My O’Day 22 Sailboat Blog

I believe that stereotypes are wrong. They are based on a small portion of the population and usually is not true for the majority. But sometimes the stereotype holds true when you come across that small cross section. This is what I have found about certain members of the sailing community. Especially within people who run sailing clubs. Having been a member of Marina Sailing for nearly 2 months I have chartered twice and taking one overnight ASA lesson to the Channel Islands. Everyone from my local Marina Sailing office (Channel Islands Harbor) have been very nice but there is one guy who runs the Long Beach office that I’ve talked to a couple of times has been the stereotypical, arrogant sailing A-hole.

I have only met him once before I decided to join the club while looking at their fleet in Long Beach. I don’t even know his name because he doesn’t introduce himself when you meet him in person or when he answers the phone. Every time I talk to him on the phone he speaks in a very condescending tone regardless what we are talking about. He assumes that you don’t know shit and/or are lying unless proven otherwise. If I had not gone to the Channel Islands Office I probably have chosen another club to join because of this guy.

I sort of understand where he comes from since he is constantly dealing with people who are new to sailing. It can be frustrating to do day after day dealing with members and students who are difficult to teach. I have heard many, if not all, sailing instructors go into a rant or two about hard-headed sailing students and their frustrating failures. This guy however is clearly jaded in the business and thinks everyone is stupid and unteachable. He should not be the person in charge of the club in such a busy marina. Maybe that’s just it, he doesn’t have to treat people nicely since there are plenty of business there to go around.

You may now be wondering what exactly has this guy done for me to have such disdain for him. Well, let me tell you a couple things. First time I’ve ever met him, I was in the Long Beach club office inquiring about becoming a member. I wandered about and read literature for close to 10 minutes before he decided to drop what he’s doing to acknowledge my visit. He clearly did not think I fit into the primary club member demographic as I was dressed casually and probably 20 years younger than the average member age. He responded to my questions with just enough info and enthusiasm to where it felt like getting your teeth pulled stone cold sober.

After I joined the club I made numerous phone calls to his office inquiring about the ASA 104 class schedule and it was more of the same. He makes you feel like he’s always got something better he needs to be doing and you are just wasting his time. I am guessing that Marina Sailing would probably do quite a bit more business if this guy was not there. Are there anyone else that have felt this about this man? Does anyone know what his name is what why he is allowed to run this portion of Marina Sailing’s business? As an active member who plan on chartering boats out of the Long Beach area for trips to Catalina Island, it would certainly make my life a lot easier if someone more personable was left in charge instead.

I am currently planning a trip to Catalina out of Long Beach so I have to continue to deal with this A-hole. We’ll see if he eventually warms up or if he just stays a douche bag forever…