Th other day I was having an intersting discussion with a non-sailor, and the question of why I sail came up. We got into a bit of a discussion, and I think I've found my answer, but I was wondering about everyone else out there. Why do you sail in the first place? And why catamarans not monohulls (I know irts kind of obvious, but can you articulate it and go deeper with it?) Thanks guys, and happy sailing.

The women

Because its therapeutic somehow.

Can't put my finger on it but for some reason it soothes my soul.

It's the only time I'm allowed to tell Beth what to do.

Children play with toys. Then they grow up and are embarrassed to say they still play with toys. So they call them catamarans, etc.

Cuts down on the mortality rate at work.

+1. They're everywhere in the multihull arena

Started with a catamaran because that is what they rented on the beach. Went home sold the Motorbike bought a H-18. Just thought that was the coolest thing on earth! Where else can you get that kind of rush just from the wind. Have sailed monos from a Snark to a Hunter 37, cats from a H-16 to a current Stiletto 27. Just love the speed you can get from the cats.

They are in the Hobie 16s and 18s. You guys need to get beyond the sausagefests every now and then.

Oh, yeah . . .

How much for zee wemin?

It's cheap racing. If I could afford to race cars I'd dump this and be on that like white on rice.

The REAL question is, Why doesn't EVERYONE sail?

The Wind and Water are FREE!!

I only got into it as a kid because I couldn't afford Gas for a Power Boat!

Now I sail to escape the dullness and boredom of everyday life, the job, the bills, the...everything.

I race sailboats just to see my friends, and to learn to sail better/faster from them.

I race cats for the adreneline rush, like when you're going downwind in 20 knots, under kite, on the very edge of control, stuff it to the mast, and somehow recover.

There's just nothing like it...with your pants on I mean.


And ditto on the "Toys" idea. Earlier today I was at the US Soaring Senior Nationals (over 55 crowd) and they are just like us, in fact, many of them said, "I used to race sailboats, but then I got into this!" They are Big Boys with Toys, just like us. Only their 'toys' cost 10X what ours do!
http://www.soarfl.com/

Also, like Karl said, If I could afford a race car, I'd be out at the track today (and tomorrow), with the other Big Boys and their toys!

http://www.sebringraceway.com/

Cat racing is all I can afford right now...but as soon as all the kids and the wife move out, I'll be looking for a Pitts S1!

http://www.aviataircraft.com/pitts.html

And a Sailplane, and a race car, and a Corsair Trimaran, and, and, and...

;^)

Happy St. Paddy's, tomorrow! I'm getting a head start tonight, because I know how you guys cheat!

I used to race jeeps, I figured at the end of a season it cost me $100 a minute to run my jeep in competition. While that was loads of fun, it's cost in towing, traveling an repairs really got to me. Sailing lets me travel in a small suv compared to a 1 ton diesel, a big boat repair is $200 instead of $2000. I agree there is much better bang for the buck in sailing.

I get this question a lot... Unlike motor boats, jet skis, cars, or pretty much any other mode of transport (with the possible exception of sail planes,) sailing is very intellectually demanding. Sailing a boat well isn't just about pointing the vehicle toward its destination. It requires knowledge, skill, and finesse... not just with the machine itself, but also about the environment. Sailboat racing isn't about having a superior vehicle, nor is it about having strong muscles. Sailboat racing is more like playing chess than it is running track or racing cars.

Why catamarans rather than monohulls? I'm not asked that as much, but for me it has a lot to do with the satisfaction of seeing minor changes in sail trim or bearing translate into much bigger changes in boat speed. It isn't about the maximum speed itself, if I was a speed junky I would pick a vehicle that can go much faster than a beach cat.

I do it because I like sailing. It's always something new as trying to either power the boat up or de-power and keep control. It is cheaper that a therapist, and something my wife and I can do together. I have also met a lot of great people who I enjoy being around.

I like the competition. The angles, the math, personalities, the development of instinct that culminates in a challenge to learn enough about all the variables to be able to see the difference between an emotional and a calculated decision. Either type of decision could be correct but each carries a different amount of risk and different potential. To be able to administer the risk in calculated doses to gain the most reward is the art of it all.

Unlike a lot of sports, sailing requires a lot. Probably the reason you don't see many folks just jump into a boat and start winning as a neophite.
Think about it -- you need to have an understanding of aerodynamics, aquadynamics, you have to understand the resistance of the water to the hulls, the waves and wave patterns, understand all about the wind.., oscillating shifts, persistant shifts, land shifts, sea shifts. puffs, lulls.., and then on top of all that you have to know the rules of racing and how to use them to your advantage.., understand tactics and when and how to use them to your advantage -- when to tack, when to jibe, not over overstand laylines.., how to gain advantages at the rounding marks. Oh yes, and navigation in general.
On top of all that, you are also playing a game of chess on the water, and using all the geometry associated with the angles you are using and your relation to the wind.'

Holy cow! Amazing that any of us can sail at all.
Rick

I agree with Rick and Jake. Most of us do it for the "Challenge" of dealing with all the variables, and becoming 'good' at that takes time. I've known more than a few guys who bought boats, started racing, got their arses kicked, repeatedly, and got out.

They say things like, "But I spent a ton of money, I bought all the latest go fast stuff, why am I not winning races?"

Money helps, no doubt, but no amount of money spent is going to put you in the front row, at the right end of the starting line, ready to tack on the first shift. That takes experience, and you can't buy it, you have to go out and earn it. Some guys don't want to put in the time on the water to gain the experience. It's no accident that the guys who win the most, are also the guys who sail the most, regardless of the money they spend.

i suck at fixing motors...

The innner peace that being on the water brings, plus the women, the racing and friends made there and the after sail beers that taste better than most others.

Because I can't sing or dance.