Etiquette and Sailing

[tazzle]

Yes, I tend to agree with you both. Both courtesies and discourtesies are long remembered. I haven't forgotten the AWB that begged me to vacate the slip and then begged my thickest line to secure their mast as they dried out on the wall to inspect some hull problem and then vanished on the next tide with my line and without a word of thanks. That was, erm, 1988.

It's the sort of mentality exhibited by a much loathed ex-colleague who once announced during one of his interminable self-puffing anecdotes "..and I won that conversation".

Yes, when working in the small friendly yard I use I disconnect from the limited number of power outlets if I'm done for an hour or two and it's busy; I clean my own mess and don't kick it under the neighbouring boat; I'm always ready to lend a brief hand for some job. I've got all the same back. But I've got an unfashionable old plodding boat in an unfashionable old plodding mooring where the selfish greedy people don't come. And where we DO talk to eachother (and, erm, about eachother and eachother's boats) and I would rather the earth opened and swallowed me up than that others should say of me "That Raedwald's a right selfish barsteward"

And since these fora are read by a wide cross section including those self-obsessed bottom-feeders who imagine it's OK to inconvenience the world for their own convenience one word ...Karma.

 

[Stork_III]

NO, No , No.

Its started long ago with MT, sod everyone else get what you can.

 

[Neddie_Seagoon]

And TB learned that lesson very well. /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

Irrespective of the failings of MT and various predecessors from both sides, I think that after the amount of time TB has been in charge he has to take a large share of responsibility for the state of UK society today.
A decade ago at least I could drive through our cities without locking the car doors against carjackers, expect some degree of service from the Police, live in a country where the government had received rather more than a third of the vote etc... Things are still getting worse, and we can't blame it on MT anymore.

Steve

 

[landaftaf]

I agree ...... and to hear after 9 years, some quivering snivelling politician blaming 'the previous gov' for our current problems is not only laughable ........ its fukin pathetic

and that sums up the arseholes in power now -IMO grrr /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[MarkJohnson12345]

Its my experience sailing in the Bristol Channel and the South Coast that most sailors, yacht's and mobo's, are helpful and considerate.

Moored up boats owners are usually ready to help with your lines when you come alongside, etc and usually are ready to move up the pontoon if asked.

There are always the odd exception of course. I get a bit irritated when the noise levels are high at night, but can usually get my own back in the morning.

 

[KREW2]

I blame the lack of etiquette on an over supply of all things, be it golf, sailing, driving, skiing and eating out, and a lot more hobbies that are available to all. Jacks of all sports and masters of none.

 

[chrisD]

Re: Etiquette and Sailing - some more for Room 101?

Don't feel guilty if you have a need to start up at 6:30 and get off. Its over in a minute, and you have a perfectly good reason for doing so. What drives me mad is people running motors in marinas, at Folly, even in Newtown Creek, for hours on end in the evening, just making a low drone. And 3 times in 4 it is, sorry to say, big motor boats that could easily carry a few extra batteries.

 

[WayneS]

I think that a lot of the gripes we have with other boaters are down to a simple lack of communication. In today’s society we do not like to initiate conversation just in case it offends others.

It is so easy to sit on your boat with a glum look because the chaps next to you on a better/worse boat are stuck up and don't want to associate themselves with you. Actually, they are probably of the same opinion.

A simple gesture of getting off your boat to help someone into their berth can get over this and start a conversation, which ends up in a beer, which ends up in another beer, which ends up in swapping phone numbers which ends up in a Raggie waving to the Mobo when they next see each other........

The time when this is not an issue is when the two boats have kids on them because for some bizarre reason the kids do not have hang-ups about the size/type/condition of boat that is next to them.

Yes, you do get the sods that nip down below when you approach the end of a raft to tie up against them. Often they turn out to be decent people if you can get over your hang-ups.

Whew, almost rant mode there. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

Wayne

 

[Tisme]

Re: Etiquette and Sailing - some more for Room 101?

I have never been irritated by somebody leaving early. Invariably they have always been considerate; starting the engine last minute, not shouting, not jumping onto our decks.

I may have been woken by them, but that's to be expected; you know when somebody is doing his best to be considerate and you just roll over and go back to sleep.
If SHMBO wakes we have an argument about who is going to get up and make tea. It's usually me. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[William_H]

Re: Etiquette and Sailing - some more for Room 101?

Boating is an activity that cuts across most spectrumms of the community so we have all sorts of people. The good the bad and the ugly. However the spectrum does tend to lean towards the more affluent. Around here it is a kind of right of passage in making a fortune to buy a big power yacht. Sadly often these are the type and age group who are used to getting everyone else to get out of my way. Certainly they have little tradition of boats and handling. We are in the process of moving to a Recreational Skippers Ticket for virtually any powered boat. It may make some people mor responsible.
The most significant difference here is perhaps that almost all marinas are Yacht Club owned and most boats display Yacht Club membership. Certainly bad behaviour in the club marina is more likely to be reported and passed back to the person concerned. olewill

 

[Bat21]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
attitude. "My money, my boat, I'm important." and came from a, shall we say, less gentlemanly background than you one in which you would expect manners and consideration to be a factor.


[/ QUOTE ]

Spot on, Mister!!

These are beings who have no boating tradition, who got a boat as a status symbol, for the very reasons that you mentioned.

