DSK wrote:
It's also a question of crew... are they busy running around
handing out funny-colored drinks with little umbrellas? Or
are they actually sailors?

Now this is an interesting topic--the crews. They can be divided
into two groups--small businesses and non-profits.

Of the two groups, I like the small business owners/operators the
best. These are sailors like you and I that fell in love with a
schooner and bought it and perhaps made it into a business or
part-time business.

On the other hand non-profits are run by that useless appendage
known as a non-profit-executive. These people are too worried
about making enough money to cover their own salaries, that they
tend to treat their skippers and crew like pawns.

These crews seem to be more out side the industry than in it.
Perhaps when you have a group of people spending so much
time together, you don't need to socialize or interact without
others in the sailing industry.

With a few excpetions, in the times I've talked to crews of
non-profit type tall-ships, they tend to be somewhat closed to
conversation--even rude--perhaps it's because when I wanted
to talk about sailing either they didn't understand what I was
talking about, or else they copped a superior attitude because
their boat was bigger or something. Perhaps they were just
too used to dealing with the public and viewed everyone as
a mark.

One group got a bit ****ed at me when I pointed out the inflatable
with the 50 HP outboard ruined the effect of the classic look.

Another time I was asking about rigging conventions--which side
the peak and throat halyards were located, etc, and got a snide
response and that was it.

Crew are often not particularly good sailors, although there
are exceptions. Many of these crew positions are filled with
free volunteers or filled at very low wages. Good sailors in Mate
positions are those looking for sea-time on higher tonnage vessels .
Once they get that and a license, they move on to better paying
situations.

The less experienced volunteers are really more tour guides, nanny's,
and lonely hearts than sailors. What serious sailor wants to dress up
like a pirate every day?

They only time I got friendly with a crew was one that was berthed
near me, and after I sailed circles around him racing Soling's, he let
me steer and dock "his" schooner, and taught me one interesting trick
about
docking--for which I'm exceedingly grateful. I reciprocated by letting
him
use our clubs Soling's whenever he wanted--he was a good sailor but his

sail trim needed a little improvement--you can understand
why--schooners
tend to have old blown out sails and they are not particularly
sensitive to
sail trim, off the wind.

Regarding the skippers: They tend to be very, very good, and they
are always licensed. The vessels are inspected, so they know
their stuff, hoist day shapes--when no one else does, and manage
their crews very well. I have not met one yet that was not highly
qualified. They still tend to be underpaid but commanding a tall-ship
is
it's own reward. IMHO, Mate's tend to be good sailors too.