We asked sailors to send us their on-the-water “relationship” questions for our new online column, and the questions started rolling in. Here’s the fifth installment:
Dear Stefina,
I am looking for a sailor---please share your wisdom and advice for this shy-of-60 woman who loves to sail in search of a man who shares my passion. From my side of the sailboat, it seems they are all spoken for --- could that be true? Certainly there must be a few sailors in search of a first mate! Please provide some insider tips about the ebb and flow of the Annapolis sailing scene for woman ready to crew for that special sailor!
~Tied up in knots
Dear Knotty Gal,
You have certainly come to the right place... I am known as the sailing matchmaker extraordinaire! While T.S. Elliot said February is the cruelest month, it is also the month of love and what better time to begin looking for a new mate ( or captain ). Some lucky guy awaits your passion for the sea and there is no better time than Valentine's day to begin to set your sails.
Let's plot your course to finding that special sailor:
A great place to start is the free SpinSheet Crew Listing, in the privacy of your home you can peruse the site and then create your own post. The next marker would be the SpinSheet Crew Party, one of my favorite events to kick start the sailing season, (in Hampton March 29, Annapolis April 27, and Solomons May 18), where those with boats are looking for both cruisers and racers. Not to fear if you are not a racer: racers usually welcome all interested crew, even if only for extra rail meat ! I suggest accepting all offers to race, even if the captain is not your "dreamboat," there is the post-race party where social opportunities are abundant; the more sailors you know, the more sailors you'll meet! There are plenty of fish in the sea.
Annapolis is chock full of events that attract sailors. Your next marker ,The Annapolis Maritime Museum (another great site for interesting events to meet like minded sailors) hosts the annual Oyster Roast and Sock Burning in Eastport. This is a fun event for socializing and celebrating the equinox and the start of the sailing season. Attend as many local sailing-themed events as possible, when you do meet Captain Right , you'll have lots of good conversation.
To try another tack, consider volunteering for a charitable event such as the Leukemia Cup, the Hospice Cup, or the Boatyard Bar & Grill Regatta for Chesapeake Region Accessible Boating (CRAB) and you'll be meeting more like minded folk. My guess is you'll be head over "heels" before you know it.
To ensure that you are meeting only truly single captains, there's no place better than Singles on Sailboats. Check them out. SpinSheet also posts monthly news from clubs welcoming new members.
So, Knotty Gal, since you are already an experienced sailor, my guess is that you'll be in high demand and flooded with invitations... Who knows, perhaps by next Valentines Day you will be the one tying the knot.
~Stefina
P.S. Check back for my next post on sailing fashion do's and don't's
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We know how romantic relationships–and even friendships–can get a little weird on the water...
Stefina is a licensed social worker who would like to answer your questions, in the same style as a sort of Sailing Dear Abby or in the same vein as the New York Times Social Q’s.
Send us a few onboard challenges you are facing with your first mate (or bestie), and we’ll let our columnist dish out some advice… Send questions to [email protected]
