((Edit: see The Interview With A Cruiser Project for more details))
I would love some help.
I'm starting a new project and I am generating a list of question that armchair sailors and cruisers-in-training-or-in-preparation would like to have answered by experienced cruisers.
By experienced cruisers I mean people who have been cruising outside of Canada and the US for more than 2 years full-time.
The questions would be simple, one line, and open-ended (not yes-no questions). The same questions would be asked of multiple cruisers.
If someone else were going to do the legwork for you, what questions would you want to have answered?
Here are a couple:
ReplyDeleteWhat piece(s) of gear would you leave on the dock next time? Why?
Which spares do you wish you had more of? Less of?
And one more:
ReplyDeleteWhen you are offshore, what keeps you awake at night (that is, what worries you most)?
Boat selection: with hindsight, what are the boat selection criteria you would use to purchase a boat for long term cruising ?
ReplyDeleteX
Thanks Bob and X - I've added them.
ReplyDeleteSo far I have:
What (if anything) do you wish someone had told you before you started cruising?
Is there something you wish you had bought or installed before starting cruising?
Is there a place you visited wish you could have stayed longer?
Tell me your favorite thing about your boat
Tell me your least favorite thing about your boat
How often have you faced bad weather in your cruising? How bad?
What is your most common sail combination on passage?
What piece of gear seems to break the most often?
What do you enjoy about cruising that you didn't expect to enjoy?
What do you dislike about cruising that suprised you?
What question should I be asking other cruisers besides the ones I've asked you and how would you answer it?
Which spares do you wish you had more of? Less of?
What piece(s) of gear would you leave on the dock next time? Why?
When you are offshore, what keeps you awake at night (that is, what worries you most)?
Can you think of a sailing tip (e.g., sail trim, sail combination) specific to offshore passages (e.g., related to swells)?
Over the time that you have been cruising, has the world of cruising changed?
What is something that you looked forward to about cruising when you were dreaming, that is as good or even better than imagined?
What is something that you were dreading about cruising when you were dreaming, that is as bad or worse than imagined?
Is there something from your land life that you brought cruising and feel silly about bringing now?
Is there something from your land life that you weren't sure about bringing and are very happy about having brought now?
Do friends visit and how often?
Do you have advice for having visitors?
What is your favorite piece of boating related new technology?
How much does cruising cost?
Is there anywhere you sailed to that was a disappointment?
When have you felt most in danger and what was the source?
Share a piece of cruising etiquette
What do you miss about living on land?
What do you do about mail?
How did you (or did you) gain offshore experience prior to leaving?
What type of watch schedule do you normally use while offshore?
Describe your first sailing experience
Why did you decide to cruise?
Describe a "typical day" at anchor on your boat
Describe a "typical day" on passage on your boat
What are your impressions of the cruising community?
How would you recommend that someone prepares to cruise?
Describe a positive experience you have had with local people somewhere you have visited?
Describe a negative experience you have had with local people somewhere you have visited?
Have you found "trade goods" to be useful on your cruise? If so, what kinds?
With the benefit of hindsight, what are the boat selection criteria you would use to purchase a boat for long term cruising ?
Excellent questions and excellent project, Livia!
ReplyDelete@Mike - Thanks and would love to have any questions you would like to see added if you think of any.
ReplyDelete