10 things that i have observed about cruisers over the past year
Now, before you go ahead and start reading, let’s take a moment to realize that this is my list and my observations and my opinions. THESE ARE NOT FACTS. And you may disagree with some of these and want to dispute them (go ahead and refer to #7). This was merely for shits and giggles, so to speak. So if you’re up for a good laugh and maybe some cold hard truth, please do continue.
Cuss like a sailor: This list is not one of just funny sayings relating to cruising/boating/sailing, but I had to come up with some cute headline for each subject. So let’s just start with the obvious, shall we? To be honest, I thought it was just a funny saying. Little did I realize that it was in fact a funny saying, but a funny saying based loosely on facts. I have noticed that more often than not, your friendly boating neighbor swears left and right, up and down, and can’t complete a sentence without usually saying "shit" or "fuck". Of course, it’s not necessary in the slightest, but it just becomes a natural thing.
Booze cruise: A lot of the cruising lifestyle revolves around drinking. I’d say it’s more like a religion than anything. And there’s nothing wrong with that whatsoever, it’s just something I’ve noticed. "Hey where’d you get that supreme hard top?" "Well, I’d love to tell you over a drink sometime". I mean it’s just a thing. Assuming that everyone who interacts with each other owns a boat that isn’t really suitable for more than four to five people, it’s just easier to meet up in public and usually that place is a bar. I, personally, have even become accustomed to ordering virgin Piña Coladas just so I can feel like one of the bunch.
Size matters: Height, length, draft, cabins, heads (bathrooms), galley area (kitchen), sails, engine(s), fuel/water tanks - you name it, the size of it matters. It definitely becomes an issue of 'my horse is bigger than your horse' and it may not be intentional but from the sidelines, it definitely sounds that way. And of course, one will compliment the other in some fashion on some particular thing, but the body language says it all. And of course before one person mentions the make and model of their engine, the other is practically bragging about theirs. Really, it’s a comedy show that you just want to grab a bag of popcorn and a lawn chair for.
Gadgets & Gizmos a plenty: You might recognize this catchy phrase from the Disney movie 'The Little Mermaid' but for number four on this list, we’re really talking about the multiple gadgets a vessel holds and what they do. Cruisers love their gadgets, and love talking about the many things they do. Whether it’s the radar, sonar, GPS, Inmarsat, or something as simple as the hand-held radios. Honestly, I don’t even know what half of those things are or how they even work, but according to our captain we have them aboard. Having these gadgets is another one of those things where you have to have the best of the best, no matter the cost. It’s like you’re not living if you don’t have a specific brand of a specific instrument or tool.
Caution: Under Construction: Projects are a daily affair. It was said to me, when I joined my parents on their 53-footer for a year, that 'there is always something to be done on a boat'. And I thought they were just talking about their boat specifically. Nope, turns out I was only half right. Cruisers are always looking for something to do, as if swimming and fishing and exploring the cultures on land wasn’t enough. SV Take Me There!'s projects consisted of building a custom hard top, installing security cameras, making a new door to the laundry area, and these are just to name a few. Problem-solving is a huge part of being a crew member on this vessel, and sometimes that implies some simple and not-so-simple DIY projects. I think part of this has something to do with not always having access to internet services, so you find other things to occupy your time. Also, I’ve noticed that a lot of cruisers have the "sun up to sun down" mentality, utilizing every ray of sunshine that is available. Sitting still is not an option. Ever.
Every day jargon: Terms like starboard and port tend to not just be used on the boat itself, but sometimes you’ll catch people in the cruising community using these terms in every day life situations. And when socializing amongst these types of people, you better pray to god that a) you know what you’re talking about and b) that you know what they’re referring to. It’s not that they’ll treat you like the mean girls in high school did and shun you, but pity is not given to the ignorant. Hull, bow, beam, stern, mast, jib, mizzen - these are all terms that I just learned in the past couple of months when I actually started to pay attention.
Opinions are like assholes: …Everybody has them, and they all stink, right? Well not if you’re a cruiser. Your opinion is valid and it is the only one that matters. When conversing with another who has one that differs from your own, typically it’s best to just let them win after bantering back and forth for a few sentences. Again, not if you’re a cruiser. You fight to the death until your voice is heard as well as understood and agreed with. There’s no ifs, ands, or buts. So I’ve found when observing said conversations that it is yet another humorous show from the sidelines. Being on the outskirts of the conversation, I can find good points from both parties but I’m sure it’s different when you’re in the midst of it.
The Weather Channel: While aboard, I have gotten used to our schedule being completely dictated by the weather. If it’s not windy, then the tides are wrong, and if the tides aren’t wrong then the sea state is at its worst. Everything has to be in pristine condition to be able to go underway (travel from point A to point B by boat). If you have a TV aboard, you can pretty much count on it always being tuned into the local weather station. And when 6:15 in the morning rolls around, you can pretty much assume your VHF radio will be tuned in to the local weather as well. When I’ve been excited about traveling to the next location, like for instance when we were going from Southport, NC to Charleston, SC, I’ve even found myself checking the weather myself to figure out when we’d be setting sail. Now I check probably once a week just to be informed so when we have our "crew meetings", I sound just a little bit smart. But this doesn’t just relate to traveling, checking the weather also helps dictate what you’re doing fo the day as far as fishing, kiteboarding, or maybe just relaxing with a good book.
Plan & Prep: People tend to have this misconception about cruisers - that they’re free-spirited, adventure-seeking, thrill-driven individuals. And while some of them are, not all of them, and even the most self-guided person has to have some sort of plan when it comes to this lifestyle. There’s a lot of thought and energy that goes into this process. You have routes to plan and a budget to abide by and situations to be aware of. A lot of the cruisers that I’ve come into contact with didn’t just wake up one morning and say, "Hey you know what? I’m going to buy a boat, sell my home, and circumnavigate forever". No, they had jobs to think about, bank accounts to consider, and so on. A lot of time is taken to figure out where you’re cruising to and for how long. You also have to be prepared for the unexpected. A good friend of mine once told me "You can make plans, you just can’t plan the outcome" and that holds very true in this lifestyle.
Social butterfly: Being a cruiser is a very social thing, whether you’re a people person or not. I’ve had the pleasure of experiencing an extremely introverted individual come out of his shell quite a bit. I think part of it has something to do with finding a hobby or passion and relating to other people on the same subject. It’s actually kind of cool to see someone in their element, speaking so passionately on something that I have no clue about but that they love. When we were crossing from the United States over to the Bahamas, our engine died and we had to rely solely on sails to get us to our destination. Hailing TowBoat US over the radio was a frequent thing, and other boats heard our exchange. It was because of those conversations that we came into contact with the diesel mechanic who was able to put us back in business. Cruising is also helping others, much like recovering alcoholics or the teacher’s union. You may not be Facebook friends or follow each other on Twitter, but you meet people from all over that you share a common bond with.
Hope you enjoyed reading my personal list of observations that I have made over this past (almost) year of cruising with my parents down the east coast of the US and into the Bahamas. There MAY be a Part II if I can come up with enough points to make. Ciao!
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