Crew panic
- Thread starter snowleopard
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mjcoon
Well-Known Member
Babylon
Well-Known Member
If you don't know by now...
NUTMEG
Well-Known Member
I didn't go below and lock myself in but a few years ago we got caught by a nasty squall. Waves and wind built with astonishing speed from a nice F4 to horrible 'waves breaking over the cockpit' (well nearly) conditions. For a few moments I did feel a surge of panic along the lines of 'how much worse is this going to get' and 'how much can I deal with'. It didn't last long and I reefed, put washboards in, clipped on and sat it out. But I think I understand inexperienced crew going into survival mode and freeking out. In my case it was faith in my boat (Westerly) to deal with much worse conditions that calmed me down and enabled me to master those fleeting surges of panic, but a novice crew would not have understood how seaworthy your average sailing boat really is. Let's face it, as a rule, they do not sink.
Poignard
Well-Known Member
As an old Scots Chief Engineer I once sailed with used to say:
"Onyone who disnae panic, disnae ken what the f--cks going on"
"Onyone who disnae panic, disnae ken what the f--cks going on"
westhinder
Well-Known Member
When I started sailing as a complete novice I found that in difficult circumstances not knowing how the boat would behave led to both seasickness and something close to panic. I remember wanting the experience to stop there and then, which was not possible as we were far from land. My skipper sent me below and told me to lie down and close my eyes.
The attraction of sailing proved stronger than the difficult moments. As I learned to sail and gained confidence my fear and sedasickness disappeared. In the 25 years that have followed I have become a pretty experienced and confident skipper and have never been seasick again.
When I have novice crew I pay special attention that I explain what is happening and why they need not worry when things get a bit rougher.
30boat
N/A
This reminds me of 1993 when we were on the start of the Hong Kong to Manila race on my Peterson 30.My then girlfrend (now divorced...) was lying on the leeward side of the cockpit.We were by far the smallest boat in the fleet and and it was blowing a very nasty Northeast monsoon. When we cleared the lee of HongKong island we suddenly faced huge breaking waves with throughs so deep that the main sheet was threatening to break the traveller such was the shuddering.The boat was behaving more like a submarine and the noise was deafening.My girlfriend was so terrified by all that that she became completely paralysed with terror.We started getting reports on the VHF of broken rudders ,booms and masts all from much larger boats than us so eventually we decided to turn back but not before a few big ones had sailed by us with broken gear heading towards the yacht club .The most amazing thing was that out little boat was behaving perfectly and we were indeed gaining on the rest of the fleet.
My girlfriend was never the same towards the boat and recently she completely gave up on sailing with me.I wonder why...
My girlfriend was never the same towards the boat and recently she completely gave up on sailing with me.I wonder why...
jwilson
Well-Known Member
Twice panic-hide-awayers happened to me, one was supposedly a Yachtmaster (how he passed I don't know). Turned out his 20 years experience was 20 years of the same easy local passages, and never went out in bad weather. We had REALLY bad weather. Other was suffering more from lack of his regular 6-hourly usual alcohol top-up, ended up with the DTs. Neither stayed on the boat after eventually reaching port. The one with the DTs was the more worrying.
A combination of seasickness and the drugs to help it can render people incapable, but I am not classing these as panic-hide-awayers. I used to be totally seasickness-proof, but these days I can feel queasy at times, though I've never actually been sick. I have a lot of sympathy for those who do suffer, and have sailed with some who have gone on to be excellent skippers themselves - one who once spent several days in a bunk with a handy bucket now drives a sailing superyacht - yet can still get sick!
jwilson
Well-Known Member
Was that the China Sea race where the big ex-San Francisco ultralight (Freefire?) started deep-reefed (it reefed in 8 knots of wind to windward anyway) and the mast fell down anyway after about a mile? We blew out both spinnakers the first afternoon.
mjcoon
Well-Known Member
Amazingly, despite my great age I am still learning. Often the same things again and again...
I'd hope we all were!
Mike.
Seashoreman
Well-Known Member
Never heard of this but it is certainly descriptive of a couple of experiences I have had. I spent 18 hours on my feet through German Bight whilst owner just kept shouting up such things as 'add five' 'head for red flashing, etc etc' (it was like Blackpool Illuminations at times). I had one cigar left which was caught in a bow splash after a couple of drags, middle of the night, the Hamlet moment! He was asleep by then, I was alone, his boat. Got into an island early morn, asleep on my feet. He says: want me to take it in? I says: a few rude words. Tied up in a crowded harbour, Germans knocked on hull, 'we are leaving in half hour'. I then told skipper I was fairly tired and would drink a coffee and a few gulps of Brandy, he looked shocked.
I suppose he felt he could depend on me having done a couple of long passages previously. He gave up sailing after a while, not much commitment I thought. I mostly sail alone now and enjoy 'coast hopping'.
Also sailed with another guy who pressed 'auto-pilot' and fell asleep. He sold up and bought a little motor boat on the Broads.
