Is There a Caste System in Sailing?

[mrohr]

Originally Posted by atoll

i think you will find once you start cruising proper ie ocean passages all pretence and snobbery quickly falls away amongst yachts men and women on widely varying budgets,the sea is a great leveler

Tru Dat!

[denverd0n]

Originally Posted by Cavalier

Have you not seen the film "Slum-dock millionaire"?

Okay now, THAT was funny.

[Teknav]

Of course there's a Caste system in Sailing! The ones with the biggest...ummm, toys always win!

Mauritz
Going to behave now!

[Rakuflames]

Originally Posted by mrohr

Tru Dat!

And, there will always be people who prefer some people to others. Wealthy people, in my experience, tend to gravitate toward other wealthy people. Partly I think it's just who they meet, and partly a shared background that just makes it easier for them to form a bond.

Get out on the water (not in a marina, but out in the water) and there's a different shared bond/culture that makes people of all types have a common bond.

It's just human nature. I suspect the regatta that triggered the question is highly populated with high-end sailors, but Antigua itself has all sorts of people on boats or owning boats. The main harbor, the one I have the painting of, is so interesting precisely because of the wide variety of boats there.

My sailing club is sort of a "blue collar" club. I wouldn't fit in with the expensive one -- nor do I want to spend the money it would take to fit in there. But when they race with us, the barriers are down.

[Invictus69]

Originally Posted by MacG

Yachting here is going fast downhill, so pretentions become fewer.

MacG,
I assume 'here' means Holland, and was wondering why you say yachting is going downhill and what are the reasons in your opinion.

Cheers!

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by Invictus69

MacG,
I assume 'here' means Holland, and was wondering why you say yachting is going downhill and what are the reasons in your opinion.

Cheers!

err generally cause the punters prefer to eat then sail

[David_Old_Jersey]

Originally Posted by Teknav

Of course there's a Caste system in Sailing! The ones with the biggest...ummm, toys always win!

Mauritz
Going to behave now!

I thought the saying was: "whoever dies with the most toys wins"

[Cheechako]

Yes there is!
The people with the big boats loaded with Solar, wind, gen sets, furlers on every piece of canvas, water makers , 4 radios, two plotters, fancy dingys, canvas everywhere, dual steering stations look at the 30 footers with basic equiptment and wonder how you can live like that.
The people in the basic 30 footers gaze at the 47 footers and dream of how nice it would be...
However, When the people in the 30 footer go snorkeling, the people in the 47 footer are busy fixing or maintaining something...... haha

[Teknav]

Once you're dead I guess you'll need a lot of toys to take with you, like the pharaohs did. Just can't imagine being buried without an I-phone, I-pad, I-pod and a plastic I-sextant with a lifetime warranty from Montgomery Ward; these toys should cut down on your boredom!

Mauritz
Going to behave now!

[Rakuflames]

Originally Posted by David_Old_Jersey

I thought the saying was: "whoever dies with the most toys wins"

Yeah, but read the fine print under the slogan: value counts.

[Capt Phil]

A thought just struck me... a lot of percieved snobbery comes from those involved in boating who belong to high end yacht clubs primarily peopled by the wealthy, some of whom sail, race or cruise local waters vs those without club affiliation who are looked down upon by those who are members.
Not being a 'joiner' but one who spent a number of years delivering boats, I enjoyed the company of the blazer and slack set but spent much of my time with the folks who fixed their own head. There are fine folks in both sets. Phil

[Rakuflames]

Originally Posted by Capt Phil

A thought just struck me... a lot of percieved snobbery comes from those involved in boating who belong to high end yacht clubs primarily peopled by the wealthy, some of whom sail, race or cruise local waters vs those without club affiliation who are looked down upon by those who are members.
Not being a 'joiner' but one who spent a number of years delivering boats, I enjoyed the company of the blazer and slack set but spent much of my time with the folks who fixed their own head. There are fine folks in both sets. Phil

Sure. Having money doesn't automatically make you a bad person. Neither does being able to afford someone to fix your head (I GUARANTEE you I'm paying someone to fix my macerator!)

Personally I wouldn't want to belong to a high-end club that has, for instance, an amount you have to spend in the restaurant each month. I like the simpler club I belong to, with no paid employees and member-run and staffed work days. We're all ready to help each other with all sorts of things.

[Dos Gatos]

Originally Posted by atoll

i think you will find once you start cruising proper ie ocean passages all pretence and snobbery quickly falls away amongst yachts men and women on widely varying budgets,the sea is a great leveler

"cruising proper" IS snobbery.

in mexico i experienced caste, 'cause i wasn't one of them. crossing to hilo, i didn't experience caste as i'd "made the grade". nobody assumed i'd sailed over on a trailer.

went to oahu and it was back to the pecking order.

liked the two ronnies vid. good fun.

[Stu Jackson]

Originally Posted by goboatingnow

Not a bad mag, but I dont see the relevance to the thread ( or do you mean that say , blue water sailing readers are snooty and Lats arnt ....)

dave

Dave, just to get a "flavor" for different kinds of sailing and sailors. There are articles from people who are "out there" as well as local sailors, plus reports from the "high end" to local regattas. Just trying to impart a balance to show no caste system, open to all who want to participate. I think it's a very good cross section of everything the activity has to offer in one simple place/magazine.

[Travelnik]

Caddyshack Epic Boat Scene - YouTube