Bad things happen in 3's or is that 4's?

SteveE

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Bad things happen in 3\'s or is that 4\'s?

Having decided to have a nice weekend on the Solent and meet with Nick and Joanne on Saturday evening in Hythe, SHMBO and daughter set of for Port Solent Friday night, stayed on boat with intention to start early Saturday morning (all going well at this point). Wake early check oil and strainers and clear PS Lock in good time, get half way down to Portsmouth entrance and coolant warning light starts screaming at me on fly bridge (why is there no engine temperature gauges on fly bridge!!!!!) PANICK turn off starboard engine run down stairs and try to lift engine cover (lesson learnt on F33 DO NOT STORE FENDERS UNDER COCKPIT SEAT) water OK let engine cool down start again and 10 mins later and 10 mins after that scream of coolant level warning buzzer. Decide to return to PS (Should have sent the forms of Nick had sent to me by seastart!!!!!) and called RYB (Sealine agent who sold us the boat) after very helpful advice from Richard MD we realised im a twat and did not secure starboard side strainer properly!!!! Restart engine and after 15 mins all well.

Head of to Lymington and fully booked, cannot get a mooring anywhere, head over to Yarmouth and raggie meeting expecting 60 yachts so no space at the in, helpful harbor master says “why not moor up on a buoy?” tried this on Day Skipper Practical did OK no worries!!!! Found a buoy SHMBO at front with boat hook and in position….. forgot to take 2.5 knots of tide into consideration and now having chat with new found raggie friend who has this bow hand rails entangled with mine plus I am now looking down from my flybridge at his sorry looking front navigation light floating away with my boat hook at 2.5 knots….

We head off at speed to the delight of a flotilla of raggies thinking skinkie twat that’s going to cost him… we anchor of Yarmouth have nice time sunbathing and then head off to Hythe to see Nick and Joanne. Get to Hyth greeted by Nick and Emily, enter the lowest lock I have ever been in, felt like a coffin and Nick and Emily aboard to show us to mooring, we get to said place, raggie incident still fresh in mind, complete mental block and next thing I know 10`` gash in gellcoat!!!! Moor boat on to “Cast Off” and lots of beers, have a great dinner freshly prepared by Nick although Joanne took all the credit and a good night had by all.

Next day went without incident, except for me telling the guy rafted next to Nick and Joanne to make sure they have muddy feet on their dog and while you are at it get some ice cream to drip on his deck…. Back home and thinking bad luck over with, drive to work Monday reverse in to concrete pole in office car park that has been there 3 years and 1700 pounds worth of damage to new Merc… I love boats and cars….


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Re: Holy hell!

Mind you, this has definitely built up your experience. I expect that by now you are a total expert at writing cheques and know your credit card details off by heart!

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Re: Holy hell!

But is it not possible to be experinced without making mistakes? /forums/images/icons/laugh.gif

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Moose
 
Re: Bad things happen in 3\'s or is that 4\'s?

Sounds like a day I had once. Wrote down all the details in the log so I could re-live the pain and embarrassment to stop me getting complacent.

<hr width=100% size=1>Jerbro
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Click here for <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.btinternet.com/~jerbro> My ex-boat pics</A>
 
Re: Experience without mistakes

I would like to say yes. But the answer is no

Ou experience in most other walks oflife indicates that it is tougher to acquire experience without making mistakes - and then through self-motivation or external forces to correct them. So, people who know how to talk have been constantly corrected by parents, F1 racing drivers spin off before finding the limit of tyre adhesion and all points between. Of course, the problem is that for certain activities mistakes are not possible, hence a very gradual buildup to a moon landing, frexample. However, with moonlandings, racing cars, or even learing a languge, he commonality is that we learn from mistakes as far as we can afford and allow.

However, knowledge of how a plane, or a boat, or a car should be built has (sadly) leapt forward after a spate of accidents. Likewise, safety at sea isn't something that dreamed up - it's the result of countless fatal accidents. A balance must be struck between learning from acceoptable mistakes (and since he can afford them, its acceptable) and causing unacceptable damage/harm to others and himself.

I do hope, as do you, that he is striking that balamce, and imagaine tht he has coloured some of his exploits for our amusement - and as part of his resolve to avoid the same again!

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Re: Experience without mistakes

Having had the good fortune to own cars capable of speeds over 180mph and a boat that can be driven at over 30 knots in inexperienced hands in a very busy Solent, I would like to think that I take my safety (and more importantly my families) and others very seriously.... The experiances whilst costly was a refreshing view of what can happen (at low speeds) if one takes ones circumstances for granted... I now see the funny side of a costly 3 days, no one was close to being hurt and more important I now feel at one with my bank manager...

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Re: Bad things happen in 3\'s or is that 4\'s?

Hang on Steve you forgot about the particularly friendly?!? ice cream lady at Bucklers Hard who stopped serving the big queue of customers to tell you not to sit on her chair and removed it forcably from underneath you.

And also what about the raggie who shouted at you to get out of his way when you were leaving the Beaulieu River? (Even though we who were in front of you and were on exactly the same course and did not get yelled at).

Thanks for a great weekend and a really funny but sadly true post.

Did Georgia recount it all in her 'Weekend News' at school on Monday?

Joanne

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