Friend scared to fly but wants to sail instead

[zboss]

We have a friend that rents a house in the caribbean every year for January... he doesn't like flying either so he takes a cruise ship out of Baltimore and gets off in St. Thomas, then takes a ferry wherever.

Not only does he avoid flying (which I also have begun to loath) but he also can pack huge bags full of food so he doesn't have to pay food prices in St. Thomas! On top of that he may be able to spend a couple of days visiting other locations over xmas and new years.

Plus, it's often cheaper to take the cruise ship in a last minute deal than pay exorbitant airline prices over the holidays.

[captlloyd]

Many years ago I saw an interview with Minnesota Fats, a wise man. They were talking about odds and fate and Fats said, ''it doesn't matter if you are afraid of flying, if that plane wants you it will come and get you''. Sound strange? Think about it. After 911 I started thinking about it and I am sure there were scores of people in the Trade Centers who were afraid to fly. Fats went on to say that when your numbers up, it's up. I wonder if the OP's friend smokes. Now there is something that is really dangerous. Isn't logic wonderful.

[Yachtmasteroz]

Sailing / boating can be a good cure for a fear from flying. Friends of mine hated flying and took a ferry for a six hour trip from the mainland to one of the Greek islands. Six hours of throwing up convinced them that they much rather take a plane for their return trip.....

[OS2Dude]

A fear of Flyng is usually related to not feeling in control. I'm not a big fan of flying either, nor of heights, but I consider myself a fairly competent sailor.

Just because someone has a phobia does not make them unfit for everything else in the world.

[Enrique100]

If you're going to surround yourself in an environment that is not compatible with life, how is doing it for a few days better than doing it for a few hours?


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[CoopAir]

Originally Posted by MarkJ

I sure wouldn't take someone with an irrational fear on a boat.

Exactly!

Anyone in this day in age (when air travel has never been safer) who is afrain to fly even in a Cessna 172, let alone an airliner, should NOT be anywhere near anything smaller than the QE2 on the open seas!

Originally Posted by jrbogie

so now i've added yet another rule to follow during my sailing adventures. anybody who can't figure out that the most dangerous segment of a trip in an airplane is the drive to the airport is not welcome on my boat for even moderately long passages.

Originally Posted by Enrique100

If you're going to surround yourself in an environment that is not compatible with life, how is doing it for a few days better than doing it for a few hours?

AMEN!!!

[OS2Dude]

I can't believe the small mindedness I am seeing here. Everyone is afraid of something. If you were deathly afraid of spiders of every size and type, would you stop sailing? Would you think yourself a lesser person?

Fear of flying doesn't make this person someone who will shut down in every difficult situation. If they have been out before, then I don't see a reason to leave them behind now. (And I would not take ANYONE out in the blue for an extended period and/or in foreign waters if they had not been out before, preferably with me.)

[DefinitelyMe]

Originally Posted by MarkJ

I sure wouldn't take someone with an irrational fear on a boat.

My partner has an irrational fear of flying, but stick her in a fibreglass tub in the middle of a North Atlantic gale and she's fine. I don't get it, she doesn't get it, but it seems to work somehow. I think the key for her is that she appreciates that her fear of flying is irrational but just accepts it. She's better now, but i'm in the habit of wearing a thick sweatshirt during takeof and landing if i'm flying with her. It's amazing how much force a terrified 7 1/2 stone lady can apply on one's unsuspecting forearm as it lounges unsuspectingly in the neutral zone between the seats.