Your First Mate/ Deckhand

Yeah, it is still winter and I need to burn more time.
I have seen other posts on here about people who sail with their significant other, I was just wondering who out there does sail with their g/f,wife,husband,boyfriend.

I had to make sure that was PC, since I know there are some woman sailors on here.

My g/f sails with me on a regular basis and that is actually how I got her interested in me. We had met in Organic Chem but she really got interested when she saw me sailing. That was about a year ago and things are going smoothly, I know that many of you out there have much longer standing relationships going but, hey for a college student a year together is doing well.
She loves to sail and helps me work on my boats all the time. When I asked her what she wanted for Christmas she said a wetsuite so she could sail early next year with me, I think I have a winner!!

Yeah I met my fiancee while sailing, although we hardly sail together anymore... we don't really have time.

You know she's a keeper when the first time you go sailing, you flip the boat 25 feet off the dock and she's swimming down the channel to rescue your flops.

Beware the first pitchpole. And let her drive, dear god just let her drive.

Well, I race AGAINST my ol' man...

and if I ain't mistaken, Sue Korz, one of my heroines, races against her ol' man...

and on my big boat, HE'S the deck squirrel, not I. You might wanna retract the 'deckhand' remark.

Been sailing with my wife ever since we met. We've both sailed all our lives, but she's one-up on me in that she's owned/sailed a cat and I haven't...yet. We met on a blind date, and she was hooked after proudly proclaiming she did not drink hard alcohol and only liked beer, to which I replied that that was nice and that I made beer.

Heard a good spouse story the other day during an interview with an author...he got a bad review one time and when the book was returned by the reviewer, his wife took it out back and shot it with a .38. His comment was "that's the kind of wife you want".

Sounds like you may have a winner there...good luck, be kind to each other, and if it's meant to be it will.

Cute! But I've got sailing gloves older than she! <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> Good luck. I snagged my wife by taking her sailing upteen years ago. She quit racing with me tho... something about wanting to stay married!!! Of course I let her drive the Stiletto!

Clayton

Hey thanks for the insight Clayton. My girlfriend raced with me faithfully UNTIL we got married and then she graciously sort of bowed out. I thought all along it was beacause of the dings and bruises of competition. And here we are 25 years later and still married.

Had me fooled <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />

Agreed <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Sailed with my wife once. Distance race as her debut, where we ran into some heavy winds.. Never again on the Tornado!

Now, my first mate is.. well, look at the attachment..

Ah love..There is just nothing like getting a new cat...er I mean girlfriend.

I started racing with my wife a few years ago when we were dating in university. She was completely new to sailing. I new she was a keeper when we had our first high speed pitch pole bearing off to the offset mark. We got the boat up right away. She had a grin from ear to ear, wanting to get back into the race, AND she saved my sunglasses from the drink!

Well....at least...errrr...she's a blond.

Just what I was afraid of when I wrote that, Jake <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

So you're saying that now your wife is [color:"red"] unfaithful [/color] ?

Better duck, friend! <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Its funny how many things the girlfriend will do and the wife won't do. My wife sails with me recreationally as long as the spin stays in the sock. Had her into racing, had a serious collision, she won't race anymore. Good luck with the girlfriend and I agree, if its meant to be you can't screw it up. Later

My first date with the GF of about 8 months was at the lake sailing. She went out with me in about 10 knots and we zoomed around for a while. Then I started that whole hull in the air crap and she was a bit scared to begin with but on like the third ride it didn't seem to bother her a bit. She has yet to ride the wire due to some wild crashes last year in 25+ with my normal (all things relative) crew to which she decided we were all freaking nuts. Smart girl there, and a keeper too. Hope to meet yours at the beach next year gree2056. The girls usually desert us when the boats are being set up but a rareing to go once they are.

Peace

M

My GF crews for my main competitor, and did back before we got together. Works out pretty well.

I met my wife at a H16 Nationals and we still race together after 14 years and a couple of kids. If you want to continue sailing I seriously reccomend finding a girl who enjoys it as much or more than you. I know too many people who ended up packing it up altogether or just have to put up with a bunch of crap when trying to go do something that takes so much time like sailing.

