All in Good Fun

[Amorous]

In January of 1980 I left Aspen, Colorado in my well used, orange, Volkswagen Bug and drove to Ft. Myers, Florida to pursue my dreams of cruising.
Promptly upon arriving I found a newspaper and checked the ads for boats for sale.  I found one in a marina on the Caloosahatchee, bought it on sight and moved aboard.  Being 19 years old, the next thing to do was to find a suitable cruising partner of the opposite sex, and to that end I made my first visit to the ABC lounge and the Silver Spur.  After the appropriate amount of time had passed (3 or 4 hours at least) I was pleasantly surprised to receive an affirmative answer to my simple query "wanna go sailin?"
Now came the difficult part, how to explain to this wonderful creature that "the bug" was simply transportation and in no way reflected my character or means (uh-huh!)  She wasn't totally convinced but didn't run away either.  So far so good.  We drove the mile or so to the marina and then she saw the boat.  "I thought you said it was a Yacht!" she exclaimed, which only hurt a little.  Nonetheless she held out her hand and I helped her on board.  After some quick excuses regarding the placement of various essentials and the slamming of locker doors I explained that this WAS a yacht and after all, it was paid for and was capable of sailing across oceans.  She didn't look impressed but the sudden appearance of the rum and glasses soon smoothed out her rather ruffled feathers and we (I) began to cast off the lines.  I backed out of the slip and proceeded out the entrance of the marina where I promptly ran aground, not real hard but hard enough to slide the bottle and both glasses directly into her lap.  This was just NOT going well!  After I convinced her that she would look just fine in one of my flannel shirts she came up into the cockpit and we finally started to get cosey.  We proceeded under power and downriver a couple of miles with the lights of the city fading behind us.  As the darkness closed in she exclaimed "Oh look!  The water is glowing!"  Behind us the wake was illuminated as I began to wonder if taking someone with absolutely no experience at all on the water was really the best idea I could have had.  But, since she had overlooked so much already I decided that I would too.  Remember, she was WAY hot and wearing only a flannel shirt! 
"What are those things in the water?"  she asked. 
"Crab pot buoys"  I replied.  "There are crab traps at the other end of those lines."
"Really?  I love crab!  Can we get some?"  she pouted.
Not to be put off by legallities or even courtesy by this time, I said "Sure, just grab that boathook and I'll slow way down so that you can grab hold of the line and pull up the trap."
I slowed.  She grabbed.  Then she began to walk back along the side deck faster and faster yelling "I've got it!  I've got it!"
When she reached the stern rail she never even slowed down, but went right over the top, still holding on to the float and line and yelling "I've got it!"
We didn't talk much as I plucked her back from the clutches of the deep and motored back to the marina.  As a matter of fact I believe the last thing I heard her say was "Is there a payphone at this goldarn place?" as she walked away wearing my favorite shirt.  I decided not to ask for it back.

[Triton218]

Whenever I bring a new girl cruising I point at something on the horizon to distract her. As she looks into the distance, I'll push her into the water. If she floats, then she can come along. If she sinks, she's not made for sailing and I'll retrieve her with the boathook and find another that's a bit more salty. I recommend you all try this method. Please post back here with the results.

;D ;D ;D

[CapnK]

You guys crack me up. ;D

I might have to move this post to the Humor section... :D j/k

So, now we know how you picked up the handle "Amorous", eh? lol  :P

[Iceman]

Did you save the crab pot and have the catch all for yourself?

[Pixie Dust]

I have a friend who loved to sail, had been married about 3-4 times.  When he began dating his current wife of many many yrs. now,  story has it he put her through it.  He would take her out sailing on the worst days, cold, stormy, windy, rough, you get the idea.  She was new to sailing.  She endured it all and never complained.  She also could sew and cook!!  She finally, after a few yrs passed the test in his mind and they got married. 
They have since sold their land dwellings and live on their 38' Morgan.  They cruised from Carrabelle, down around the Keys, up to the Chesapeake this past yr. 
Really a neat couple that I have grown so fond of.  They are livin the dream!! 

