The idea of going cruising can grab you by the throat. How can you keep the dream alive for the long haul?
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9 Tips for the Cruiser-To-Be
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Anonymous says
Great advice! Thanks for the tips. Hope to meet you one day when we are sailing too.
Nica says
We’ll be in the Chesapeake and US East Coast for a bit of time starting in fall of 2019; until then we’re based in the southern Bay (Deltaville). Looking forward to sharing an anchorage!
Anonymous says
Great read, thank you!
Nica says
glad you’re enjoying the podcast and blog! Thanks for following along.
Navion says
Love your shows. I listen as I drive to work, work out, and even while doing yard work.
I listen on Spotify! Glad they picked you up.
I my wife and my brother have chartered a few times and we have have taken the ASA courses 101-104 (105-106 this January), We just got back from a wonderful live aboard 3 weeks in St Vincent and the Grenadines in early June. I am 99% desiring to go cruise for two years or more, my brother is right there with me. Unfortunately my wife is in the single digits, . Any hints, tips, bribery advice on how to get your significant other to come along? Someone on this boat has to wear a bikini once in a while, and my brother looks terrible in one (long story). Please help!
Carolyn Shearlock says
There is no universal answer to that. I think a lot of talk is in order — WHY isn’t she wanting to? Then you can hopefully find some compromises. For example, if she doesn’t want to be away from kids or grandkids, plan for visits to them or having them come to the boat. If she doesn’t like sailing, perhaps flying from point to point while you and your brother do longer passages. If she’s not confident of sailing, perhaps another class (particularly a women-only class). Does she have a hobby that she doesn’t want to give up? Figure out how to do it on the boat (yes, it’s possible to garden at marinas and keep plants on board; other friends who had a ranch with horses manage to find opportunities to ride at least once a month). And so on — you need to find out what are her specific objections and figure out how to meet her needs.
Nica says
I found a great book called “Sensible Cruising, the Thoreau Approach” had some great advice on how to think about the whole cruising “thing” from the point of view of a less-than-enthusiastic partner. It’s written by Don Casey (of This Old Boat fame) and Lew Hackler. Basically, though, it echoes a lot of Carolyn’s points above. Listen to her and hear what her objections are and figure out how to meet those needs. Cruising can be really tough for many people. Also (to tout a group I love and help admin) is she on Women Who Sail on Facebook? There are lots of posts by women who are worrying about life afloat with some really great pieces of advice. Thanks for listening to the podcast!