One of my co-workers from finance was up here the other week telling my boss and I about a 30ft sailboat his friend just bought. My boss is a professional sailor, she and her team race weekly and have been successful enough this season to be invited to a prestigious race in Antigua. She was horrified by what we were being told about this new sailboat. Rafal was explaining that he and his friend knew absolutely nothing about sailing but were planning to just learn on the fly. By themselves. In the Pacific Ocean. This is from two people who among other things, didn't even realize that there was more that one type of sail on these boats. My boss, frightened for their safety and that of everyone who uses the waterways, immediately offered a discounted membership to the sailing club she and her friends were forming for beginner sailors. This was declined because apparently Rafal's friend is too broke to pay the few hundred dollars for the membership - but not too broke to buy a 30ft sailboat. So my boss then offered up her sailing crew for a quick one day training session to cover some basics at no cost. This was also declined because I guess they just want to figure it out for themselves. My boss, out of options, reminded him that sailing isn't exactly something you can just teach yourself, and that it's not the safest sport around, especially done their way. Rafal, not encouragingly, replied, "Don't worry, we'll have a motor boat to ram us back [to shore] if anything happens."
Saturday, April 01, 2006
Stay Away From These Sailors
One of my co-workers from finance was up here the other week telling my boss and I about a 30ft sailboat his friend just bought. My boss is a professional sailor, she and her team race weekly and have been successful enough this season to be invited to a prestigious race in Antigua. She was horrified by what we were being told about this new sailboat. Rafal was explaining that he and his friend knew absolutely nothing about sailing but were planning to just learn on the fly. By themselves. In the Pacific Ocean. This is from two people who among other things, didn't even realize that there was more that one type of sail on these boats. My boss, frightened for their safety and that of everyone who uses the waterways, immediately offered a discounted membership to the sailing club she and her friends were forming for beginner sailors. This was declined because apparently Rafal's friend is too broke to pay the few hundred dollars for the membership - but not too broke to buy a 30ft sailboat. So my boss then offered up her sailing crew for a quick one day training session to cover some basics at no cost. This was also declined because I guess they just want to figure it out for themselves. My boss, out of options, reminded him that sailing isn't exactly something you can just teach yourself, and that it's not the safest sport around, especially done their way. Rafal, not encouragingly, replied, "Don't worry, we'll have a motor boat to ram us back [to shore] if anything happens."
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