Yacht Forum UK

I'm new to yachts and am hoping my girlfriend will take to the life of cruising at the weekend with me... but while I was looking around for a yacht to buy, I noticed a lot of people were selling up "because their partner just wasn't interested".

Decided to run a little poll to see how this issue affects the sailing community in general.

The secret is to not take your wife/girlfriend out in other than perfect conditions ie sunny, calm, daylight, short trip etc. Then build up to longer trips, make sure you explain exactly what you want her to do, don't shout at her, don't frighten her, enroll her on a short sailing course/competent crew or similar.
Get a steady cruiser, not an out and out racer, perhaps a motorsailer to start with, don't be afraid to motor a lot of the time, get her on the helm. Don't insist she does all the 'domestic' tasks, make sure you have a nice toilet compartment. Remember that a lot of people get seasick quickly if sent below while sailing. (my wife does and we use 'a bucket and chuckit' in the cockpit on long trips).

That's some really excellent advice - obvious now you mention it, but hadn't all come to mind. She's a little shy, so unsure about courses (and I'm shy about spending money! ) but I will follow the rest of your advice to the letter. Thank you!

Mine is different, she prefers it rough out there, where I prefer it smooth