Anxiety Attack from Sailing Magazines

[Kenomac]

Originally Posted by Checkswrecks

Like this?

“The horror.... the horror...”.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=VKcAYMb5uk4

[CatNewBee]

Watch the movies "Final Destination", you can't trick death.

[Tillsbury]

Originally Posted by William Youmans

What worries me the most thumbing through the magazine pictures is seeing all the sailors, cruisers, racers not wearing lifejackets while out at sea. That’s what gives me the most anxiety. You want your picture in a sailing mag- you must have a life jacket or harness on.!!

That’s an editing decision that tells you what you need to know about the magazine’s target audience. By contrast, you’ll see Yachting Monthly berated when they show a picture including a yacht in the background motorsailing without a cone hoisted.

[CptCrunchie]

Originally Posted by Tillsbury

That’s an editing decision that tells you what you need to know about the magazine’s target audience. By contrast, you’ll see Yachting Monthly berated when they show a picture including a yacht in the background motorsailing without a cone hoisted.

Please explain. A cone?

[hellosailor]

William-
It wasn't that long ago that NO serious racer would be caught dead on a boat with lifelines. The only reason they've become common, is because after deaths and accident investigations and years of groupthink from the ISF and others, racing rules were passed REQUIRING the safety equipment which macho athletes didn't want around.
Same thing with life vests. Thirty years ago, you couldn't give 'em away until folks were fighting to get into the lifeboats. It has been an ongoing long slog, which still hasn't ended, to get them required for youngsters, and there are still some who argue that they should not be optional for adults either.
I always figured I would feel like a real jackass if I went overboard and drowned--while my life vest was neatly stored in a closet someplace. Part of that could be because I know how merciless the ocean can be, so I try not to give it an easy shot at me.

[Don C L]

Cone: It's a dayshape for sailboats motoring, upside down cone hanging in the foretriangle I believe, but who uses it? Now with so many boats over 12m, motorsailing, maybe we should see them more?
just for fun I found this site... it has a test...
http://completeguide.rnli.org/shapes-and-lights.html

[NYSail]

Hope youre not reading hustler....... relax and have a drink.

[NevilleCat]

Originally Posted by Tetepare

"If I listened to Ozzy Osborne for 24 hours straight, I'd probably kill myself too" - Ozzy Osborne


After a lifetime of sailing, here's my experiences:
de-masting
sinking
collisions ( rocks, docks, other boats)
navigation system failures
horrid weather and narrow escapes
broken pumps, alternators
burned wiring
corruption of officials

torn sails
dinghy theft (attempt)
running out of provisions and water

refrigeration failures
poor weather forecasting
poor anchors dragging
poor dirty facilities and marinas


And, OP's list forgot:
sharks
jellyfish stings
sea urchin stings
motor stops running in the middle of the channel
headsail wrapped around forestay
lost anchor
guests puke
stuff below decks thrown all about and busted
hit dock
hit log
hit at anchor by powerboat
smashed together by powerboat wake while rafted
kept up all night by drunks
kept up all night by clanging halyards
dinner blown away by sudden storm front
hotdog rolls off grill
pork rib grease drips out of grill all over transom (never again!)
birds crap all over
spider crap all over
spiders and webs all over the place
dinghy springs a leak and deflates
outboard won't start
can't get into port due to waves
tornado passes overhead
waterspouts
USCG harassment
landowner harassment
spilled beer
hull damaged at launch
hull damaged by guy with ladder
through-cabin wiring pipe busted during launch
blistering and barrier coat
rudder saturated
new model 5lb gas tank doesn't fit in locker
compass incorrect heading over ore deposits
2 ton weedball on anchor
fight at gas dock
kid put gasoline in diesel tank
fuel tank springs leak
head breaks (and breaks...just buy a new one)
head hoses age and stink
Ethanol ruins fuel lines and require outboard rebuild
Constantly called on to go save somebody
shoe overboard (forever)
Heron lands on and breaks windex
hatch board punches through dodger window
hatches leak on face until rebedded
20 YO binnacle cover disappears
NJ-type lets dog crap in front of boat
auto hit in parking lot
dock 1' under water for most of season
screws disappear
seaweed sucks into intake, stops water cooling (now have strainer)
snapping turtle bite
fish hook in head, in back, in finger
Canadian coppers take half of fleet sailors away due to DUI
Canadians mad US sailor at dock on "their" national park island
Fog bound- listening to wide-open powerboats
Wind jumps to 60mph while 3 miles from port in dinghy..with 4 YO aboard
Guests kids punch holes through mosquito screens
Pee all over the head
Sanitary napkin kills toilet, requires removal and rebuild
potable water system leak...somewhere...
electronic device interference from VHF
electronics smoked by lightning hit
friends boat has too much draft for channel, soldier on
cut vacation short to get to port before bad weather
snow on boat
sunburn





