Why don't you race - honest?

[Stu Jackson]

My experience:

C22 - 1983 to 1987 - Raced twice in the Konocti Cup on Clear Lake, California. Fun, but low key.

C25 - 1987 to 1998 - never raced, no "class" other than beer can racing, hank on jib made evening sails too much work, I cruised to anchorages or overnights or up to The Delta for weeks at a time.

C34 - 1998 to present - entered our first ONE DESIGN race in 1999, wrote a story called "What it looks like from the back of the pack," and then worked my way up to the top over the next seven years. We had one design classes in the summer and winter series run by other yacht clubs, and held our own 2 or 3 day regattas for C34s only each year. The fairness of the C34 one design class on SF Bay was superb for racing, with a true Corinthian spirit, nice skippers and great fellowship. Returned to cruising after 2006 except for one or two races each year. Moved the boat up to Vancouver Island last summer, cruising here now.

I found it to be a progression, not an "either-or" choice. I enjoyed it when I was doing it, but didn't "leave" "because..." I agree with Mark, it was a phase of my life that I enjoyed, then moved on, literally and figuratively.

So, I'd add a list item: "Phase of Sailing Life" --- to make your analysis more inclusive.

[30yearslater]

Why don't I race. First; I don't need to prove anything to anyone other than myself. Second; There are far too many I'm a better sailor because I race types. Third; I can learn just as much about sail trim or what have you without the need to puff myself up at the yacht club bar.

[mottseng]

Originally Posted by weavis

I guess because its not mandatory and because I dont want to.

I dont want to ride a horse either.

I believe the OP is asking for a little bit more than just "I don't want to". Perhaps you can explain why you "Don't want to"? I would have expected that answer from from a child.

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by mottseng

I believe the OP is asking for a little bit more than just "I don't want to". Perhaps you can explain why you "Don't want to"? I would have expected that answer from from a child.

I thought he was asking for honesty.. can't get more honest than that.. why dress it up with flowery bull doo..

[rwidman]

Originally Posted by Interloper

I'm a racer-cruiser, trying to help my local club revive it's racing program. I've tried to solicit input, but my reach is mostly limited to established racers - probably not the right audience. Data suggests only about 5% of sailboat owners are avid racers, we want to reach out to the other 95%, (with no expectation or reaching large numbers).

So why don't you like to race regularly? Please be brutally honest, we're mostly anonymous here.

I don't race because my boat is a trawler. It's a slow boat. If I wanted to race, I would have bought a race boat.

I tried to organize a dinghy race once but by the time I got around to it, one of the guys moved away and the other put his dinghy up for sale because he got too old and his knees got too bad to use it.

I guess If I still put the race on, I would win.


BTW: I don't fish either. Most folks, when they find out I own a boat, they ask me where I fish.

[Dirk Williams]

Wow, fantastic frank, honest, add clarity. Actually stay awake last night thinking about this and boat weight issues. I JUST purchased a Santana 20 specifically for fleet racing, with my club.


Yelling skippers, was me, I was new, had no idea what I was doing, but was not about to loose. Thought I had to yell to be heard above the wind, nonsense. Racing a sailboat is a ballot, the skippers the choreographer, the crew the dancers.

To,make the gig work, and work well is a thing of beauty. My wife of 34 years won't sail with me anymore, which is directly related to racing sailboats.

I would do anything " almost" to have her on our boats.

Our old boat was a leisure fleet Coranado 25 to win we did crazy stuff, took stupid risks, drank way way to much.

I will race my 20 a couple seasons, however I'm older wiser and will learn from my mistakes as a younger wild man.

I,still,want to win, that will come with time, and learning the boat. ,the lady who,taught me to,sail is a fantastic sailor so I'll have the honor of following she and her hubby, and re learning sail,trim, etc etc.

Thank you, for asking the question, made me engage and question exactly why I. Going to,do it again.

Dirk

[Hydra]

I don't like the "organised" aspect of racing: gathering at the prescribed time behind the start line, starting at the gun, following the prescribed track.

I don't like the crowd on the water. I don't like the risks of sailing close to racers with a competitive mind.

Alain

[TeddyDiver]

Originally Posted by Interloper

I'm a racer-cruiser, trying to help my local club revive it's racing program.

Someone having a local club isn't IMHO a cruiser

[caradow]

Originally Posted by TeddyDiver

Someone having a local club isn't IMHO a cruiser

Being a "cruiser" is a relative term just like being a "racer".
Many cruise locally and enjoy their times on the water, others sail the oceans.
Not everyone can just take off and cruise the oceans but they are still cruisers.

[dfelsent]

Originally Posted by Interloper

Both threads, here and at the sailing forum, are winding down - here's what it looks like so far. It appears cruisers and racers both understand why 95% of sailors choose NOT to race their boats.

Once the thread loses steam altogether I will update and share all the comments & suggestions with my local group if they're interested, but here's a brief "key" to the categories.

And thanks again, your help is much appreciated.

Category - Comments

• Sail to relax, not compete - Enjoy boating for R&R, escape, sanctuary
• Sportsmanship - Racers yelling, aggression, unfriendly, unwelcoming
• Expenses - Sails, bottom, electronics
• Too much work - Travel, maintenance, cleaning,
• Crew find & org - Tough to find, then like 'herding cats'
• Collisions - Fear of getting hit, some had been hit
• YC Culture - Stuffy, elitist, unwelcoming
• Rules - Rules way too complicated, being protested
• Boat not competitive - Heavy, overloaded, not designed to race
• Racing? - Don't know much about racing, don't know where to find out, no one has ever asked us
• Wear & tear - Damage & equipment wear
• Ratings - Unnecessary hassle & expense

Fantastic charts. Thanks!
One minor suggestion would be (if you can) to maintain the same colors for both charts. That way comparison is simple.

I also agree with the 'phase of life' comment.
Thanks again.

[Tayana42]

Interloper, you missed one category. "Just not interested."

[markpierce]

I'm not bothered being the burdened boat in the vicinity of a sailboat racing fleet. (I was once a racer some fifty years ago.)

[bletso]

Perhaps due to the fact I don't need to prove anything to anyone else. I sail for the pure simple pleasure of letting nature push / pull me along.

[Interloper]

Originally Posted by dfelsent

Fantastic charts. Thanks!
One minor suggestion would be (if you can) to maintain the same colors for both charts. That way comparison is simple.

I also agree with the 'phase of life' comment.
Thanks again.

Originally Posted by Tayana42

Interloper, you missed one category. "Just not interested."

Right or wrong, "phase of life" and "just not interested" (both significant reasons given) were included in the "Sail to relax, not compete - Enjoy boating for R&R, escape, sanctuary" category - which was #1 on both charts. I felt I had to bunch like or related comments to prioritize and act on the results/reasons. I will share each comment (anonymously) with the local group. I'd be happy to share them here, but there are over 200 so far.

And when I finalize the survey, I will make the category chart colors consistent on both charts, good call.

[thomm225]

Slight drift but racing can be fun and not cost a lot. Plus if you are the Skipper, there's no one to yell at you but the other Skippers and crews (and possibly your own crew)

And it's a great way to keep in shape.....

This is very well shot:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QO0LkUDALNk