+ age cruisers). There is a cruiser beach here with chairs etc. that just 2 years ago on our last trip to Bahamas would have people at, but have seen no one there (including me). I had a car rental couple days ago to see the island and announced it on vhf 16 to see if anyone wanted to join us. No one even responded but I later learned some heard the message.

So nothing far as friendy cruiser get togethers,

But so far every cruiser here I have met has read and know of the 1 anchorage review that talks about running your watermakers here.

So I definitely believe the loss of cruiser get togethers may be internet related. But that is hard to put it all down as considering the number who have cruised longer than that.

 

[tempest]

Shock mentioned it, and given the age of some of the cruisers, it may be that Covid concerns have curtailed some of the socialization. I still see people up here driving around in their car by themselves with masks on.

 

[MarkofSeaLife]

I don't want this to sound weird, but, do you sound HAPPY on the VHF? Does it sound like your voice is smiling?

Does your VHF message say "We rented a car today to go around the island. Its expensive so I want you to come with me so its cheaper. No ratbags, only nice people should reply".
Or do you say: "Hi Folks is Don! Don from 3 Pirates! We're in X Bay and in 3 days we're renting a car and have 2 seats available. It will be exciting. We're going up Bahamas HIGHEST mountain! Visiting the 3 villages, Seeing the WHITEST sand beach and ending with Sunset at Point XXX which you can only get to by car. All this and it will only cost you $40! Guarantee you'll be back on your boat by Cruisers Midnight at 9pm. Call me IMMEDIAETLY after the Net. Remember its Don on 3 Pirates!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!".

 

[Pegu club]

Its, the not so “social “ media addiction that so many suffer from, that and I think many believe the world is far more dangerous than it actually is, so the lack of trust in our fellow man & woman, is more prevalent, it’s why we see massive chains used to lock dinghies to the dock at Vero Beach city marina, of all places…,

Fair winds,

 

[AWT2_Sail]

I don't want this to sound weird, but, do you sound HAPPY on the VHF? Does it sound like your voice is smiling?

Does your VHF message say "We rented a car today to go around the island. Its expensive so I want you to come with me so its cheaper. No ratbags, only nice people should reply".
Or do you say: "Hi Folks is Don! Don from 3 Pirates! We're in X Bay and in 3 days we're renting a car and have 2 seats available. It will be exciting. We're going up Bahamas HIGHEST mountain! Visiting the 3 villages, Seeing the WHITEST sand beach and ending with Sunset at Point XXX which you can only get to by car. All this and it will only cost you $40! Guarantee you'll be back on your boat by Cruisers Midnight at 9pm. Call me IMMEDIAETLY after the Net. Remember its Don on 3 Pirates!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!".

So Mark,
I’m guessing you heard the first version over VHF…

 

[Don L]

Met 4 cruiser couples at the beach bar/resturant this evening. They agree about the change.

They all had boat cards

 

[MikeOReilly]

Met 4 cruiser couples at the beach bar/resturant this evening. They agree about the change.

They all had boat cards

I bet if you asked these four people -- in person -- to go with you on a car ride, you'd have more success.

 

[MarkofSeaLife]

So Mark,
I’m guessing you heard the first version over VHF…

No, but I use the second version

 

[wsmurdoch]

In our experience Salt Pond on Long Island lost a lot of its cruiser charm when Island Breeze shut down. I hope some operation has finally filled their shoes.

 

[SanderO]

In our experience Salt Pond on Long Island lost a lot of its cruiser charm when Island Breeze shut down. I hope some operation has finally filled their shoes.

When I moored out East... Salt Pond was a crazy madhouse and I only visited in the off season. Then it was lovely. It's understandable why it's so crowded... And BI is lovely. But crowds seem to be antithetical to cruising.

 

[JaimesBeam]

Is there some flag you can fly on your boat that indicates that you are open for visitors?

or is there a high tech version of that?

I think all the reasons mentioned are good ones for people being perceived as lass social nowadays.

 

[AWT2_Sail]

Is there some flag you can fly on your boat that indicates that you are open for visitors?

or is there a high tech version of that?

 

[redgar]

Is there some flag you can fly on your boat that indicates that you are open for visitors?
or is there a high tech version of that?

There is a "Guest" flag, but I believe that technically means that the boat owner is not present and the boat is commanded by a "guest".

I would expect a lot of sailors wouldn't even know what it means anyway...

Something like this might be more universally recognized as "we are social"... ;-)

You could also fly something related to a topic that is controversial or that interests you and attract folks that find that topic interesting.

​

There are also places you can get an nice custom flag or pennant made up and put up your own more direct message: "Visiting hours: 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM"

Maybe do something like put scantily clad blow up dolls or manikins on your deck to indicate a fun party? Depends a lot upon the visitors you are trying to attract. jajaja. Hmmm... also maybe a good idea for those worried about putting their boat name on the dinghy? A manikin in security guard outfit?

