Where is the main user base for CF?

[AuChante]

I've been a member of some automotive forums (pickup and Camaro) that have been, by a vast margin, a U.S. user base. That makes sense since big pickups and American sports cars are far less common outside the U.S. (I've been told).


This forum is very different. It seems that the vast majority of posts that mention location are not U.S. locations. What continents/countries have the biggest sailing scenes? It seems that the U.S. is fairly low on the list.

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by AuChante

I've been a member of some automotive forums (pickup and Camaro) that have been, by a vast margin, a U.S. user base. That makes sense since big pickups and American sports cars are far less common outside the U.S. (I've been told).


This forum is very different. It seems that the vast majority of posts that mention location are not U.S. locations. What continents/countries have the biggest sailing scenes? It seems that the U.S. is fairly low on the list.

On a per head per capita the US is not that high up on the rankings and quite low for sail , of course given the absolute population there are still big absolute numbers not withstanding. The US is predominant in the small power boat /day boat/fishing skiff market buy these are not CF territory.

Cars are different as they are quite location specific.

[dlj]

This forum will obviously have a bias towards English speaking participants as that is the language used on this forum. You ask: "What continents/countries have the biggest sailing scenes?" I don't think you can know the answer to that question by looking on this forum.

Yu also say: "It seems that the U.S. is fairly low on the list." I don't really know what you mean by this.

dj

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by dlj

This forum will obviously have a bias towards English speaking participants as that is the language used on this forum. You ask: "What continents/countries have the biggest sailing scenes?" I don't think you can know the answer to that question by looking on this forum.

Yu also say: "It seems that the U.S. is fairly low on the list." I don't really know what you mean by this.

dj

If you look at industry metrics on boating markets , thd US is lower then comparable per capita countries in some European countries especially when you remove the power market.

This is partly because it’s a big land mass and many don’t live near the sea.

Where it does dominate is in small /medium power sport cruisers and you can see that in the number of US brands of such boats. But these are not CF users in the main as this is a “cruisers “ forum.

[AuChante]

Originally Posted by dlj

Yu also say: "It seems that the U.S. is fairly low on the list." I don't really know what you mean by this.
dj

I mean that the majority of posts I've read are talking about cruising in locations not in the US.
I've not run into anyone saying they're sailing either coast of the US. There's been plenty of mention of locations that I really don't know where it is.

Originally Posted by dlj

This forum will obviously have a bias towards English speaking participants as that is the language used on this forum. You ask: "What continents/countries have the biggest sailing scenes?" I don't think you can know the answer to that question by looking on this forum.
dj

That is another curiosity I have. As I understand, the US is somewhat unique in that the vast majority of citizens only speak english. It is supposed to be fairly common elsewhere for people to be bilingual or more. It seems many users on here speak english as a second language.

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by AuChante

I mean that the majority of posts I've read are talking about cruising in locations not in the US.
I've not run into anyone saying they're sailing either coast of the US. There's been plenty of mention of locations that I really don't know where it is.




That is another curiosity I have. As I understand, the US is somewhat unique in that the vast majority of citizens only speak english. It is supposed to be fairly common elsewhere for people to be bilingual or more. It seems many users on here speak english as a second language.

It’s not one’s speak English , it’s one can write it. , many English speakers would baulk at written English.

Given the population you’d expect US sailors to be common around the world. But In any remote anchorage you’ll find a French sailor not an American one !!!

[goboatingnow]

What we do know is that the U.K., Germany , France , Holland Scandinavia, Oz and NZ have very big sailing and cruising communities

[geoleo]

Originally Posted by AuChante

I've been a member of some automotive forums (pickup and Camaro) that have been, by a vast margin, a U.S. user base. That makes sense since big pickups and American sports cars are far less common outside the U.S. (I've been told).


This forum is very different. It seems that the vast majority of posts that mention location are not U.S. locations. What continents/countries have the biggest sailing scenes? It seems that the U.S. is fairly low on the list.

The USA, In spite of our desires, is not a nautical country.

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by geoleo

The USA, In spite of our desires, is not a nautical country.

I would agree , in France for example sailing is nearly a national sport or obscession. It’s the only country where airport security recognises my sextant !!!

[AuChante]

Originally Posted by goboatingnow

I would agree , in France for example sailing is nearly a national sport or obscession. It’s the only country where airport security recognises my sextant !!!

Here's a couple of our big marinas compared to yours. The first one that's predominantly power boats I think has draft constraints. The second one has a good number of sailboats, but still a significant percentage of power boats.
It looks like your marina relegates power boats to the top-left corner and the southern most dock.
The vast majority of boats at your marina are backed in. Probably a sign of more experienced sailors?

[goboatingnow]

I’m not sure what marina photos indicate.

Here’s port Vauban one of the biggest and in France



About 5% is power boats.

[goboatingnow]

Here’s my locale you’d be pushed to find a power boat

( note there are 4 extra town pontoons now )

[AuChante]

Originally Posted by goboatingnow

I’m not sure what marina photos indicate.

Here’s port Vauban one of the biggest and in France

Attachment 266646

About 5% is power boats.

Just to get an idea of power/sail ratio.
We also have 7 boat barns locally with about 600 spaces each. I think another is being built. There's a waiting list for all of them.

[danstanford]

I have been surprised by the participation of Canadians though perhaps we are just mouthy and opinionated.

[Shrew]

Short answer.....primarily countries that speak English, or teach English extensively in the school system and also have active sailing communities.

UK, US, Canada, Australia, NZ, Germany, and a few Scandinavian countries comprise the majority. Participation isn't limited to those countries.