Can Sailors Learn to Go sailing Without Socializing?

[thinwater]

Originally Posted by StuM

Email a few days ago from the RPYC Sailing Division:


Hi Folks, We have organized a fun race for this Sat start time 1330.
There will be no briefing. Whoever wants to participate show up at the Start line for a 1330 start.
Sailing Instructions 2019 apply, with addition to the following:
- This is a fun race.
- Start boat has been organized for Start and Finish
- There will be NO gathering at the Wet Bar before or after the race.
- Results will be published but will not adjust the handicap.
- Every boat must carry a VHF Radio and monitor channel 84 at all times.
- Course will be broadcast at 1310hrs.
- Skippers responsibility to maintain social distancing on board there vessels.
Cheers and thanks.

For those who Facebook:


https://www.facebook.com/SailingPort...62427550838547

I like the idea.


Around here a many of the boats sail with comparatively larger crews, so that aspect of social distancing is impossible. When I raced, it was always single- or double-handed, so that part of the experience was different.

[ArmyDaveNY]

Sailing in many ways is no different than life in general. Those who choose to get away from it all will do so, whether on a boat, camping, hiking, flying, or just staying in their vacation or regular home. Those who wish to socialize will do so, whether on a boat, camping, hiking, flying, or just getting together with others in their vacation or regular home. The only thing that is different is the mode with which one chooses to get away or get together.

[Danm1]

My wife is the social one in our relationship, I doubt anyone would ever call me. On the other hand, she likes sailing and indulges my boat habit on the condition that I not join a yacht club. She hated feeling like she had to be sociable on the way to or from the boat when we belonged to one years ago.

[Don C L]

Originally Posted by thinwater

This depends a great deal on how you define crowds.

Yep, completely agree with your whole post. I just meant if you are out cruising and you meet some folks in the anchorage who haven't been in town for two weeks, probably ok to share a cockpit cup o' coffee with 'em.

[Boatyarddog]

Originally Posted by thinwater

My gut tells me COVID is going to drag out for at least a year. Not as intensely, but I suspect some pressure to reduce unnecessary contact will remain. I could be wrong--that is a separate discussion.

We know that marinas in Florida have been closed, in part, because groups have been showing up, coolers in tow, ready to party. In other areas, closing the club house and a few less drastic measures have been enough. In slip-only marinas there are no restrictions, nor are there likely to be any, except for keeping some distance.

Many yacht clubs are social centers. More than a few sailors have told me that without the club and/or racing, there is no point in going sailing. I asked if racing alone would be OK (no shore-side socializing), and they all said heck no.

Many of us sail either with family or singlehanded, without any strong need to socialize.

---

Can we learn to sail while maintaining social distance, or is socializing such a central part of the activity that we can't stop ourselves, even if such behavior risks forced closure of the marina?

Just a hypothetical question, at the moment. But spring is upon us.

The lessons were all being taught, are associated with SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY.
These lessons are usually taught during childhood, some learn better than others, some opportunities to learn these behaviors are stronger than others.
Pandemic diseases, don't care about your social responsibilities, in fact they are strengthened by a lack of these " learned behaviors."
If we all understand that this pandemic will only subside if we have the support of Elected Officals, and the Participation of Individuals to Practise Social Responsiabilitie to EACH OTHER, we will continue to see more outbreaks of this virus.
Without being political we cannot listen to those in Government, with a clear agenda, to "get back to work".
The Agenda to "Go Back to Work" or start social gatherings again before our Trusted Scientists and professional Doctors give the facts of the current state of this Highly Contagious Virus, and its projected rise, or fall, is completely irresponsible.
This is the position of our current leadership, and affects the Safety of the Entire American population.
Please expect others to practice Social distancing, and if they are not, continue to practice your own and inform others as to why it's important to our survival.
We could clamp down harder, but there is always someone, friend or Foe, that doesnt believe that they are responsible in any way to respond to social issues.
Please Practice SOCIAL RESPONSIABILITY.
SV Cloud Duster

[Virginia Lee]

I'm in the Berry Islands, Bahamas. No one has stopped by to say hello. I don't go to the beach if someone else is there and others seem to have the same policy.

[AKA-None]

Originally Posted by StuM

Their constitution says that a quorum for any meeting is one person.

Oh I think that’s many of us here?