OK, so maybe I missed a few. See ya out there!

Tetepare that's a long list; maybe you should do some writing for these boating magazines.
Maybe you could do a story on the time the hotdog rolled off the grill!

Or put it up on Youtube...
MAN TRIES TO BBQ ON SAILBOAT; YOU WON'T BELIEVE WHAT HAPPENS NEXT!!!
(please click to become a patron and support our outrageous life)

[Fiftybucks]

Hot dog off the Grill... doesn't say if it went into the water or Seagull got it.
Too funny... really you have encapsulated 30 years of sailing mags in one post. Be and author and make these experiences available to others for the future!!!

[Tillsbury]

Originally Posted by CptCrunchie

Please explain. A cone?

Colregs rule 25:
(e) A vessel proceeding under sail when also being propelled by machinery shall exhibit forward where it can best be seen a conical shape, apex downwards.

Pretty clear

[Charles S]

https://www.morganscloud.com

It’s the only “magazine”/“blog” worth reading. For twenty dollars per her, it’s the only site worth getting.
Best wishes
Charles
s/v Dawnpiper

[2hulls4me]

Regarding your list...
de-masting
sinking
collisions ( rocks, docks, other boats)
navigation system failures
horrid weather and narrow escapes
broken pumps, alternators
burned wiring
pirates and corruption of officials
man overboard and deaths
torn sails
dinghy theft
running out of provisions and water
horrible boat survey results
refrigeration failures
poor weather forecasting
poor anchors dragging
poor dirty facilities and marinas

I've experienced literally everything on your list except pirate attacks, man overboard and deaths.

Bottom line, $hit happens, and if its not happening to you, you're not getting out enough.

[Thom Hounsell]

Great post! Thanks! I’m going through similar anxieties at the moment, but mine are caused more by YouTube sailing channels than magazines. In fact, I just returned from purchasing a bulge alarm, inspired by a YouTube episode of Sailing Lady K.

Regardless of the topic, (beauty, health, cooking, homes, outdoor adventure) most magazines, intentionally or not, generate feelings of fear, inferiority,, inadequacy, etc. Generally speaking, magazines are bad for you!

[Fi2010]

Originally Posted by Mike OReilly

Stories that make it to print, and increasingly to youtube, are either unusual, exaggerations, or outright fantasies. The vast majority of life on a boat isn’t worth writing about because, well... it’s just life.

That said, the articles that focus on the practical and mundane issues like fixing broken stuff, provisioning and basic planning are probably pretty real.

Are you trying to say there's occasional "fake news" Mike? Aren't journalists always truthful with no hidden agenda?


If you add up the number of fun sailing hours and compare it to disaster...you'll likely find voyaging far safer than most sports. Considering the U.S. is one of the most dangerous countries to live in the world (apart from war torn locations) sailing is a breeze!

[Greg Mason]

I have a short story for you. Sailed a year aboard our Pedrick Cheoy Lee 41' offshore, went around the Pacific, French Polynesia etc. and lost 1 wheel from our traveller car. That's it. Sorry you didn't even get your fire started before the finish.