EPUB-Women On Board Cruising

Description

While traveling on our boat Kismet during our many years as long-distance cruisers, my husband, Jim, and I have had the good fortune of meeting countless amazing women boaters who come from varying backgrounds and have different strengths and abilities. I began to notice in my conversations with many of these women boaters that the topic would inevitably turn to the things we would have done differently had we had more information about this type of lifestyle before actually living it. Sometimes, I’d hear a familiar refrain: “I wish someone had told me about this (or that) BEFORE I started cruising.” Other times I’d hear:  “If I were to be in a position to advise a novice woman beater, I’d make sure she benefited from my mistakes or ignorance, I would tell her…”

While I recognize it’s not always the woman who’s anxious about the unknowns in undertaking a long-distance cruise, from what I’ve heard, it’s more typically true. I think many women who were initially hesitant before heading out on the water were amazed at how much they liked the whole experience and actually hated to see it come to an end. Then there are those who’ve had a hard time getting over their initial fear of the unknown, and due to that apprehension, may never venture off the dock. Over the years, Jim and I have also met a lot of gung-ho male boaters who want us to talk to their partners and help get them “on board.” Sometimes the men just don’t understand what kind of insight the women in their lives are looking for.

I quickly began to see what a good opportunity this would be to bring these two groups of women together; women who have actual long-distance cruising experience and women who have some reservations, fears or just a curiosity about this lifestyle. My hope was that we could help women to overcome some of the anxiety they may hold and give them an opportunity to think outside of their comfort zones by getting inside the stories shared by the contributors of this book. I also felt this book would be a good reference tool for a woman who eagerly wants to join a partner in doing some long-distance cruising (or she might be interested in a solo trip) but just wants to do some research beforehand. 

I believe this format, from many different perspectives, was the right approach for either group of readers. (It may even provide some understanding for the men who have a great desire to get their women on board.) This is NOT a book on blog/log entries or trip itineraries. The contributors were not required to have completed their trips to submit a chapter for inclusion in the book. Any type (sail or power) female boater with long-distance cruising experience, of any kind, was invited to participate. I asked a large part of the cruising community I knew personally, (a few were referred to me by some of the other contributors) to share their personal experiences on long-distance cruising with those less informed. And share they did!

Long-distance cruising is a life-changing event. I would hate for any potential woman boater to miss an opportunity for this type of adventure due to a lack of information or a fear of the unknown.