Saving Sailing - The Story of Choices, Families, Time Commitments, and How We Can Create a Better Future [Paperback]

NIcholas D. Hayes (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2009

Saving Sailing is an appealing blueprint for the revival of family sailing -- and other quality uses of free time for rewarding lifelong pastimes.

Participation in sailing is declining in America, down more than 40% since 1997 and 70% since 1979. In this provocative book, researcher and avid sailor Nicholas Hayes explains why. The book shows how pressures on free time have increased, and how, in response, many Americans have turned to extremes of spectator or highly structured activities . . . and away from lifelong, family-based, multi-generational recreation.

Saving Sailing builds a case for choosing how to spend free time better, using it for quality experiences with families and friends through rewarding pastimes like sailing.

The main challenge, the author suggests, is to develop an active system of mentoring, especially between generations.

The lessons are broader than sailing, with useful ideas for all parents, for anyone seeking to strengthen the social fabric of American communities, and for those involved in programming for youth and adult activities.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Why isn't sailing the most irresistible pastime in the world?

Participation in sailing in the United States has declined by about 40% in the last decade. Trying to make sense of that resulted in this book, a fast-moving intellectual voyage that takes readers to some unexpected stops along the way but ends in a place that is familiar and intuitively right.

Nick Hayes guides us to a conclusion that floats on a buoyant platform of instantly recognizable common sense and leaves us wanting to go sailing with friends . . . right now. --Bill Schanen, Editor & Publisher, Sailing Magazine

About the Author

Nick Hayes is a market researcher and partner at the consulting firm FiveTwelve Group, and is active in the Milwaukee sailing scene. He has studied sailing, sailors, and sailing clubs for years, and interviewed over 1,200 sailors worldwide since 2003 for this book.

He lives in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Crickhollow Books (October 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1933987073
• ISBN-13: 978-1933987071
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #197,964 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Reading this will save much more than just sailing, October 17, 2009

By 

John Arndt - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Saving Sailing - The Story of Choices, Families, Time Commitments, and How We Can Create a Better Future (Paperback)

I'm always impressed when a new author puts 'pen to paper'(fingers to keyboard) and puts their own ideas forth in such an engaging and thoughtful read. As a sailor, I've 'met' all the people and heard all the stories Nick discusses but could never have connected all the insights and lessons into such a cohesive argument for change in every individual's and family's approach to sailing and life. Nick connects us to the value of a 'life pastime' with solid data yet told with the open heart of a passionate sailor and story teller. Dedicated sailors will enjoy the read and recognize more about the values sailing offers. However, the lessons taught can be understood and utilized by every family regardless of their personal pastime - fishing, hunting and sailing or 'other'. Certainly an enjoyable and enlightening read.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Compelling, April 21, 2010

By 

Richard Stephens (Ithaca, NY) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Saving Sailing - The Story of Choices, Families, Time Commitments, and How We Can Create a Better Future (Paperback)

My wife, a non-sailor, read this book, and now she has a much better understanding of my passion for sailing. She is keen to sail with me and the kids this summer. Very well written, and a compelling argument. I'm going to read it again, then pass it round to anyone at my club.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Preaches the value of leisure and family, highly recommended, December 11, 2009

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Saving Sailing - The Story of Choices, Families, Time Commitments, and How We Can Create a Better Future (Paperback)

Recreational sailing has been on a down turn in recent years...why? "Saving Sailing: The Story of Choices, Families, Time Commitments, and How we Can Create a Better Future" uses Sailing as a model to discuss the fall of free time in America as a whole, Nicholas D. Hayes encourages readers to value free time as a source of family time and how more involved activities as a family lead to a greater unity. "Saving Sailing" is preaches the value of leisure and family, highly recommended.