My daughter is starting to race with me now, but that is causing some friction because my wife gets upset if I sail without her. Like you said above though, her job on shore is to be our social director. I have always set up the boat and she has the uncanny knack of showing up right as the last knot is getting tied. There is not anybody I would rather have pulling my strings though.

Matt

I can not believe what I’m reading.

When I met my wife she made look like she enjoys sailing. She asked me a few times when we go sailing again. She even showed some interest in learning how to sail. It is getting better and better. She was hiking out in 15k winds.

The day we get married her interest into sailing sailed away I’m back where I was.

I NEED TO LOOK FOR CREW EVERY TIME I GO SAILING.

Does anyone feel my pain too???????

Naw, the three sons she bore for us are all pretty good sailors.

They've got to be mine!!! <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I had a past g/f that the first time I took her sailing I had to get the boat out of impound and get legal trailer plates (she even paid for them since the DMV wouldn't take plastic) before I even started to get ready. She helped set up the boat. Then after about an hour a summer storm brewed and I couldn't get to land fast enough. We capsized 5 times. After we finally got back to shore and put the boat away and got cleaned up she bought me dinner. After all of that she kept sailing with me until she went away to grad school.

Now, for my wife... she was so scared to go sailing after hearing all of the stories from my sailing friends that she would only go out in 10 kts or less. I like 10+. Anyway, one day we were out it started with light winds but around noon time it kicked up to 15-20 (my kind of day). After about 2 hours of convincing I got her on the trap. Now she doesn't want to be bothered to go sailing unless she can trap out while flying a hull. She has never capsized or pitchpoled so we will see how she handles that when it happens.

Been sailing with Eileen for over ten years. If we are not on the boat for a couple of weeks she says it is time to sail. She likes it as much as I do. Great crew, puts up with me, likes to win, likes to pleasure sail, trapezes downwind with the spinnaker in any wind, and will help me set up the boat...Keeper.

Later,
Dan

I didn't really finish my story about my g/f's first outing with me on my Hobie 14.

The day was going great until we pitchpolled. She as out on the trap, it was a pretty rough pp, I ended up hitting my leg on the mast. When we both came up, her top had been knocked of and had sunk. I ended up loaning her a shirt out of my drybag. Make note that this was our first time out on the boat. I thought I would never see her again, but instead she is around all the time, and I can't keep her off the boat!

Once again, she is a real winner.
Sorry I didn't tell this story in the first post, I just didn't have time last night.

Classic

My wife doesnt sail with me. She liked my big boat - 40ft Sloop, and was really good at sun tanning.

That picture should have an "Arrrrrrrrrgggggghhhhhhh" across the bottom. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Jeez, I thought I was the only one. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

Bit like sex and marriage I guess, all of the time before you're married and then you're sailing solo <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

I keep telling you newbies...do NOT sling your new crew around the forestay or pitchpole your wife/new crew/female GF/kid: they do NOT like it and will quit on you forever. Chicken line will stop this 95% of the time. Otherwise you stand a good chance of losing this wonderful asset forever.

OR!! if you have found a really good one they will like it more and you won't be able to keep them away.

I like the comparison between sex and sailing. My friends and I used to use sailing as a metaphor for sex, I guess the two are somewhat alike!

My wife sailed with me before we got married on the small lakes. She seldom sails with me and gets angry when I want to go sailing with my friends. Too bad because I live near lake Michigan and have available a 36' monoslug on top of my own Hobie. PS, she gets sea sick, air sick, car sick, ect....

Uhhh..... [insert comment here]

My wife and I have sailed together ever since we started cat sailing 5 years ago. We also race together, apart from a couple of big events and long distance races like the Great Texas. I'm the driver man, she is the jib man and calls tactics.

This year she bought a used Marstrom A-Cat so she could learn to sail on her own (I think teaching your partner to sail whilst you are on the boat is as risky as teaching them to drive!). She's loving it and it has paid dividends when we race together now.

I agree with the advice of not sending your crew around the forestay if you want to keep them sailing with you. I made a few mistakes at first that nearly ended our sailing career, but am much more careful now. This year at the Texas Cat Champs on the 2nd day it was cold, raining and blowing like stink and she had a great time racing and came in grinning from ear to ear!

Chris.

