Favour needed from someone in UK (possibly SE?)

[MaserJon]

Hi all,

I'm new to the forum.

I am a 'rusty' skipper having owned a yacht 15 years ago and chartered many times in many areas. I have singlehanded and cruised extensively with and without crew. I have been hankering after getting another boat for many years now, but due to work pressures have resisted. I now have the opportunity to indulge again.

What I am worried about is that I had eye operations about 3 years ago (cataracts ops that mean I have artificial lenses surgically inserted in my eyes) and ever since then I have got dizzy/vertigo if I play with my daughter on a playground roundabout. I am worried that if I buy a boat, I will discover that I can no longer cope with the motion and will be forced to sell at a loss.

Would some kind person out there please offer me a day sail or a weekend of crewing so I can figure out if I can still indulge my passion and buy another boat? I am an easy going person, and comfortable mucking in with anything. I promise you that putting up with me for a while will be a pleasant experience and a favour of taking me out for a day or two will be so very much appreciated and allow me to take that leap back into boat ownership if all goes well.

I am not a yacht snob and will happily sail "anything anywhere". I am based in the South East but am equally at home on the South Coast or Hebrides or frankly anywhere. Please let me know if you can help a young sea dog get back to his dream.

Thanks,
Jon

 

[Yngmar]

I think the very nice folks of Brighton Belle[1] would welcome you for a day sail. Being an Oyster 55 (with the rare as unicorns ketch rig), she would probably satisfy even a yacht snob. I've sailed with them quite a bit and have nothing but good things to say about both boat and crew (she is club owned and there are shares available, should you wish to consider this option, ahem). The members include a wide range of sailing experience, from novices to professional delivery skippers.

Unfortunately she's just left for a multi-month cruise along the Irish coast, so you'd either have to wait for her return or ask if there's still room for one of the week-long legs (I think there is). Have a look at the website.

[1] http://brightonbelle.org/

 

[MaserJon]

I think the very nice folks of Brighton Belle[1] would welcome you for a day sail. Being an Oyster 55 (with the rare as unicorns ketch rig), she would probably satisfy even a yacht snob. I've sailed with them quite a bit and have nothing but good things to say about both boat and crew (she is club owned and there are shares available, should you wish to consider this option, ahem). The members include a wide range of sailing experience, from novices to professional delivery skippers.

Unfortunately she's just left for a multi-month cruise along the Irish coast, so you'd either have to wait for her return or ask if there's still room for one of the week-long legs (I think there is). Have a look at the website.

[1] http://brightonbelle.org/

Yngmar,

Thanks for this which actually could be a perfect option. I spend a lot of time flying to Ireland as I have a property on the West Coast so this is a very real possibility for me to join them whilst there.

Appreciate you taking time to reply,
MaserJon

 

[JulieW]

Hi Jon,
I have sent a pm which hasn't got through, apparently your inbox is full which seems strange.
Bill

 

[MaserJon]

Dear Members JulieW and Peter2407,

I got an email to say that you'd sent me a private message but I can't receive it because as a new member I am limited to an Inbox of one item and there was already a sent item I had replied to another.

This seems to be a quirk of the system. I've deleted to zero messages now but yours seems to be lost. Could you possibly email me at jonwoodrow@hotmail.com or post on the forum in this thread.

Thanks in advance,
Jon

 

[Davidrivercrouch]

Hi Jon
I have just joined this forum and posted an ad looking for Crew. Then I saw your ad and wondered if you are still seeking sailing opportunities? I have a boat (40') on the River Crouch and finding it is just too much physically for me to handle ( I always end up being skipper and Crew). I go sailing with my wife but she cannot do the sails. So, in between bouts of thinking I should sell the boat, I came up with the idea of trying to find somebody who wants to do crewing and help with the sails etc. If you want to come out in the next couple of weeks for a day, please let me know.

 

[MaserJon]

David, please send me a private message and I will give you my phone number. Let's have a chat. Bought my own boat last year but not against helping out a fellow East Coaster - used to keep my own boat on the Crouch back in the day, now Walton Backwaters. Had a problem with private messages before but hopefully resolved now. Thanks for making contact. Jon

 

[Steve Clayton]

Can I just say that this thread; the request, and the positive responses is what makes this Forum GREAT

 

[MaserJon]

Good call Steve and I am totally with you on that comment.

 

[ancientsailor]

Hello

Good luck with this. Possibly the below is relevant and cause for hope?

I am very well acquainted with someone who has vertigo. It’s sometimes quite severe.

The cause is different to yours – balance organs have stopped talking to brain.

He's been told that the brain commonly adapts to the cause of vertigo by emphasising other inputs. In his case from the eyes, and touch – especially from the feet.

This person found that he was able to sail quite without problems (even working below on re-wiring radio and GPS connections while the boat was rolling heavily at anchor. Go into a shop with him, and he’ll notice the smallest irregularity on the floor – but he’s fine on really difficult ground, like Dartmoor!

BUT

As he (and others say) “one hand for yourself, one for the ship”.

 

[MaserJon]

ancientsailor, thanks for the response. I discovered my fears were unfounded and, as you say, the problem just wasn't there on board (in any conditions so far) above and below decks. Delighted to be back doing my favourite thing. Thanks, maserjon