[Bundyon]

So many people here in Oz that are ignoring the social distancing rule, by far, the majority are doing the right thing, just pockets of groups that just don't seem to care. On the Gold Coast over the weekend several groups of power boats all rafted up, most of them from the well heeled crowd, perhaps they think their wealth makes them impervious to Covid-19.
I enjoy a drink with a social gathering of cruisers at sundowners but in this current infectious climate, my partner & I are happy to self isolate with our two dogs. We are tied up to poles in a marina amongst trawlers. Taking the dogs for a walk along the breakwater or in the park is fine, you would be lucky if you came within 50' of another person(s). As much as we like to socialise with like minded people, we are just as happy in each other's company.
I just wish those who continue to flout the rules re; Covid-19 would wake up to themselves, handle the responsibility that they have to others and see just how deadly and horrible this virus is.
I guess the worst part is the unknown? If we all make it through to the other side, however long that may take? The world as we know it, will forever change. In a different way but I feel that perhaps the impact in change will be as big as what 911 has been.

[chrisr]

Originally Posted by JPA Cate

Good one, Stu.

Here in Tasmania, our local sailing club has discontinued all events, closed the clubhouse, but the slipway is open, where more than 6' distance is easy to maintain. This is not a wealthy club. The boats are on moorings. Few liveaboards in the neighborhood, but it is a well protected bay, from the predominant bad wind direction. I personally have not been ashore at all since the 7 of March. I am well, thank you. Jim was last ashore a week ago Friday.

We will have to re-provision soonish. This involves Jim doing the shopping (alone! Grump!), but we are taking things very seriously. People die from this corona virus. ....And, where testing is not done, or is not really available for everyone, it is this unusual strategy of doing what's best for everyone, vs. what is only good for oneself (and maybe one's family) is the only way to benefit the most of the people. It is not a familiar strategy for people who are used to a market economy, and it is very hard to convince people of.

Ann

hi ann

yes, provisioning is the problem. we've been down the south coast n hardly been ashore / met anybody in weeks. now passing through morning bay and debbie had to go ashore to do a big stock up. we didn't want to but gota eat ! heading for iluka which seems a nice place to wait out the collapse of civilization as we know it...

as regards isolation, we're limiting contact to brief dinghy chats...you/we stay in the dinghy while we / you stay onboard

hope you guys stay well (you are in the right place for it and doing all the right things)

cheers,

[Cliffhanger]

How to practice "safe sundowners"

1. Most good anchorages have a beach. If so, just have sundowners on the beach instead of a boat. Of course keep a suitable distance, take your own dinghy, take your own drinks and nibbles. i.e. don't share anything. (yes, I know what your mum told you) Just be sensible.

2. Or, if there is no suitable beach, have a dinghy party. Just tie up behind someone's boat keeping a couple of meters apart. Again, no sharing...

However..... this would be considered a "gathering" and is probably been banned in most places. Given the severity of COVID-19 and the sacrifices that people everywhere are making to stop the spread of this disease, it is probably best to not have sundowners at all at the moment, even if you can do it safely. Wave at people as you go past in the dinghy, but that is all for now.

[DavidMRea]

The sailing isn't the problem. It's getting to the boat and back from it. Here in the UK, we're not to do any non-essential journeys. So, definitely no racing!

It's possible to have no symptoms with COVID, but still pass on the virus to others you pass by.

And, for me in Dartmouth, the water taxi service is closed and, apart from wwimming (it's still March), there's no way to get to my boat!

[joelhemington]

Maybe it's time to bust out some old George "I drink alone" Thorogood records

[chrisr]

Originally Posted by DavidMRea

The sailing isn't the problem. It's getting to the boat and back from it. Here in the UK, we're not to do any non-essential journeys. So, definitely no racing!

It's possible to have no symptoms with COVID, but still pass on the virus to others you pass by.

And, for me in Dartmouth, the water taxi service is closed and, apart from wwimming (it's still March), there's no way to get to my boat!

some folk in the anchorage near us have had to buy a dinghy 'cause their marina has stopped the tender service...

cheers,

[Mike OReilly]

Odd (for me) to even consider not having a dinghy. Can't recall ever seeing many cruising level boats without one.

[Jim Cate]

Originally Posted by Mike OReilly

Odd (for me) to even consider not having a dinghy. Can't recall ever seeing many cruising level boats without one.

Where Chris is based, Mike, lots of folks are weekend warriors, being delivered to t heir moored boats by a tender service, sailing to a nearby cove where they pick up a mooring and settle in for some serious drinking. There's not much shore access in most of those places, so no great incentive to have a dink while they are there, and then it's back to the mooring and the tender service.

Seems odd to us, but we likely look odd to them!

Jim