Triton survey: When you travel, do you send postcards?

Oct 31, 2014 by Dorie Cox

CHECKING THE TIDE: When you travel, do you send postcards back?
In this speedy age of Internet and electronic communication, we wondered if yachties today ever put pen to paper anymore. With all the spectacular places yachts go, friends and family would surely be interested in postcards, but only one of the crew we spoke with yesterday actually writes and sends postcards.
A few others use apps that will print and mail postcards made from their photos and words, but those aren’t handwritten, so we didn’t count them in the “yes” category. Either way, speaking as a land-locked person, it’s always nice to get mail.

: Chef Virginia Southgate M/Y Playpen 85’ Westport I use the app on my phone — Postagram. I used to collect them, but I never sent them. It’s a pain to find stamps.

: Chef Victoria Allman M/Y Cocoa Bean 242’ Trinity Yes, but only because I have nieces. They are young enough that they still love them. That will stop in a couple years. In the beginning, 15 years ago, yes, I sent them all the time. Now, only to my nieces.

: Stew Christine Hutchins M/Y A’ Salute’ 108’ Westship No. If I’m going to go through the hassle of getting postage, I’m just going to send a gift.

: First Mate Piers Fleming M/Y Instant Gratification 130’ Westport No, I use social media. It’s just so easy to send pictures. I do it almost daily. Although I do like the idea of sending postcards, to go old school with writing.

: Capt. Kelly Esser M/Y Cheers 46 140’ Benetti No, because I have very poor handwriting. I communicate with Face Time (a video conference app). I hang my iPad over the side when sharks go by.

: Deckhand Steve Conte M/Y Abbracci 155’ Christensen No. I’m normally stuck onboard with guests. If we were in port, I wouldn’t even know where to send mail from. Besides, I’m too busy washing it [the boat] down when we get there.

: 2d Stew Elaine Cameron M/Y Chevy Toy 142’ Trinity Always, to my family, my grandad. Well, I use an app on my phone (TouchNote) where you take a picture, write something, and they print and mail it for you. It’s kind of cheating.

: Capt. Vareek Breaden M/Y Namoh 125’ Cheoy Lee No. It seems so antiquated in this day and age, to be honest. I did it when I first got into the industry 20 years ago, but now it’s texts and phone calls.