I went out to dinner a couple of times with an MD in the area.  He wanted to go to lunch with me prior to me leaving for a little wk long New Years trip with friends on their boat.  He obviously did not get it, must have thought I was going to a third world country.  He gave me a backpack filled with IV's, splints, outdated meds, gauze, etc.  It was jammed packed.   He even made reference to the waitress that she should tell me goodbye because I would probably be taken by pirates.  The ultimate kicker was when he said he gets sea sick just stepping on a boat.
Needless to say, that guy was history.  We all got a good laugh at his expense as we dumped out the backpack to sort through.    Although....we could have used those IV bags on a boat hook to help cure any NY hangovers.  :))

[Zen]

I was in the begining stage of dating this woman. I had invited her down to the boat for dinner. I was living on my Ariel at the time. I had a bomb dinner planned. We are walking down to the boat she says...oh, did I tell you I get sea sick  :o

I say, that's ok, they have stuff for that, and we are not going anywhere.

She says...I've been known to get sick just walking on the dock  :o :o

Oh, boy! I think, this maybe a problem... :-\

We get to the boat and go below...

She starts looking around,  with a trapped animal look,... getting very quiet...kind of like this  :-[  :-[ :-[

exit stage left ...

The next day...I had a really good meal...alone
;)

...another one bites the dust

[Iceman]

Zen dont give up
Invite her to dinner when the boats hauled out

If she bolts then..well the quest continues eh?

[Pixie Dust]

 :D :D :D  darn Zen, I am so laughing right now... I loved your little expressions with your story. 
Darn wimpy women.  :))  what is a man to do??  Maybe next time you should just eat on the dock or in the parking lot.   ;)

[Zen]

Well, those days are gone  :)
I'm a happliy married guy now. My wife is supportive of my boating, does not get sea sick. She not quite comfortable with tooo much heeling, but she deals with it, and I go easy. I'm teaching her the boat systems, (explained about the HEAVY keel) and plan on getting her out more this year. I got her a book to read on some womens views and stories about cruising. So by the time all is ready we can set out together for Japan.

[Skipper Dave]

I am probably the luckiest person here.  My wife (of 4 years) and I met on a blind date.  Our first real date was sailing on my first boat (Catalina 22).  I had just started sailing about six months prior so I prayed nothing would go wrong and it didn't.  Well the short story is she loved sailing and me and we spend every weekend at the boat, sailing or working on her.  I have to add that my wife is more the risk taker than I am.  It's a good balance, we say; "Together we make a whole person".

-------------------------------------------------------------

This morning it looked so nice out I thought I'd leave it out.

S/V "Tina Marie" Cal 2-27

[Zen]

That was sweet. Not many people feel that way.  A nice thing to share.

[Pixie Dust]

Guys, what a great thing to share!!  It really warms my heart to see guys that speak so highly regarding their spouses.  Charlie did the same thing, too.  I really respect that, in both men and women.  Nice to see happy couples.
Zen- great approach to helping your wife develop a comfort level with sailing.
I love happy endings.   :) :) :)
Maybe you guys can get your gals on the site too.  I am sure they have good info to share.

[CharlieJ]

LOL- Mine loves to have the boat laid over and driving. She also did a good bit ( most even?) of the hard work on Tehani getting her ready for the water.

[hearsejr]

 I got a gal to come out to my boat once. she said "how nice, is that little motor the only thing that moves this boat?"..that's when I had to explain about the sails and the keel..then she decided to take me up on the offer to come aboard and as the boat leaned she freaked. I got her to atleast stand up in the cockpit, then manged to get her to to move around some. but then she wanted to know about the sail and when she stepped up on the cabin top, the boat layed a little to the starboard, she jumped, landed on the fingure dock and >>>>>> S P L A S H <<<<<< little did she know the finger dock was only 28 in. wide and she walked right out to sea. lol. the guy next door asked why I made her walk the plank? I said it was put out or swime..lol.
needless to say she never came back to  the marina.
     
BILL

[starcrest]

All I am looking for is a good trustworthy woman who can swim.

[captedteach]

All I am looking for is a good trustworthy woman who can swim.

You plannin on sinkin??

[Kailyst]

All I am looking for is a good trustworthy woman who can swim.

I used to be on the Swim Team in college (MANY years ago!) and I'm looking for a man that can sail!!  ;D

[AllAboutMe]

I can sail and swim, but I can't be trusted......go figure.

[Pixie Dust]

You know Larry, some people are happy with just 2 out of 3.   ;D

[AllAboutMe]

Don't get me wrong...I'm happy as a clam....2 out of three is heaven....lol.
Larry