How well does the Hobie sail with a 36' monoslug on top of it?

My GF first started sailing with me after we met. Did some fun sailing and serious racing. Now after getting married she'll only sail with me in the fun stuff. Something to do with an aversion to spinnakers <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> No worries though...I have a consistent, die-hard, experienced crew to sail with in the serious stuff. But bless my wife's heart, she wants to take sailing lessons so that she can better understand the ins and outs of sailing. Definitely a keeper <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

Buy her a Wave for XMAS

So, that lost post brings up a question. Is sailing stuff and okay gift?
I have to get something for my g/f that sails with me all the time. I was thinking something sailing related, but couldn't decide what would be a good idea!

Absolutely. My wife doesn't know it yet but she's getting a drysuit for Christmas.

Gree:

A sailing related thing I think she would absolutly love.

Eileen has a long coat. It is made out of the same material that the great sailing jackets are made of. You know the fleecey inside with the Gortex-like outside? It goes all the way to mid calf. Big warm thing to put on after a day of sailing. Even if it is not cold out, in your mind, she will probably be putting it on. They are similar to the long coats that you may see at a cold football game.

She uses it to stay warm and also as a changing room, in a pinch. It lives in the car.

Later,
Dan

If sailing is something that she enjoys because its doing something with YOU then sure, sailing stuff for xmas is always fun. If she does it JUST because it makes YOU happy, then it may not be the best idea to get her sailing stuff. In other words, if she's the one constantly badgering you to go out sailing with her, get her sailing stuff, but if you're the one that's like "hey hon, why don't we go sailing?" and she says that she's too busy because she has to wash her hair, then maybe getting her a nice trap harness for xmas ain't the best.

Alternatively, you could do what I did, and get her nautical/sailing styled jewelry. It can be hard to find stuff that looks nice and isn't tacky in this area, but it does exist.

She loves sailing so I guess that would be a good idea. She is actually looking for a boat of her own. I tried to get her to buy my old 14 but she wants one of the new rotomold boats. She has really been looking at the Bravo, it is small enough that she could handle it all by herself, I mean we have my Nacra when we want to go out together, but the bravo seems like a good boat for her and she likes the way it looks.

Maybe a nice new trap harness, that is more comfortable than the old one she uses.

Tell her to get the wave

That way she can race with a bunch of cool people when she wants <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Make sure she tries to drag the Bravo across the grass and beach... It looks small but I have seen the kids and women really struggle going up the beach without wheels.

its a neat little boat but don't underestimate the drag coefficient... Also... getting wheels under this boat on the beach are also a muscle thing so tell her to check it out.

Gree
Not to throw a wet blanket on things, But
Back in the day, I bought a girlfriend everything needed over a couple of years to sail. We broke up and all gear gone.
Next girlfriend: Bought everything again, after a year or so, broke up. All gear gone.
Then I decided to buy all the gear and when sailing with any new girl let her know it's yours and she can use it when sailing.
It worked, I married that one and she gave me my current super crew.
The wife now crews around and we are both much happier at the end of the day.
Buy the jewelry as a present.

Keith, 36' monoslug on top of my own Hobie..... VERY SLOW

Thanks for the laugh

Thanks for the advice, she has most of the stuff. Just the trap harness that she has is and old Hobie on and kinda sucks compared to the one I use.

As for her getting a Bravo, is there any other boat that people would suggest? Not to be mean but she is strong, not like husky strong, but she works out alot and isn't that much weaker than me. She can handle my 14 alone, so I figured she could handle the Bravo. Plus we sail on Lake Thunderbird and put our boats in where the old Highway runs into the water. I drive directly down to the water so there is almost no pulling the boats around, but if you all think it would be hard for her to pull it around then maybe she should look into something else.

Ditto. Refer her to the Wave Nationals thread and the Wave forum. Also, keep an eye out for Rick's article. Should be out soon.

Keep her on the 14 and get her a nice trap harness. There are two women sailing 14's in your area, one is excellent and one a newbie. They'll be at the Daggerless.

Check your PM.

Bob, you're really going to have to talk Liza into wearing something more aerodynamic. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I have one of those kinda pictures, too:


Come to think of it, Diane doesn't look that aerodynamic either.