~~ Red

 

[SanderO]

Why assume sailors/cruisers are seeking people to socialize with from the anchorage? I suppose if you do want to do that you can give them a shout out from your cockpit... or chat them up on the dingy dock...

 

[MikeOReilly]

I really don't understand all the angst about socializing with fellow cruisers. Every time I've held, or ended up in a cockpit gathering, it's resulted after a friendly interaction, either by dinghy or perhaps on the shore. You know... we get chatting, and then -- sometimes -- an invitation gets extended.

It only happens occasionally. Certainly not every boat wants to party with the neighbours. But when it happens, it happens organically -- not forced, or pre-organized, and certainly not somehow expected.

 

[SanderO]

In the almost of 4 decades of cruising Shiva... I have had very few people visit. Perhaps I met someone at a harbor side bar.... like the Galley Bar in English Harbor... Most encounters with other sailors are at the dinghy dock. I am only mildly curious about how other boats are and what other sailors have done. And this is mostly because their "solutions" may not be applicable to my boat. I did invite a gal I met at the Galley Bar and we became "friends" and did sail together. She was sort of "helpless" as she shared her boat with her divorced husband and wasn't much of a sailor herself. She lived in the Canaries. I found her a captain, Roger, to sail the boat and her from Antigua to Gran Canaria! Roger was a live aboard in English Harbor, an ex airplane mechanic and a fabulous chief. Rog and I delivered a 36s from Bridgeport to Brazil! I rarely hang at a bar so that source is not happening. Wife doesn't want strangers on board. She's a bit paranoid and private and not looking to socializing.
We sail to get away and be outside and in nature. I suppose it analogous to camping.

 

[Don L]

there is no need for paranoid people to read this thread

I am surprised so many here want to be alone, yet waste time posting on a forum. It is kind of a creepy sign.

 

[tempest]

Living in the most densely populated State in the U.S. My goal in travel was always to get away from people. Finding an empty beach in the Bahamas would be akin to hitting the lottery to me. I did a lot of winter camping and hiking in the Catskills, Adirondacks and White mountains, which greatly cut down on the crowds. I typically wait until May or September/October to go to the beach. Most of my cockpit socializing was done with my permanent dock neighbors.

That said, I certainly understand that if someone is living at anchor 24/7 with their spouse or SO having other people to socialize with occasionally would be a pleasant distraction from the daily routine. I'd Bake some bread, make a pie or some other treat (a pitcher of Margarits) and stopping by a neighbor's boat with it might elicit an invite.

We started to anchor in a spot in the BVI once and two guys emerged butt naked from the nearby boat to say hello. We moved to another spot! No Judgement, it just wasn't the scenery we were looking for. They were probably happy to see us leave too.

 

[MikeOReilly]

Living in the most densely populated State in the U.S. My goal in travel was always to get away from people. Finding an empty beach in the Bahamas would be akin to hitting the lottery to me.

I can give you lots of places where this is the norm .

That said, I certainly understand that if someone is living at anchor 24/7 with their spouse or SO having other people to socialize with occasionally would be a pleasant distraction from the daily routine. I'd Bake some bread, make a pie or some other treat (a pitcher of Margarits) and stopping by a neighbor's boat with it might elicit an invite.

I'm the bread-baker on our boat as well. The smell of fresh baked bread is like the red carpet for cruisers.

Meeting interesting, new people is certainly part of the joys of this life. It's this notion that it must be, or else the world is somehow going to hell in a hand-basket, which makes most of us roll our eyes. You get back what you put out. If you are warm and friendly, you'll find lots of people being warm and friendly. If you are a curmudgeon, and complaining all the time, then you'll see a world full of those type of people.

 

[OntarioTheLake]

I really don't understand all the angst about socializing with fellow cruisers. Every time I've held, or ended up in a cockpit gathering, it's resulted after a friendly interaction, either by dinghy or perhaps on the shore. You know... we get chatting, and then -- sometimes -- an invitation gets extended.

That's my experience.

That said, some subsets clearly don't want to chat- massive motor yachts, and catamarans over 40', for example. But even with some of those, expressing interest in their boat, or some subsystem, evokes an invite. Likewise, it's not uncommon for unknown cruisers to approach us in the dinghy and say hello (or ask a question, or ask for something- ice is the big icebreaker, no pun intended.)

Stupid as it may sound, flags do indicate what your visitor preference is- or is not. I've had a couple Canadian sailors in Canadian waters that (somehow) mistook the courtesy flag for being Canadian flagged, and it started out great until they realized we were NOT Canadian, but Americans taking up their space (no kidding.) Drinking flags say you're willing to have a few cocktails; the Jolly Rodger says you're a bit wild and probably like to party; political flags draw like-minded thinkers; An Aussie YC burgee typically indicates you've been there and is inviting to Aussies (well, so is the drinking flag.)

A cat visibly on board means I'm going to stay well away.