waving

[Troy Scott]

I usually wave, especially if the other boat is especially tacky. Like a ridiculously large and glossy power yacht or a glitzy new sailboat obviously being operated by someone who can afford it but shouldn't..... Those folks are usually very self-conscious already, and waving at them gives them a test. Sometimes they pass, sometimes they fail. The guys sailing old, well cared-for classic boats ALWAYS wave.

[winthrop fisher]

i find ever way i go its different,

here on the lakes all the sailors wave and they talk on the radio allot.

in the north west coast ever one waves or talks on the radio.

two years ago in southern ca, i find allot of the small boat sailors wave and talk on the radio allot as well.

but, when i got to hilo, ha they don't wave much, but they are very friendly around docks.

but those larger sail boats they don't at all, its different now then when i was living there in the 70's.

where in clear lake texas ever one waves and they stay off the radio,

but in clear lake i had some one pull up and throw me a beer,

in clear water florida ever year i go their and they wave very little and never talk to you unless you are in the marina or in one of the many clubs.

we go to south of portland ma, ever other year and ever one talks or waves to you ever where around their.

i think if the people in the marina are friendly then they will be on the water,

but, allot of people go out sailing to be alone.
just my two cent.....
winthrop

[Ron M.]

I wave, and 98% of the time get one back, from fishermen as well.
Len I do recall, when I was younger and drove an MGB, other British car drivers would always acknowledge you with a wave or toot........but that was the '60's man.
________
EXPERT INSURANCE

[winthrop fisher]

we had two MGB's love those cars, one gold "mine" and the other red "wife car", we had then for eight years.

[Neil Gordon]

Also on my list... I wave to:

Coast Guard
Harbormasters
State Police
Environmental Police
Ferry captains

How about dipping the ensign for a passing warship?

[John Danicic]

I also had a British Racing Green MG but a midget. I think that is where my waving fetish really began. Sunbeam Alpines, Triumphs, Austin's, even Fiat Spiders and Alfa's would all wave. I do remember that those who drove Corvettes never waved. Porsche and Mercedes SLs, I don't remember ever waving.

I now drive a 88 Toyota Camry and find that even across an interstate highway, other hardy owners will wave. Something about a shared experience that draws one to raise their hand in acknowledgment. Let's keep it up.

Sail on

John Danicic
CD36 - Mariah - #124
Lake Superior - The Apostle Islands
CDSOA # 655

[Sea Hunt]

John:

In the late 60s I owned a 1958 TR3 with "scalloped" doors, sky blue frame with red piped interior leather. She was the queen of the roads. I unfortunately had to sell her in 1970 for reasons not here relevant. My girlfriend and I used to go to the outdoor drive-in with a blanket, bread, cheese and wine. Some of the best times I ever had.

In South Florida my experience is that most sailors wave to other sailors spontaneously. With respect to powerboats, if I wave first, they almost always wave back.

In the fine tradition established by our esteemed member Oswego John, I ALWAYS wave at any boat, sail, power, paddle, whatever, that has a pretty girl on board. In South Florida that means I wave at just about every boat I see. Beginning in a few short weeks, the girls will be in bikinis. But I digress. Where was I I seem to have lost my place. Oh well, my mind has wandered off to good times long past and great adventures had. Not a bad place to be these days.

[barfwinkle]

Have you noticed the manner in which Harley riders specifically and motorcycle riders generally greet each other with the lowered left hand fist or open handed wave?

We drive a late model Miata, and last fall I gave the "harley salute" to a fellow Miata and got a return salute. My wife and I had a great laugh.

Fair Winds

[Dixon Hemphill]

In the Chesapeake Bay where I sail most of the time I always wave at sailors in sailboats and they almost always back. I don't wave at powerboaters because I really don't have much in common with a guy who motors around at speeds four times mine who are usually looking straight ahead to be sure they are not going to run into something.

Waving to fellow sailors is a nice thing to do and I sincerely hope it continues for years to come.

[wingreen]

I wave, and 98% of the time get one back, from fishermen as well.
Len I do recall, when I was younger and drove an MGB, other British car drivers would always acknowledge you with a wave or toot........but that was the '60's man.

I had one of those in the 80s, and we were still waving at each other then.

[SurryMark]

[quote="barfwinkle"]Have you noticed the manner in which Harley riders specifically and motorcycle riders generally greet each other with the lowered left hand fist or open handed wave?

We drive a late model Miata, and last fall I gave the "harley salute" to a fellow Miata and got a return salute. My wife and I had a great laugh.
/quote]

I wasn't going to mention motorcycle waving in this forum, but as long as it's on the table . . .

There is that deprecatory wave that Harley riders give. Gold Wing riders (both the ruddy-faced fellow in front and the cheerful lady in back) boom out with that big grin and high hand circular wave thing. When you're on one bike and meet a whole line of bikes it's kind of dopey to wave to every one; that's when it's nice to have a dedicated waver perched behind you. In Europe, where there are lots of motorcycles, I don't think I ever saw a wave. In places where there might be thirteen baskets and a chicken on board, you don't want the rider to take his hands off the bars. But I think this all started with a comment about sailors out of Camden, Maine. Them folks are pretty sophisticated over there. A few miles east, even the lobstermen give a nod.

Anybody know the deep history of this? Ships at sea used to exchange news and position and mail. I wonder if vessels in or near harbors also exchanged greetings. There is that hilarious story that Joshua Slocum told about the funky sailor who hailed a ship off Massachusetts: "Who be you, whither from, whither bound, and how burdened?" demanded the leaky coaster. The answer came back: "Star of India, 63 days out of Calcutta bound for Boston, burdened with spices. Who be you, and how burdened?" The proud sailor said "Nobody and nothing much," and crept away. If anybody has read that book more recently than the sixties, you might correct my recollection.

[chase]

In the Carolinas and Georgia most everyone waves except work boats, crabbers, shrimp boats. Waving can get a little old on busy days on ICW. With a wave, particularly one from the skipper, one knows that they are at least on the other vessels "radar".

I pay attention to everyone I pass riding around the farm, etc. Lots of us wave, especially the farmers and locals, or the ones who can still see anyway. Just a finger, a nod, sometimes a full blown wave to this neighbor or that one. Most of the vehicles I see are on their cell phone or just tuned out to who they are passing, etc. My wife doesn't know or pay attention to who she's passing -- except me -- and just drives when she is driving, but I love that about her.

Waving is a function of community, everyone gets a wave when my hands are free. If some jerk is unsafe I'll avoid collision and issue a securite' if appropriate.

Chase

[Troy Scott]

I had a Fiat 850 Spyder when I was in high school, and when I finished graduate school I bought an MG Midget Special with wire wheels, racing stripes, the works. Unfortunately the whole time I was in University I drove "practical" cars. I taught myself to sail while I owned the Fiat. I would drive across the bay and rent a Dolphin or a Sunfish every chance I got. I waved at everybody.

[doubleb]

Although I am new to sailing I am not new to the waving thing.
Living in central rural Florida everybody waves.
We drive a Jeep. The un-written law (“It’s a Jeep thingâ€

[Leonard Lookner]

I am delighted to have been the instigator of such a lively thread at this dark moment of the winter. So let's wave this thread goodbye now that you have shattered my ego by proving it is the community that I live in, the number of fingers that we wave with, or perhaps the possibility of the bright pink allgrip on my boat. I do think
the answer lies somewhere in this thread and it might just be if I wish to have a reciprocating nod I should wear my Hells Angels colors with the Oakland California hailing port. It would do Sonny proud.