Over our two years of boat ownership, we have met many different people from many different places. One thing that we have discovered is that most boaters fall into one of several categories: the Around-the-Worlders, the Never-Leave-the-Dockers, the Single-Handers, the Money-Makers, the Super-Sailors, the Better-Than-Hotelers and the Unicorns. At different times in their boating lives, boaters may float between the categories but their true selves generally come out in the end.
The Around-the-Worlders: Most of the boaters we have met fall into this category or at least in the wannabe Around-the-Worlders category. They are determined to cross oceans and follow in the footsteps of ancient mariners. Their main goal is to prove that they can accomplish their personal goal to sail across an ocean. We will often hear them say, “I just want to prove that I can do it!” Bill and I do not fall in the Around-the-Worlders category. We do not even fall in the wannabe group. An average crossing of the Atlantic in a sailboat like Gone Galt would generally take about three weeks if the weather cooperates. Twenty one days. Of nothing but water. Of nothing but water than can land you in the Lifetime Movie of the Week or even worse When Vacations Attack. I look at crossing an ocean the way Bill looks at eating squirrel….I COULD but I don’t WANT to or NEED to. The Never-Leave-the-Dockers: The Never-Leave-the-Dockers are quite the opposite of the Around-the-Worlders. They are the “someday we will get there” folks. They spend years finding a boat to buy. Then, once they buy the boat, they spend years fixing the boat so it will be “ready to go when we are”. If there is one thing that boaters know, it is that if you wait on your boat to be ready to go, you will never leave the dock. When we were in South Carolina waiting for Bill to retire, we had Galt in a small marina with about twenty boats. During the few months we were there, three boats went up for sale. Two husbands died and one had a stroke. I told Bill that we better get on the move soon or he was doomed. The other doom for Never-Leave-the-Dockers is the dreaded grandbaby….once the grandbaby arrives, no way that grandma is ever leaving that dock. The Single-Handers: The Single-Handers are by far my favorite boaters to watch. These are the men that started out sailing with a wife or significant other but have ended up single. Do not underestimate the challenges of living in a small space off the grid, especially for females. The boat life is hot, sticky and very buggy. The Single-Handers are generally really good guys but they tend to be perfectionists which generally does not equal live easily with a woman on a boat. Yet, they continue to search for that elusive perfect gal that can drive a boat, do boat projects, cook, clean and look like Angelina Jolie all without breaking a sweat. The Single-Handers even have websites that are much like dating sites set up to find “crew”. We have definitely seen a few “catfish” in our time and I tend to get a chuckle as the “crew” come and go within a couple of weeks of arrival. I have learned not to get too attached to the Single-Hander groupies because they were sold on the Youtube fantasy of relaxing in the sun all day wearing a bikini. Those days are rare in boat life and let’s face it….Angelina Jolie is not going to sign on for a life of mosquitos and constant hot flashes so the Single-Handers have no choice but to continue to peddle the fantasy! The Money-Makers: The Money-Makers are the charter boats. Depending on the size of the boat, they generally have crews ranging from two to ten people. The Money-Makers are the worker bees of the hive. They are constantly on the move taking tourists on everything from day trips to month long adventures. They supply, clean, sail, host, repeat. I respect the Money-Makers because running charters is like a Bed and Breakfast on crack. At a Bed and Breakfast, the owners see a visitor in the morning, feed them and then send the visitor out to explore. On a charter boat, the owners are with the visitors 24/7. They have no control over the weather, the crowds or fish biting the hook. I cannot imagine the demands they face daily. The Single-Handers always look forward to the arrival of the Money-Makers that are not on charter for the week because the crew tend to be in their twenties and they like to drink by the pool wearing bikinis. Unfortunately, the Single-Handers are always disappointed that the Money-Makers are not like the reality shows where they get drunk and run around topless. Ah, those Single-Handers….always so optimistic! The Super-Sailors: The Gods of the sea, the Super-Sailors. They are much like the super soldiers in the Marvel world. They live to sail. They are happiest when their sails are full and they are heeled over with their heads bouncing on the surface of the water. They embrace high winds, high waves and the thrill of it all. The faster the boat, the better. They can jump nimbly from point A to point B, they never have a line that knots and they laugh in the face of danger. They are a beautiful creature to behold. All the other sailors sit in awe of the Super-Sailors. When the non-Super-Sailors are in a fight, we throw the Super-Sailors out at our partner for a winning blow…”Well, excuse me if I’m not doing it correctly! Perhaps you would like one of the Super-Sailors to come put up with your ****!” Super-Sailors are a rare breed…. The Better-Than-Hotelers: This category is where Bill and I belong. Our group loves to travel and decides at one crazy point in life (usually after a few too many beers) that living on a boat beats always being in a hotel. After all, if you have a boat, you do not need to pack and unpack and you never accidentally leave your toothbrush at home. Opposite of the Super-Sailors, we move the boat because that is the only way to get our place of residence to the next destination. We wait for the best wind and the best waves to insure smooth sailing days. We readily admit that a day of sailing without going anywhere just does not make any sense to us. Our boats are fat, slow and comfortable. Our lines may be knotted and we may not be nimble but when the sun sets, you can bet that the Better-Than-Hotelers have the best night’s sleep! The Unicorns: Last but not least, we have the Unicorns. The Unicorns are the multi-millionaires and billionaires that live on mega-yachts. They sit around all day sipping their umbrella drinks served to them in champagne flutes on silver trays by slaving crew. They never work and just count their money from sun up to sun down. Why do I call them Unicorns? Because they do not exist. Don’t get me wrong, the mega-yachts definitely exist. They are dreams that float by and cause everyone to stare in breathless wonder. However, the millionaires and billionaires are never on the boats relaxing. Their crew enjoys a life of luxury that is unequalled but whenever we ask about the owners, the response is usually along the lines of “Oh, they rarely come on the boat. They are always working.” So, in life, perhaps you want to aim a little lower than being a Unicorn so that you can enjoy the simpler life! Before we left on our adventure, a boating friend I met told me that I would be shocked at how many people live the boating life. She was not incorrect. I have been amazed at how many of us there are in the world. We often hear people say, “I wish I could live like that” and our answer is “You can!” It just takes some planning, some saving, a few sacrifices and a giant leap of faith. So, get to planning and go live the life you want! After all, you only get one!
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AuthorSally Miller Archives
May 2024
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