Etiquette and Sailing

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nightjar

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My perception is that some of the sailing community are totally lacking in manners and show no consideration for others who have to share facilities in harbours and marinas. The posting on dinghy painters is spot on and the actions of the ignorant and selfish make life a misery for others.
Examples of ignorant behaviour are non return of trolleys to the pier head...several people in our marina think nothing of keeping a trolley on the pontoon from Friday night to Sunday evening; do these morons never engage their tiny brains ? Others will take the hosepipe to fill tanks or wash their boats and then forget to use it opting for a spot of sun bathing instead. Should you be bold enough to politely inquire if they are actually using the hose, standby for some abuse....women being the most agressive. Have also noticed a new trend in the handling of hosepipes. Our marina has very long hoses that are coiled around a metal stand/ bracket. Why would anyone see the need to remove 150 ' of hose and dump it on the pontoon and then pull the end a few feet to the water filler. Do they ever put it back properly...you must be joking ! Is it me ? Is it ignorance or are we now totally self centered and selfish ? Personally I blame Tony Bliar and his idiot ministers; any nominations for intellect and good manners there ?
 
I agree, there does seem to be a growing tendency to selfishness in society generally which is becoming evident in yachting also.
However, to blame the Prime Minister for not coiling up a hose is stretching a point surely?

Perhaps we should start a thread of inconsiderate behaviour.
Here's two for starters.

1/ Mooring in the centre of a berth where there could have been room for two.

2/ Anchoring a shoal draught boat in the only spot deep enough in my favourite creek for my 2m draught.
 
Not a bad rant, but you lost it when you tried to blame Tony Blair et al for misdemeanours in marinas!

I avoid all those problems by avoiding marinas.
 
[ QUOTE ]
1/ Mooring in the centre of a berth where there could have been room for two.

[/ QUOTE ]
At the Folly on Saturday, there was a big squadron (55 or 65?) which berthed with great care in the centre of three alongside berths on the pontoon. Its size meant that not only did it take up the middle berth, but projected so far both ahead and astern that no boat was able to make use of the other two berths .

BTW if you have the misfortune to raft up against such a vessel, how do you get across it< I studied this one for some time and reckon that the only possible way would be to go across the stern. Of course if you were a raggie, it would be impossible to reach across. - one way to discourage rafting I suppose.
 
Well who would you blame for the erosion of standards in peoples behaviour ? In this wonderful country nobody in government takes responsibility for anything; sets a wonderful example to everyone.....Oh its all right to lie and generally act as if you are someone who is owed priviledges the ordinary citizen could only dream off. I still think they are partly responsible.
 
Could it be that a lot of people who have boats have made a lot of money (ergo big boat) and have a certain 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.

I'm sure no-one on these forums is like that, or why would they be interested enough in what other people have to say?
 
The rot started some years ago.
Who was it who said "There is no such thing as society,"?
Presumably meaning, look after your own interests and sod everyone else.
 
Etiquette and Sailing - some more for Room 101?

A fine rant, with which we all agree, I'm sure, except of course that it's Cherie Blair who is responsible for the misbehaviour with hosepipes. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Personally, I find it best to avoid marinas as far as possible, in order to limit these unpleasantnesses. (recent average - 4 nights in a marina, per annum!)

May I add to your list:

People who charge about in RIBs at irresponsible speeds, espescially in the dark (the MCA and the MAIB have views on this one, but nobody to enforce them...)

People who use noisy outboard motors at UnGodly Hours.

People who have cockpit speakers and use them whilst at anchor

People (often, but not always, in motor boats) who charge through moorings at wave making speed, doing damage, just because they think no-one is looking - a boat is NOT the same as a car - cars don't make wash!)

People who seem to think that having a bigger, more expensive boat, gives them Right of Way...
 
What is it... "think of yourself because no one else will".... does sound about right sometimes. Or perhaps "if you can't beat them, join them"... try doing it to them and see how they like it, you never know they might not do it again.. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif
 
[ 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.
 
Re: Etiquette and Sailing - some more for Room 101?

[ QUOTE ]
People who use noisy outboard motors at UnGodly Hours.


[/ QUOTE ]

I felt so guilty starting mine last summer when leaving the marina early. It wasn't too ungodly, about 6.30, but nevertheless because no one else was out and about it felt so wrong.
 
Re: Etiquette and Sailing - some more for Room 101?

06.30 a.m. is not UnGodly when sailing. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

It may even be rather late. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif At least, at this time of year.

11.30 PM is UnGodly!
 
[ QUOTE ]
Well who would you blame for the erosion of standards in peoples behaviour ? .

[/ QUOTE ]

I'm not sure that you can blame anyone. It may be convenient to blame the politicians but the other view is that the politicians merely reflect the society that votes them in. We get what we deserve. If the voters wanted paragons of virtue who are going to set a fine example then they would be voted in.

.....but let's keep it boaty!
 
Re: Etiquette and Sailing - some more for Room 101?

[ QUOTE ]
People who have cockpit speakers and use them whilst at anchor

[/ QUOTE ]

I have a cockpit speaker and frequently turn it up when the CG gives the weather forecast. I often have a quiet smile when I see people on nearby boats craning their necks to listen.

It's turned down the rest of the time though.
 
Methinks if you had started up the west face of the squadron with ice axe and pitons he'd have moved soon enough.

Do what some peolpe do for Dutch locks and have a ladder rigged inside the safetylines. He'll soon move when he sees how many people enjoy clumping over his foredeck /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
Is it ignorance or are we now totally self centered and selfish ? Personally I blame Tony Bliar and his idiot ministers; any nominations for intellect and good manners there ?

[/ QUOTE ]What a perceptive comment. I'd genuinely never thought of it that way.

I suppose you are suggesting that Blair, as a New Thatcherite, is pandering, or, indeed, encouraging, the me-me-first sort of grasping greedy individualism that was so carefully and thoughtfully spawned in the 80s by Thatcher, Ridley et al.
 
I think a lot of "rudeness" is just ignorance that the world of "messing around in boats" is not the same as life ashore where the "beggar they neighbour" attititude is now the norm coupled with folk adopting the same rude attitude to cover their ignorance / to avoid being queried about what they are doing. IMO admitting ignorance is the first stage of learning and laughing about a situation that has not gone "as planned" /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

IMO when afloat it IS a good idea to be at least freindly to that scruffy tramp with the 20 foot boat that smells of fish. Ashore you would 99.9% for sure never need his help, but afloat he may well be in a position to help you out / give advice - if he is willing to put himself out.
 
Tony Blair is to blame for everything. I know this to be fact because HE is responsible for everything that screws up my otherwise satisfactory existence.

/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

Steve
 
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