At long last...the first kilt experience

**Alan H** · 27th January 05, 12:14 AM

Well, my properly sized Stillwater Black Watch arrived today. I tried it on...it fit well, so I put on the belt and the sporran and the boots, loaded my wallet, keys and cell phone into the sporran and headed for the first meeting of the year for my sailing society.

Now, most of my groups meetings have 40-50 people at it, but this is the 2nd biggest race of the year on San Francisco Bay. Instead of the yacht club having a relatively small group of guys in it, most of which I know well, this meeting always has a couple hundred people show up. This year was no exception.

Well, I walked into the Club about 6:30...the meeting starts at 7:00. Folks are expecting me to help out at the registration desk, and most of the Club officers and race committee are there. I know all these guys. The first comment was "OK, now I'm scared" from my friend Bill...which drew a laugh. Rui the sailmaker had to ask what was under the kilt, so I told him the standard line "I'm not wearing anything under this kilt but lipstick", which drew raised eyebrows and a laugh.

The RIO, Don just seized on the subject and went on and on about how he had rented kilts for a big family gathering at the Ahwahnee Hotel (old, old hotel, very nice in Yosemite National Park). Our Commodore is a MacFarlane, and I know he was interested because he's talking about getting hitched to his girlfriend of 16 years, and he thinks wearing a kilt for the ceremony would be great. He thought my thick, sunlessly-white legs sticking out from under the kilt were kind of funny....which I have to admit, they are.

Anyway, I spent most of the meeting sitting down, checking applications and emergency contact phone numbers of racers. However, before and after the meeting I spent a lot of time hanging out with sailing mates, drinking coffee and talking about all the stuff that sailors talk about. Besides the expected question "So what made you wear a skirt?" (he knows full well it's a kilt) nobody really paid much attention.

I'm sure a few of the guys think I'm a bit nuts, but them's the breaks. It was fun! I already have a reputation for being unconventional, since I'm the first North American monohull sailor to adopt this new sail technology...http://www.kiteship.com

Next up, kilted at work. Hmmmmm.... tomorrow might be a good day...

**Aaron** · 27th January 05, 02:05 AM

Congratulations on your first kilted outing Alan! It sounds like you had fun.

I have to admit I'm a little jealous. Not only do you have sailing year round (I can only sail in the warmer months when the lakes aren't frozen) but I'm still waiting on my first kilt as well.

**caig** · 27th January 05, 02:30 AM

Well done Alan. Its good to see another Alan being adventurous !

**Big Paul** · 27th January 05, 04:38 AM

Very good! I can't wait for my first kilted outing!

**Casey** · 27th January 05, 05:39 AM

Alan,

It's great to se that you sailed right through your first outing. You will enjoy it even more as you gain a comfort level.

Casey

**bubba** · 27th January 05, 08:47 AM

Alan, sounds like you had a great time. After awhile you'll get very few comments on the kilt anymore from anyone of your aquaintance. They'll just take the kilt for granted as they get used to it. I've been wearing kilts exclusively since March of last year and I rarely hear any mention of it anymore. It's become a normal thing around here even though I'm the only one that wears them.

**Freelander Sporrano** · 27th January 05, 09:26 AM

Firstly Congrats with the new kilt

Sound like you have a whole lot of fun in front of you

Aren't kilts just great

**GMan** · 27th January 05, 03:48 PM

Alan,

CONGRATULATIONS

It sounds as if you had a wonderful time, having a natural kilted day

**Phil Wright** · 27th January 05, 03:53 PM

Well done on taking the plunge - though hopefully not at the same time as the boating

I too have just had my first few forays into going out kilted. I had a great day on Tuesday as I went to work in my kilt under the pretext of Burns night.I guess my confidence was not quite up to full at that point. The school staff 'dared' me after the Christmas dinner opener. I have to say that a full day of wear has now shifted me from 'novelty' to 'comfy'. What I found really reassuring was the number of comments from the kids at school who wanted to know more about it, and the traditions. It became known as my 'manskirt' - which I personally do not have a problem with. I also got a lot of positive comments from parents and the lunchtime supervisors who decided I had the figure for it

Here's to cultural diversity. Carry on enjoying...
Phil

**Riverkilt** · 27th January 05, 11:19 PM

Good Show Alan,

Visions of you hard at work aboard a sailboat wearing a white UK Workman's, festooned with marlinspikes, and a white Navy jumper....

Ron...a survivor of Sea Cadets AND NROTC...