What to look for..........
We've lived in the Caribbean for 100 days. We're hardly experts, but after this much time sailing around, you do develop stereotypes..................which I think are good. After all, getting to know everyone would be completely exhausting. Why not create nice rules and cubby-holes in which to put people based on largely superficial information ?
So here goes..........
The French- largely jacked-up old boats with obvious existential flaws.........broken rigging, torn sails, etc. Probably good wine aboard..........some diver will retrieve it off the bottom in a few years.
The Brits- wow. The spirit of Sir Edmund Hillary lives. They go off sailing in small, small boats. How small ? We saw these two 20 somethings that crossed the pond in a 28 foot boat with a 1930s outboard.
The Germans- just what you think.........eclectic boats that are well organized and unisex......i.e. 10 guys packed into a 40 ft boat.
The Dutch- you'll think I'm making this up but we've anchored half a dozen times right down wind and.....you guessed it.............they're doing a lot of weed. No kidding. Probably why the Martinique Coast Guard seems to stay close to all Dutch boats.
Americans- sorry.......not a fan (neither of us). Bunch of know it alls, as we've stated in our earlier posts.
Mexicans- not kidding. We've seen two Mexican boats so far. Stayed way clear. Why? Who has money in Mexico? Kidnappers, druglords, and others you don't want to know. Have not even gotten close enough to use my 8 years of pre-college spanish......."como esta, man".
Russians- Hey, if you are in that bachelor party mood, then Russians are your best friends. Naked girls, guys vomiting (probably from looking at each other in their tiny speedos - and the ten bottles of vodka)......partying all night long (literally all night). But, bad sailors and you can't communicate with them.
Asians- just kidding. Haven't met a single Asian sailor. No idea why, but there's a funny ethnic quip there waiting for a good comedian.
OK......being an ambassador of good will for the USA, I'll stay out of characterizations of sailors from Africa, the Middle East, the Indian Subcontinent, Southeast Asia, and the Arctic Circle (having met no sailors from these regions either. Oh........love the Finns...........LOVE THEM.
Peace, Out.
So here goes..........
The French- largely jacked-up old boats with obvious existential flaws.........broken rigging, torn sails, etc. Probably good wine aboard..........some diver will retrieve it off the bottom in a few years.
The Brits- wow. The spirit of Sir Edmund Hillary lives. They go off sailing in small, small boats. How small ? We saw these two 20 somethings that crossed the pond in a 28 foot boat with a 1930s outboard.
The Germans- just what you think.........eclectic boats that are well organized and unisex......i.e. 10 guys packed into a 40 ft boat.
The Dutch- you'll think I'm making this up but we've anchored half a dozen times right down wind and.....you guessed it.............they're doing a lot of weed. No kidding. Probably why the Martinique Coast Guard seems to stay close to all Dutch boats.
Americans- sorry.......not a fan (neither of us). Bunch of know it alls, as we've stated in our earlier posts.
Mexicans- not kidding. We've seen two Mexican boats so far. Stayed way clear. Why? Who has money in Mexico? Kidnappers, druglords, and others you don't want to know. Have not even gotten close enough to use my 8 years of pre-college spanish......."como esta, man".
Russians- Hey, if you are in that bachelor party mood, then Russians are your best friends. Naked girls, guys vomiting (probably from looking at each other in their tiny speedos - and the ten bottles of vodka)......partying all night long (literally all night). But, bad sailors and you can't communicate with them.
Asians- just kidding. Haven't met a single Asian sailor. No idea why, but there's a funny ethnic quip there waiting for a good comedian.
OK......being an ambassador of good will for the USA, I'll stay out of characterizations of sailors from Africa, the Middle East, the Indian Subcontinent, Southeast Asia, and the Arctic Circle (having met no sailors from these regions either. Oh........love the Finns...........LOVE THEM.
Peace, Out.