Can Sailors Learn to Go sailing Without Socializing?

[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.

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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.

[Chotu]

Social distance is WHY I sail! Ha ha ha.

[DanCan]

Originally Posted by Chotu

Social distance is WHY I sail! Ha ha ha.

Haha, awesome response!

[StuM]

Originally Posted by thinwater

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.

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

[Wotname]

Originally Posted by Chotu

Social distance is WHY I sail! Ha ha ha.

Exactly and why back in the good old days, one always anchored as far as possible from the other boats.

[Mike OReilly]

As a certified introvert, I have no problem being away from my fellow wo/man for extended periods.

My sense is that cruising attracts a higher proportion of introverts vs extroverts. I also suspect the racing community is the opposite.

[tp12]

How big is your cockpit?!


Our local yacht club is closed. No racing no nothing. Which is kind of ok because we won the last twilight race and are therefore reigning covid premiers!


I'm trying to convince the owner to stock up the boat and a few of us can go isolate on one of the southern GBR islands...

[chrisr]

we are already badly missing sundowners with other boats in the anchorage/s

despite our cockpit is big enough for 6 people or so to keep the required distance apart, most folk are not willing to take the chance (yet)

cheers,

[Don C L]

If everyone you meet has already been away from the crowds for 2 weeks and they aren't sick, they are probably ok for a visit. We're limited to groups of 10 they say here. Even in the old days, no way I'd want 10 people on my boat! Another good reason for a smaller boat.

[AndyEss]

Originally Posted by Mike OReilly

As a certified introvert, I have no problem being away from my fellow wo/man for extended periods.

My sense is that cruising attracts a higher proportion of introverts vs extroverts. I also suspect the racing community is the opposite.

There’s a group you can join to be certified as an introvert?



: )

[StuM]

Originally Posted by AndyEss

There’s a group you can join to be certified as an introvert?

: )

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

[JPA Cate]

Originally Posted by StuM

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

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

[GordMay]

Originally Posted by StuM

... - Skippers responsibility to maintain social distancing on board there vessels ..

Originally Posted by tp12

How big is your cockpit?!...

WOW! Those must be big boats.

[thinwater]

Originally Posted by Don C L

If everyone you meet has already been away from the crowds for 2 weeks and they aren't sick, they are probably ok for a visit. We're limited to groups of 10 they say here. Even in the old days, no way I'd want 10 people on my boat! Another good reason for a smaller boat.

This depends a great deal on how you define crowds.

• Self-isolation with only their family, of the entire family.
• Went the grocery store and several other stops.
• They've hung out with several other groups of less than 10.
• Maybe those groups of 10 were a little closer than 6, or even 3 feet... which they probably were. Maybe it was a good many times.

The first is safe. The last is less so, and more to the point does not really meet the intent, which is to minimize contact as much as possible. Not as much as we feel like. As much as possible.

[Not implying you broke the intent, just sayin' your wording could be misinterpreted.]


It's not about "being willing to take the chance." It's not about you, it's about your responsibility to others. It looks like just maybe we're going to dodge a bullet this time, with only 100,000 to 300,000 (depending on which prediction you believe--the high side feels more likely to me) dying in the US and similar percentages elsewhere in the world. If we consider the initial growth rates is hot spots and the mortality rate, that could have been over 1% of the population, or 3,500,000 people in the US alone. If you are over 57, which most boat owners are (industry stats) the mortality is higher. That's about 30 less than would have died, because most people are working together on this.


I'm surprised.


The question is, can we continue to be responsible, or are we so genetically herd animals that we can't help ourselves in the long run? This won't be over when the first wave passes. There will be aftershocks.


We can't compare our "need" to socialize with industry workers "need" to work.

[Dave852]

No temptation to socialize in this anchorage, I can hear them all getting together a few miles down the chain buts that’s probably ok as no one down this far is likely to have contact with the outside world. (South Raggeds, Bahamas)