Stroll around any marina and you will soon spot the classic sailing characters: the old fanatic, patiently restoring a wood shell to its smooth former self the devoted racer, tweaking his stripped out, cutting edge craft or even tanned BMW guy, who turns up on sunny weekends to take his most recent lady out for a spin in his souped-up energy boat.

Move to the bar, and you’ll find them easily. The old hand, scruffed down, ready for that all important anti-fouling job. The smart executive, shades in hand, leading an enthusiastic team-creating session. Or the sun-bleached college student, clean from his gap yr invested taking boats down to the Med.

But what about the rest? What about the unsung sailors? What about those resigned individuals who, worn down after many years of hints, huffs and sweet-speaking, finally utter the fateful words: ‘Oh, for God’s sake, alright then!’

In much less time than it takes to hoist a mainsail, these women (for they are generally women) find themselves huddled nervously on the deck of a boat, attempting to come to terms with the reality that yachts are supposed to tip more than, and that this is good factor.

There are a surprising quantity of these reluctant sailors. Most, like me, would prefer by no means to set foot on a boat but, driven by the require to see their sailing-mad partners on at least 1 weekend out of twenty, sometimes venture out onto the water.

In my case, my ‘Reluctant Sailor’ status comes largely down to a fear of venturing into an alien environment, exactly where I am not in manage.

I do not like not becoming in manage. When a yacht suggestions more than, I want to know that it ? that I! ? can do some thing to right it. When we are picking our way via a narrow channel, I want to know how to steer clear of hitting unseen rocks or other boats, and when my children are sitting on deck, I want to know how to rescue them if they fall into the water.

Education is the key and sadly this means that I, as the terrified new proprietor of a yacht, now face the prospect of learning to sail, so that I am not frightened of sailing.

But my reluctance stems not only from fear. There are numerous other reasons why I have no curiosity in sailing. It is cold. It is wet. It is generally raining, and uncomfortable. Be honest now. How numerous good nights’ rest have you ever had on a yacht?

And sure, whilst there are around 3 days out of every yr when weather, location and company combine to make sailing a blissful experience, does that truly make up for the other 362 days when it is not?

My husband thinks it does. And so, 9 many years after we exchanged our dinghy for a baby and a pair of patio doors, I have finally relented. We have purchased a yacht.

He is happy. The children are happy. And I?. I have come up with some ground guidelines to keep me happy?

Helen MacKenzie is a freelance writer. She contributes to the internet site at http://www.sea-dreamer.com. The Sea Dreamer internet site has articles, guides and news on sailing and cruising on the West Coast of Scotland.