I always find stress and adventure gives me adrenaline and confidence.
Although I suppose Terminal Burrowing syndrome is a possibility for everybody, I have heard.
(Oh dear, I read this to mean dispare/fear/abandonment, sorry in the middle of cooking) I'll get me apron........
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30boat
N/A
There were many withdrawals with several degrees of gear failiure from that race so I don't really remember.If that was in 93 then yes it must have been that particualar South China sea race.The winner was an X50 something.We had done the previous year's race and had great weather all the way.
Deckmonkey
New Member
I had one of those moments last year. Foredeck crew, during the Army Offshore regatta.
One day started nice, turned absolutely rats. Heading up Southampton water and back, there were boats dropping out, one went aground, the RNLI were out all over the place. I was providing ballast, the novice next to me was almost catatonic, I was soaked to the skin, swearing I would never sail again, I honestly thought we were headed for the bottom, Only blind faith in our skipper kept me going!
Took nearly 15 mins in the shower to warm up. And we went out again as normal next day.
One thing it proved to me was that a Vic 34 will take a lot of abuse!
One day started nice, turned absolutely rats. Heading up Southampton water and back, there were boats dropping out, one went aground, the RNLI were out all over the place. I was providing ballast, the novice next to me was almost catatonic, I was soaked to the skin, swearing I would never sail again, I honestly thought we were headed for the bottom, Only blind faith in our skipper kept me going!
Took nearly 15 mins in the shower to warm up. And we went out again as normal next day.
One thing it proved to me was that a Vic 34 will take a lot of abuse!
caiman
Well-Known Member
I 'host' a lot of visits around our local Lifeboat Station and one of the more common questions is-
"Do you ever get scared when you are out on a shout?"
My answer is-
"If you ever ask a Lifeboatman/woman if they ever get scared on a shout and they answer "No",it is because of one of three reasons.
a/They are a Liar.
b/They are a Fool.
or
C/They havn't been doing it long enough yet"
When I give this answer,adults on the visit tend to go quiet and nod.Kids on the visit look shocked.
Cheers
"Do you ever get scared when you are out on a shout?"
My answer is-
"If you ever ask a Lifeboatman/woman if they ever get scared on a shout and they answer "No",it is because of one of three reasons.
a/They are a Liar.
b/They are a Fool.
or
C/They havn't been doing it long enough yet"
When I give this answer,adults on the visit tend to go quiet and nod.Kids on the visit look shocked.
Cheers
Hipchick
Well-Known Member
I have retrospective panics. As I learn more I look back at some of the stupid things I've done and go all sweaty.
Neil
Well-Known Member
Had a novice out with me last summer for a short week, with some episodes of lively weather. He panicked a bit but not terminal - but a couple of times he kept saying, "shall we drop the sails and use the engine now?", "Shall we use the engine now?", "Do you think we should just motor it now?"
I've never been too far from land, in anything really horrible, but so far I've found I could trust the boat...
I've never been too far from land, in anything really horrible, but so far I've found I could trust the boat...
30boat
N/A
Two years ago I was entering the Tavira bar in a quite respectable Levanter swell.I pondered wether or not to go in but the next harbour was a good two hours away and the crew (wife and son) were tired.So we went for it.It was all good until I heard a swoosh noise behind me and this big breaking wave picked us up and
turned the boat straight for the rocks.I had the engine running which probably saved us because the boat responded to the helm and straightned up with a sharp push of the tiller.I acted as if nothing had happened but my legs were shaking for a good half hour afterwards.Never again!
bbg
Well-Known Member
Only ever seen it happen once. Solo race. Crew wouldn't come out of his bunk for three days. Skipper was livid, the tactician blamed the navigator and the cook went on strike. It all went downhill after that.
laika
Well-Known Member
I was mate on a delivery once where a member of the crew lost the plot when it came time to put in the 3rd reef beating into what turned into a full gale round finisterre. It was november, night, the guy hadn't got decent boots so his feet were wet and he'd been suffering from seasickness since we started out. After that he wouldn't participate in the sailing or eat with us until we dropped him off in cascais a few days later: just sat in the saloon with his rosary praying. He'd been super-keen at the start of the trip, but I don't think he'd been offshore before.
I suggest that the nutters are not the ones who freak out under those conditions, but the ones who don't. I'm excused from that categorisation for complicated nihilism-related reasons.
I suggest that the nutters are not the ones who freak out under those conditions, but the ones who don't. I'm excused from that categorisation for complicated nihilism-related reasons.
onesea
Well-Known Member
Faced by this one I tell a beginner the truth the motion will only get worse. I normally try and find opportunity to demon straight, they designed to sail not motor.
As for panicking, afloat. I am not going to say there are no circumstances where I will not panic. Some times it takes the smallest thing to get that grain of worry, you reef early sail more cautious... Other times you can go through concerning times and think that was fun!
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