Nothing wrong with that hat!!! I like that hat and wear the same... (It just looks better on her.....) <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Why don't Enrique and Carla have the team helmets?




It's got to be a Reynolds number thing.

Matt, Is that from Nationals? I was thinking of all you guys that day wondering how many, or if anyone would sail! Amazing sailors! Some great crews!

Well, I have good news. Today while me and the g/f were working on the old Hobie 14 she asked if I had thought about what I was getting her for Christmas. She said "you know that old trap harness isn't to comfortable" and then she winked!!!

I think the trap harness might be a good idea but now I have to get something else also so that she knows I put some thought into it. Darn her and her hint's, I had better get something good.

Looks like your source has been compromised. Does she read the Catsailor forum? <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

I'm also looking for a harness. I need to get a small one for my son. I've been looking alot at ebay but I keep getting outbid. I guess I'm being cheap.

-Rob V.

Sarah hung in for all 5 races that day in the pouring rain.
Matt B. described it: "as the most intense day of racing he could remember" (30 years of sailing)
Not bad for 11 years old. Pound for pound, the toughest sailor I know.
That was the last finish of the last day and we were whipped.

Brian: Those are all from this years Nationals.

Guys/Gals:

I am trying to get the youth involved and I am training Ashleigh for her new (2002 Mystere 4.3) I just bought her. We need to do more to get the youth involved to save the sport.

Doug Snell
Hobie 17
"Stress Free" #007

No, my g/f doesn't read anything on here. I think she just wants a trap harness. And as for her getting a bravo I don't think she is going to. I have basically decided to keep my 14 so I think she is just going to start sailing it. That also solves the storage problem, she will just keep it at her house.

Any other gift I ideas?

I really don't recommend the Bravo. They are God aweful slow. Easy to sail, but slooowwww. The 14 sounds like a good boat though.

Does she need a wetsuit? New sailing shoes? I've seen some really cool shoes that would work well for sailing on the kayaking sites. A nice pair of gloves? A new Blade F16?

-Rob V.

My better half doesn't like salt water on her hair..... So, I was "forced" to buy a stinkpotter.

Once there was a pastor who was asked to be guest speaker at a nearby church. They specifically asked him to talk about sex. The pastor was feeling shy about this, so he told his wife, that he had been asked to talk about sailing. The big day came, and something came up, so the pastor's wife could not attend his sermon about sailing. Two days later, the pastor's wife ran into one of the church members who had heard his sermon. She asked how it went. The church member replied that he knew his subject inside-out and forwards and backwards. The pastor's wife replied, "That's funny. In the 25 years we've been married, he's only done it twice. The first time he fell off. The second time, he got sick."

D. HO
TheMightyHobie18 1067

You have to be kidding! Salt water makes your hair shiny, gives it more body -- and you don't need to use hair spray. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Salt water isn't much of a problem in Oklahoma!

Eric, get your wife a swimming cap <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Tell her to man up and get a #1.
This is a simple thing. Does she, in other areas like excitement? If so lure her onto the boat with the promise of dinner or whatever. Talk to her about shoes..that can work.
Give her a job on the boat (like keeping fish off the tramp) in mid wind strengths and let the boat tip little more than it might and then tell her you could not have done without her. Tell her she has NEVER looked more beautiful.

Go to a sauna or somewhere special as a wind down and she will be hooked.

However if you think that what you really have here is a beach princess, (if she did not come with her own PDF or a photo of an outboard motor this could be an indicater) face up to it, buy a sandbag and put it on its own traveller.
The veiws expressed here do not neccesarliy represent those of bla bla bla.

So true!


I might need to try this! <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />

-Rob V.

I must be stupid, I don't get the sandbag joke?

To further the point that my girl (Lauren) is just amazing!! She just bought some very sexy underwear that have sailboats on them, I mean come one she must have searched all over for those. That is the best gift a sailing girl can get for her sailing guy, I think it shows an intiment feeling towards the sport. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

She bought you sexy underware and you're talking about it here? Dude, I believe you've just broken a ManLaw. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />

No,she bought herself sexy underwear!!! I stick to the good ole comfort band hanes!!
The gift is her in sexy sailing underwear!! So no man laws were harmed in the gift giving.