Being a skipper….

[Wansworth]

I recall one night ,it was thick fog in the Gull Way through the Downs off the kent coast,I called the skipper up to the bridge to assess the situation as the buoys just disappeared into the radar clutter.He glanced in the radar but diddnt speak,there was little that could be said.We stood there looking into the fog and I must admit I was relieved he was there to take the responsibility.About ten minutes past and a pilar buoy went racing by……he opened the bridge door and said call me….

 

[MontyMariner]

call me….

Call me what?

 

[Wansworth]

Call me what?

In reference to further doubts i might have

 

[Poignard]

I have been in the RN and the MN so I can, to some extent, compare how things are done in both.

The captain of HMS Gambia, my first ship, had a notice pasted on his in-tray :

"If anything is put in here, someone isn't doing his job."

 

[Hadenough]

I recall one night ,it was thick fog in the Gull Way through the Downs off the kent coast,I called the skipper up to the bridge to assess the situation as the buoys just disappeared into the radar clutter.He glanced in the radar but diddnt speak,there was little that could be said.We stood there looking into the fog and I must admit I was relieved he was there to take the responsibility.About ten minutes past and a pilar buoy went racing by……he opened the bridge door and said call me….

Do you think maybe you should take up golf? Whoops, I suspect you probably have.

 

[Wansworth]

Do you think maybe you should take up golf? Whoops, I suspect you probably have.

My golf carrera was short lived….

 

[KevinV]

Call me what?

Ishmael?

 

[Concerto]

My golf carrera was short lived….

I did not realise VW made a Golf Carrera. Why did you crash it?

 

[Wansworth]

I did not realise VW made a Golf Carrera. Why did you crash it?

Never could spell that word

 

[srm]

I think it was Des Sleighthome who wrote:
"When the skipper runs out of ideas he is no longer the skipper"

 

[rogerthebodger]

I have been in the RN and the MN so I can, to some extent, compare how things are done in both.

The captain of HMS Gambia, my first ship, had a notice pasted on his in-tray :

"If anything is put in here, someone isn't doing his job."

I used to tell my staff "Never bring me a problem without a solation, You are not paid to whine "

 

[Biggles Wader]

Rather begs the question of what is the head honcho for if not to take charge and deal with difficult issues. If the underlings were fully able then they would surely be the head honcho.

 

[Wansworth]

Rather begs the question of what is the head honcho for if not to take charge and deal with difficult issues. If the underlings were fully able then they would surely be the head honcho.

Overall responsibility,carry the can,stopping the buck

 

[johnalison]

The 17thC pirates had it right. If the Cap’n can’t come up with the goods, vote him out and let someone else have a go. The old skipper doesnt walk the plank, he just rejoins the crew. The heads may need cleaning, after all.

 

[Baggywrinkle]

I used to tell my staff "Never bring me a problem without a solation, You are not paid to whine "

That old chestnut, a classic lazy management tactic.

Often, the identification of a problem, and the best solution to it, don't come from the same person - they are two different skill sets, not always found in the same individual. I personally think every team needs a pessamist and a whiner, someone who sees the downside to everything - but they must be an experienced, articulate pessamist - and they need to be balanced out by enthusiastic problem solvers.

Cover all your bases ... it is amusing though when a project hits the wall and the only one who didn't see it coming was the manager, 'cos he told everyone to bring him solutions, not problems - so the team just flounders without any leadership prioritising and addressing the issues.

 

[MontyMariner]

I must admit to having a problem with being a Skipper! I either sail solo or with passengers.
I would initially find it hard to know whether to treat them like passengers and explain every step to them or treat them as totally competent and do things without being told or take over control of the boat if I were to become indisposed.
After having sailed with someone for an hour or so it then becomes more apparent.

 

[Stemar]

The Russians have a saying - trust, but verify. If someone leads me to believe they know what they're doing, I'll let 'em do it, as long as it isn't too critical, but keep an eye on them.

I can think of a couple of times I didn't, because they were experienced sailors. Once we got five blasts from the Gosport ferry because, while he was competent in boat handling, PH was just too busy for him to cope, the other, I told to follow the channel, but he cut a corner, and ended up on the mud, again, in Portsmouth Harbour.

When it's just us, I'm captain and crew, entirely responsible for the boat. Madame is the Admiral. She tells me where we're going

Actually, that's a bit unkind, she helps out as much as she can, and is quite competent, but limited as she is disabled.

 

[capnsensible]

Keep your head when all about are losing theirs.

 

[Fr J Hackett]

I used to sail with two very very good friends either both or individually and it was a large part of our friendship and as such I entertained an open view and boat taking in their views and desires which were largely around destination and on a few occasions should we go or should we stay, nothing really contentious and it was a highly enjoyable and successful arrangement. There was only one occasion where there was a dispute which effectively involved retiring from an offshore race and continuing under engine when the rig had been compromised. My crew and friend desperately wanted to continue to sail but I took the view that the safety of the boat was paramount and turned the key. He retired to his bunk and didn't stir for nearly 36 hours at which point I cleared the air by telling him that he resumed his watch keeping duties and changed his demeanour or I would change course and put him ashore at the closest port, about 150 miles away. It did the trick and normal service was resumed and we remained close friends afterwards until he died a few years ago. As it happened when we eventually arrived at our destination and set about repairing the rig the forestay inside the roller reefing was hanging on by very little of it's original strands of wire.

 

[fisherman]

Captain Tony Starling Lark ( yes, really) was a channel pilot. He told me he was on a ship in the Dover TSS in thick fog, couldn't even see half way for'd, doing fifteen knots.
"You know skipper, we should really slow down"
"Yes, pilot, but I only have a twenty minute slot at Rotterdam, and if I miss it I will not be on this ship and neither will you, ever again"