Negativity on Sailing Your Own Boat (RANT)

[Rakuflames]

Originally Posted by MarkJ

A few months ago in the Canary Islands this Australian boat comes into the anchorage with a NEW Aussie flag - could still see the fold marks still in it - it was Bavaria, looked like ex-charter boat. Drops his anchor badly, picks it up drops again.....
So I think this guys a rank amateur.... so I hop the dink and wander over and say: "Hi mate? new boat? Yes. Ex-charter Boat? Yes. Need any advice, Mate?"

This guy says come on board and have a beer...

So I'm drinking his beer giving him the 'she'll be right mate, anchoring is simple after a while.....'.

And he says: "I never anchored in my last boat....... because I circumnavigated the world solo non-stop!"

He is Ken Goulay, holds the record for the fastest Australian RTW, solo, unassisted, etc etc, been sailiing since he was a kid, household name in racing circles and here's me preaching to him how to anchor!




Ken Gourlay

So don't worry Mr B, you can sail the world, write a book about it and still idiots will come up to you and try and tell you how to do it!



Mark

And the fact is, just because someone tells you how to do something with great confidence doesn't mean they know what they're talking about.

[webejammin]

You'll find that your old friends that put you down are insecure in there lives. You will make a new cyrcle of friends that have and sail there boats and your old friends will be stuck mowing there yard and puttering in there gardens without any dreams of anything different. YOUR DREAM IS WHAT IS IMPORTANT and that's all that counts.

[Don1500]

Originally Posted by Mr B

What is it with people that crawl out of the woodwork and from under rocks to actively put you down,
when you mention that you have bought a boat and intend to go sailing on it.

Slow down and chill a little. You can do exactly what you can do. Nobody can tell you different. They also can not set a limit on what you can do. They say you can't do it because they can't do it. Ask any sailor and more than likely they will say, "You'll never know if you can do it if you don't try." Read this and then relax:

TACKLE THE THING – By Edgar A. Guest

Somebody said that it couldn’t be done,
But he with a chuckle replied
That “maybe it couldn’t,” but he would be one
Who wouldn’t say so till he tried.
So he buckled right in with a trace of a grin
On his face. If he worried he hid it.
He started to sing as he tackled the thing
That couldn’t be done, and did it.
Somebody scoffed: Oh, you’ll never do that;
At least no one has ever done it”;
But he took off his coat and he took off his hat,
And the first thing we knew he’d begun it.
With a lift of his chin and a bit of a grin,
Without any doubting or quid it.
He started to sing as he tackled the thing
That couldn’t be done, and did it.
There are thousands to tell you it cannot be done,
There are thousands to prophesy failure;
There are thousands to point out to you, one by one,
The dangers that wait to assail you.
But just buckle in with a bit of a grin,
Just take off your coat and go to it;
Just start to sing as you tackle the thing
That “cannot be done,” and you’ll do it.

================================
Also, once you're out of sight of land the degree on the wall don't mean much.

[AllezCat]

Originally Posted by Mr B

What is it with people that crawl out of the woodwork and from under rocks to actively put you down,
when you mention that you have bought a boat and intend to go sailing on it.

They have no idea on my skills or lack of it. Regarding boats or anything else.

They have no idea on my life experience as a person or what I have done in my life,

They say I cant do this, or I cant do that, It is too much for me, It is beyond my experience, knowledge, Capability, Expertise, Etc, Etc.
You must have years of experience before you can do that. or any thing like it.

I ask them what they do, I work, I go home, I watch Tee Vee,

How do you know what I can and cant do,

You dont know, So why do you persist in telling me what I can and cant do,
Mainly what I cant do,

What gives these people the right to dictate to me, or any one else for that matter, and castigate me and verbally insinuate that I am a complete novice or a crazy fool. for what I want to do,

I am getting to the point of severe Frustration, because it throws the fear of god into those around me,

Absolutely scares the crap out of some of them,

It almost broke up one very good relationship between one couple,

How do I put a stop to these moronic imbeciles and there Total Negativity,

My Mum used to say, If you cant say some thing nice, dont say any thing at all.

