History of Cruisers Forum ?

[Pelagic]

I am sure that I speak for many members in thanking the Originators, Developers, Administrators, Moderators and Helpers on providing the best free Forum I have found to pursue all things relating to private boats. Lively, but civil, you have kept us all talking but most importantly, learning from each other.

What I am curious to hear about from those above is;
1. When did it all begin?
2. Who started it?
3. Did you have a “mission statement”?
4. When and why did you personally get involved?
5. What is your pet peeve about doing this?

Thank you for your time

[Blue Skye]

I wanted to thank the creators and admin also. Very informative and user friendly forum. Good idea Pelagic.

Regards,
Skye

[Eleven]

This site has been an enormous help in 'what to expect'. All sorts of views and expericnces. All committed sailors willing to share their experience.
Thank you.

[GordMay]

Originally Posted by Pelagic

... What I am curious to hear about from those above is;
1. When did it all begin?
2. Who started it?
3. Did you have a “mission statement”?
4. When and why did you personally get involved?
5. What is your pet peeve about doing this?

Thanks for your kind words.

2 & 1 Gisle founded the CruisersForum, from Norway, on December 17, 2002, and went “public” on February 24, 2003. [I believe Gisle is pronounced “geezle”]
Gisle owned (I believe he has sold her) a FP Belize 43 catamaran, which he cruised & chartered in the Seychelles.
The birth of twins, building a home in Norway, and a promotion to a very responsible job, all led to Gisle’s declining participation in his Forum; finally resulting in it’s sale to Andy R.

4. I got involved on March 16, 2003; at which time there were 75 of us.

5. I’m enormously pleased and proud of the Forum’s phenomenal growth, primarily since Andy R took over.
This same growth creates numerous difficulties, in administering (& participating in) a forum.

Gord

[Alan Wheeler]

I stumbled across the site very early on in it's existance. 14 Dec 2003 was my signup day. I had just retired from my professional carrier as a Live Sound Engineer and Audio Systems Designer. At only 40, the retirement was more for my health and so I was I was a little shell shocked as to what I was going to do next with the rest of my life. At that stage, my wife was just 5yrs away from finishing her 20yrs in the RNZAF and so we made this "Crazy Mid life crises" decision to look at buying a boat and sail the world. We would need to start off small and buy a little trailersailor or similar to learn sailing, as my wife had no experiance on water at all. We quickly found a small moored 30ft'r that was cheap and thought it would be an ideal boat to start with. Through a series of events too long to list here, a few weeks later we had an offer on a 45ft'r and our new home on the market. The House sold quickly and we suddenly were living on a 45ft sail boat. What a rush.
Back to the CF....Just like any newbie, I was a bit unsteady on my feet at first, but as I came to know and trust the few members, I gained confidence and eventualy felt confident enough to start posting my views on subjects. I have learn't a lot from the members on this board. I bit of a selfish member as I have certainly learn't more than I have ever given. But that is the whole point of these places.
I think it is fair to say that those few of us that were here from the very early days with Gisel, have also struggled the most with the shape of the board today. It is a huge place now and we have lost that small community feel we had. Although seeing a few of us are on the Mod/Admin team, that relationship is kept in the background. I have made some great friends and look forward to meeting many of them one day.
I have also come to realise that those that have a "True Cruising Spirit", tend to be ones that have similar Ideals and outlooks on life. I have found that many tend to have a "bigger view" of the world and it's cultures. And that is one of the main reasons I enjoy being here.

[Chuck Baier]

Wow Gord, You and I found the site on the same day

[irwinsailor]

And I found it before both of you! 2-25-03

[GordMay]

Your management team:
Admin/Mod - Join Date
irwinsailor - 25-02-2003
GordMay - 16-03-2003
Pblais - 21-03-2003
delmarrey - 27-03-2003
Jeff H - 11-05-2003
Alan Wheeler - 13-12-2003
Rick - 01-01-2005
Kai Nui 31-07-2005
Andy R (Owner) - 12-11-2005
S/V Elusive 03-04-2006
Janet H - 22-01-2007

Hope I didn't forget anyone?

[Kai Nui]

And my pet peeve? That I can not get paid to do this full time instead of what is building the cruising kitty right now. Spending 40 hours per week sitting here chatting with other boat people is just about the best job I could ever dream up. Just really hard to buy boat parts with good advice

[Pblais]

I started here about the time Sailnet was heading deeper down a rat hole. Gisel really didn't have too much in mind but he did have a page portal so you didn't have too many clicks to get in the forums. We had no rules but then we only had a handful of members. When Andy took over he asked us all what we liked about this place and I think we have tried to make it the way most folks wanted it to be. Keeping it this way has been a lot of work on the part of the team but it only works as long as members want it to work. After almost 5 years it still seems worth the effort in spite of all the trouble.

My pet peeve is our Welsh Pembroke Corgi "Hot Shot". We named out boat after his departed sister.

[Pelagic]

Originally Posted by Pblais

My pet peeve is our Welsh Pembroke Corgi "Hot Shot". We named our boat after his departed sister.

Thanks Paul, but either I'm very slow or that must be an inside joke.


What I have read so far is that you guys have set such a great example that it has become the foundation of a great community

[maxingout]

I've been to quite a few cruising web forums, and I keep returning to this one, because it is the most lively, and the forum doesn't get out of control. The administrators keep the threads on subject, and the tone of the commentary is civil so that people can make posts without fear of getting flamed.

This forum is head and shoulders above the rest because the administrators and moderators keep things under control without stifling discussion.

Good job mates.

[scotte]

Not only does Dave have an impeccable taste in boats , he's right on the money with his comments about this site. I appreciate the lack of profanity and immaturity and such that seems to plague some of the other active forums. Thanks for keeping things on track, appropriate, and constructive!

I give my "well done" stamp as well...

[CSY Man]

Posts: 6,354

Your management team:
Admin/Mod - Join Date
irwinsailor - 25-02-2003
GordMay - 16-03-2003
Pblais - 21-03-2003
delmarrey - 27-03-2003
Jeff H - 11-05-2003
Alan Wheeler - 13-12-2003
Rick - 01-01-2005
Kai Nui 31-07-2005
Andy R (Owner) - 12-11-2005
S/V Elusive 03-04-2006
Janet H - 22-01-2007

Hope I didn't forget anyone?

No manager, but I was around back then..(Where is my honorable mention? August 2003...The CSY Man year)

Since Jeff H is on the list, but not around..Where the hell are you Jeff H?
Hopefully out sailing...? I sure liked your long 'splenatios of stuff I did not know.

Janet H....? Related to Jeff by any change? (Or uh, sex change operartion?)

As for the founder of our world:
His name is GISLE...not Gisel.
It is an old viking name..It means: He who is going to start the cruising forum in 1000 years on a plastic cat..

Here is to the next 1000 years...

[Janet H]

Originally Posted by CSY Man

...

Janet H....? Related to Jeff by any change? (Or uh, sex change operartion?)
Here is to the next 1000 years...

Sex change operation?! Oh geeze - I don't even have pierced ears - you don't seriously think I'm gonna intentionally cut anything else?