T&T: the wife driving

[Bob Austin]

The reality is that there are some people (men included) who are not
comfortable being a skipper--some of these people cannot ride a bicyle
either....

My mother boated for well over 60 years; my father was a kind and patient man,
yet my mother never would take the helm, nor learn anything about running the
boat.  I doubt if any of the "Woman aboard" type of courses would have made a
bit of difference.    This never stopped her from enjoying the time
aboard--including 3 months a year in Alaska on our Cal 46 when she was over
age 90.

I know of a number of full time cruising couples where the woman does not want
the responsibility of running the boat.  For the most part these folks do not
make offshore passages, but some have lived aboard and cruised for years.   I
also know of some instances where going cruising or boating was the wife's
idea, and the husband didn't really like it--in some cases this was the reason
for the break up of a couple.

I agree 100% that a partner should be able to handle the boat, to dock,
anchor, do some some basic engine maintance, navigate etc. My wife does all of
these with the best, and on at least one occasion has taken the boat, by
herself over 100 miles to get medical help when I was incapicated.  However
this does not mean that every boat partner has to be as enthusiastic as the
primary skipper.  The goal is for the family to enjoy the time on the water
equally, and sometimes sacrifices are made by both men and women to achieve
these goals.  But there are still both men and women single handing by
choice.

Bob Austin