I try to be nice all the time, But I really need some input into this, as it is really getting on my Goat.

Your opinions would really help, as I can get another side to the story.

Nothing you can do about it.
Typical Australian attitude - "tall poppy syndrome" or "crab pot mentality".
Get the boat - get out of the Bay - head north...
It would not matter what you did - business -pleasure - adventure - the same characters will denigrate you - sometimes just because they are jealous and they cannot do it...

[GordMay]

Originally Posted by zeehag

... i own a formosa--i am gonna die at sea.....ROFL

In fact, owning a Formosa almost guarantees that one won't die at sea. Leaky Teakyites are almost always in port, fixing them.
(Sorry, I couldn't resist)

[zeehag]

gord--is true with many of em--but i did get to mazatlan,, 1500 mi from san diego without dying ..yet....and only have a coupla few things in dire need of fixing----some to fix at dock, some under way..i will be off...lol dont pun me... soon as i can-- prolly in feb, after carnival.....formosa my life i will be repairing my formosa--but the leakies are gone from her.
they DO sail niiiice....

formosa owners have to take our realities as a joke....

[GordMay]

Originally Posted by zeehag

... formosa owners have to take our realities as a joke....

And, to your credit, you always do so with honesty, good humour, grace & dignity.

[sailorboy1]

Originally Posted by Mr B

How do I put a stop to these moronic imbeciles and there Total Negativity,

Stop telling them your plans! They only respond because you tell them s they feel you are looking for their opinion.

[denverd0n]

Personally, I think the negativity is probably a good thing. If that is all it takes to discourage you, then you weren't going to finish it anyway, so probably better to quit while you're ahead.

If you can ignore the negativity, have confidence in yourself, and push on through, then maybe you really do have what it takes to see it to the end.

[David_Old_Jersey]

Originally Posted by Mr B

I try to be nice all the time, But I really need some input into this, as it is really getting on my Goat.

Your opinions would really help, as I can get another side to the story.

If the Goat is getting tired, then get some more. Can never have too many Goats


Failing that I would stop telling people what you are going to do (keep 'em like mushrooms - if pressed, then vague plans only, sail around the bay, in the future maybe a bit further afield for some sun and a beer)...........but instead only tell them what you have done....

.....the idea being that if they then start getting all negative you look at them blankly and say "no, never happened to me, nor to anyone else I know, that only happens if you have no idea what you are doing....or are in a Daytime TV soap "............but if wanting to be re-assuring, try and translate what you are doing boatwise into something shore based they can at least vaguely relate to - it's kinda like a combination of riding a Harley accross the USA, heading out West in a Wagon and a touch of Jack Sparrow style adventures.....except with electric power and running H & C water . Doesn't have to be entirely accurate , those who do know better will likely smile

Of course if you are seeking to big up your adventures to annoy / worry / prove something to those ashore, then you reap what you sow (we all have issues / chips - sounds like you used yours well as a motivator )

[nv5l]

Keep away from goats.

I think Capt Voss had a goat on his boat for a while. Ate up everything, rigging mostly, so he got rid of it on the next island

[GordMay]

Live your life. Leave dreaming for things you may not get around to doing.
Leave negativity for those not doing much of anything worthwhile.

Which is not to say, that constructive criticism isn't worth a hearing.

[Duke 48]

TODAY IS THE TOMORROW YOU DREAMED ABOUT YESTERDAY
MAKE THE MOST OF IT BECAUSE
TODAY WILL BE YESTERDAY TOMORROW

[sailorboy1]

Originally Posted by Duke 48

TODAY IS THE TOMORROW YOU DREAMED ABOUT YESTERDAY
MAKE THE MOST OF IT BECAUSE
TODAY WILL BE YESTERDAY TOMORROW

Thanks, I needed some reasons to drink tonight to make it acceptable

[markpierce]

Mr. B, how do those people find you? Never been on the end of negativity concerning my boats. Maybe you should br more selective of acquaintances, presuming you demonstrate competence.