Bluffers Guide to Rag n Stick

[wakeup]

Help? I am going on a 40ft hunter raggie tomorrow with my colleauges as part of a corporate day out.

I don't know any of the raggie terms and I will stand out like a sore thumb.

Can anyone give me a couple of terms to drop into conversation so I don't get smoked out as a stinkie?


yada yada..

 

[Forbsie]

Ask the skipper when he's going to gybe the baggywrinkle. <G>

 

[tome]

All the Hunters I've seen have self-tacking jibs (unusual feature). have a look for a curved slide across the foredeck ahead of the mast - if it's got one you can drop in something like "that self-tacking jib must make life easy".

Then look out for a pair of lines (known as jack-stays) running along the deck from fore to aft - these are for clipping harnesses on in rough weather. If it hasn't got them tut-tut, if it has ask him when they were last load tested.

Finally, look for deck cleats amidships. Hunters aren't very good at fitting them and it'll really get under the skippers nose if you point out this omission.

 

[Jeremy_W]

"Slam Dunk" is pretty useful, and ill-defined, jargon among the competitive types.
"Frapping" as used by the cruising crowd has two, exactly opposite, meanings so is good for spreading confusion.

 

[Medskipper]

Ask him if he can use the genoa today or is it too windy (most are scared stiff of the genoa if its blowing well!) its the big flappy sail at the front!

You could say that you love doing a bit of "goose winging" thats when they set a sail out to port and one to starboard. It keeps the boat bolt upright and is very comfortable.

Course you could ask him "when are we going to get our ears wet!!" Thats when they heal the bloody thing right over and the gunnel runs in the water!

You could ask if its a bilge keel or a fin keel! Sounds intelligent?

Just a word of warning! dont ask him if it planes!!!!

Barry



I just want to retire with my boat to the Med!

 

[DavidP]

Hi,
Heres one
Ahoy Stinkey come closer and faster ,i love the wash you create LOL
How do i keep my coffee on the table at 10 knotts ,are we going to capsise at this angle.
Hope this helps ,they will never suss you out
Dave

 

[ccscott49]

You could use "bring er' into the wind a hairsbredth! blast yer' eyes" or "fetch me my ale and my woman!" or " theres wrinkles in me' mainsail! I'll put up with wrinkles in me woman, but not me main!!!" They'll hide in the cabin, wondering what you're going to say next!

 

[wakeup]

THANKS EVERYBODY, I NOW FEEL CONFIDENT TO GO OUT THERE TODAY AND BLUFF TO MY HEARTS CONTENT.

I'll report back tomorrow to let you know which were the 'killer' phrases.



yada yada..

 

[stewart]

Conplete list of terms

Here's all you need to know to get by as a raggie:

"b******s" - motor boat type
"tacking" - the process of cutting across in front of a motor boat without warning bearing down on you at 30knots
"tomorrow" - estimated arrival time for a 10 mile round trip but only if the wind is in the right direction otherwise it could be next week
"flat out" - the process of moving along at 3 knots (better known as "tickover" to motor boat types)
"Sunseeker" - the model boat which is ritually burnt before departing
"boom" - the big bit of metal which just nearly took your head off
"rules of the road/sea" - fantasy novel to be ignored completely at all times
"saltwater" - the stuff that runs through your viens because you're a "real" sailor
"superiority complex" - the outcome of the briefing all raggies have to have before setting to sail when those who don't use sail are encountered
"4 minutes" - the amount of time you'll have at your destination before having to turn round and come back if you want to make it before the pub shuts.



Things not to ask or say:

"Are we nearly there yet?"
"How many HP do the engines have?"
"where's the other engine?"
"where are the drink holders?"
"where's the ice maker?"
"the cushions seem to be missing from the front sun bed"
"why have we been using the engine all day and not the sails?" - particularly relevant for those raggies in the med who never ever raise their sails
"Where shall we anchor for lunch?" - you'll only just have got about a mile from the marina and will have to make do with sandwiches
"It warm today, shall we put the aircon on downstairs?"

 

[AndyT]

Just point to a nearby motorboat and cry "BLOODY MOTORBOATS" that normally
works for me. You will suddenly have the rest of the crew on your side

 

[sailbadthesinner]

De-spank the clankers don't ask just say you think it should be done

If it has a wooden pole where the wheel should be donot point this out. You should be safe on 40ft.

Do not ask when they are going to get the spinny up.
And donot point out that only your first beer was cold. We sailors like only the first four beers from the fridge to be cold all others are just cold enough on the outside to fool you that the beer on the inside is not warm.

you will be fine, just leave the captain's hat at home and wear a rugby shirt

...It was like that when i found it!

 

[peterb]

Just don't talk about 40ft Hunters. In this country the biggest Hunter is 32 ft (made by Hunter Boats). The one you're talking about is sold here as a Legend, originally made and sold as a Hunter in the USA. Talking about a 40ft Hunter is a dead giveaway.