Had they worked their way up, like some of us older ones, from a canoe, through various sizes of dinghy, culminating at a 'dinghy-with-a-lid' <u>before</u> going into serious sizes, then they would know better.

[/ QUOTE ]

The saily boat is the next must have accessory after the X5 Cayenne or Range Rover Sport. I have a collective description for the breed............"BavChav's" /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[DJE]

Re: Etiquette and Sailing - some more for Room 101?

[ QUOTE ]
I have never been irritated by somebody leaving early...

[/ QUOTE ]

Nor me.... No there was just once:- Westerley Owners Association leaving Yarmouth en masse for Cherbourg at 04:00. No problem with them leaving at that time to get the tides and daylight but did they have to run all their engines for 15 minutes and shout across the harbour to their friends before leaving?

 

[cliff]

[ QUOTE ]
I have a collective description for the breed............"BavChav's" /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

[/ QUOTE ]Don't you mean "BavBenJenChavs" /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
--------------------

"Artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity"

 

[RupertW]

[ QUOTE ]
Yes, you do get the sods that nip down below when you approach the end of a raft to tie up against them.

[/ QUOTE ]

Interesting one there. I think most of us try to act with others the way we wished that others would act with us.

For me the most disruptive thing by far is "helpers" on pontoons who manage to stand exactly where I'd want to get off and will, without fail tie (or fail to tie) ropes to a different cleat to the one I was intending. I try to extend the courtesy I'd want by going below if somebody is tieing up nearby and only pop up if they seem to be in some trouble.

Having said that, I do stay on deck if they're rafting alongside but drop back once they're stopped and attached to allow them to arrange their ropes the way they want.

 

[Anonymous]

I don't agree, I always appreciate a competent hand on the dockside and always offer one if possible. I always ask the skipper/crew what he wants me to do with any line offered though mostly the crew are clueless so I just do the best I can. I seldom pass the line back to them (unless they ask me to) as they usually don't know what to do with it or have anywhere to make it fast!!

 

[RupertW]

I understand exactly where you're coming from and a competent hand would sometimes be very nice to have - but the trouble is you can't really tell what you're going to get. If somebody asks, "Do you want a hand?" then they're probably ok and you have the option of saying "Fine thanks", but it's the ones who run up the finger and stand there gormlessly holding out their hands who make things difficult.

I mean, would you like it if a stranger leant into your car and helped with the wheel or the handbrake as you parked?

I know this comes across as a rant and most people have been genuinely nice and helpful but I'm afraid I see "helpers" like cross-winds and currents - awkward challenges to overcome but far less predictable than the natural challenges.

 

[nightjar]

If I have crew on board, I politely indicate no asistance is needed. You never know what is going to happen once that person gets your mooring line ! Usually takes longer to tie up with help than without. Most however mean well and a thank you for offering always helps.
Several posters have indicated that Thatcher was the start of the problem vis a vis boorish and selfish behaviour which appears to be the answer to every problem we face in Britain today for these people. Are they all closet socialists. MT did make mistakes and she did stay in power too long but she is not responsible for the state of Britain today. If she had not been around in the 80's we would still be listening to Scargill and the likes of red Robbo mouthing off and a country that would be by now the laughing stock of Europe. The current lot are trying hard to undermine the strength of UK PLC and may well succeed if they are allowed to stay in power.

 

[Signed Out]

The mention of parking across 2/3 berths is so similar to the way they are using the yah cars (again, X5, Cayenne, etc) in urban parking, it's all the same attitude.

I really like "Bavchavs", what a great expression! But, blow me down if these last few days, I've found Bavvers to be some of the most friendly out there (along with MOBOs- as ref'd in my snotty post).

Another one I presently HATE, is he (I never go in the ladies) who leaves the shower block loos in a state! They all have a brush and paper, so why do it? The wife isn't going to come in after you like at home.

It's pointless to get into silly bickering over which PM is to blame, they're all crap, the same, and irrelevant- it's the individual in the end. Funny how everyone forgot the sneaky slime that came between MT and TB (just realised how suitable their initials are vacuous and diseased.

Jem

 

[Avocet]

Everyone these days has "rights" but nobody seems to have "responsibilities". Maybe it's politicians, maybe not but the behaviour isn't just confined to the marina, I'm sure we've all seen people using disabled or parent & toddler spaces in supermarkets when they've no need. I even saw one such miscreant expaining him(her?)self on a motoring forum by saying that he(she?) was fed up with "selfish, inconsiderate" people opening their doors and bashing his pride & joy.

Pots & kettles?

 

[Benbow]

I think this example of people doing opposite things in order to be helpful goes a long way to explaining the problem.

When someone is coming alongside, I try to strike a pose that says, I am happy to help if I can but don't let me interfere if you are under control. That is quite challenging given my acting skills and it may be that some people think I am being a miserable s*d and others think I am I am glaring at them daring them to mark my immaculate topsides (I wish!).

I well remember one time when, in a daze, I walked through a gate that had been held open for me by a polite person and I failed to notice them. They commented loudly about rude modern youth and I was grateful for the opportunity to acknowledge my fault and their politeness. Had they said nothing, I would never have known I had upset them and they would have resented me for ever.

So I agree; the solution is communicate, communicate, communicate.