On Thu, 20 Jul 2006 10:37:47 -0400, Wayne.B
wrote:

On 20 Jul 2006 02:27:02 -0500, Vallie wrote:

poor, poor pitiful me,

Yes.

She or he has a point. People who use all the "stuff" never really
become sailors. They may think they're sailors, but they would
probably die or head for land if their engines, windlasses, chart
plotters and other gadgets were taken away. They would choose another
hobby because they are not really interested in sailing. They want to
play, not work. Perfectly understandable. The art of maneuvering and
anchoring must be reduced to the push of a button.

It takes little or no skill to 'even circumnavigate' with that stuff.
Not a flame, just a fact. And if someone who loves the ancient
vanishing art is disgusted by the laziness of slovenly cruisers who
like to discuss how best to anchor in coral and must have air
conditioning and windscreen televisions, well, I can understand the
feeling.

I can also understand the response. It stings to be told that you're
not a sailor. The response is almost always "F-you". They imagine
themselves to be Caption Cook, when really they are more like
Gilligan.