Fear

[snowleopard]

I know of several instances where a crew member has retreated to his bunk and refused to do his share of the work because he has freaked out. One instance I heard about but can't verify was the paid skipper of a pay-per-leg RTW race who freaked at the start in the Solent. Another was when several boats dragged in the anchorage at Las Palmas pushing them towards a rocky sea wall. My crew boarded the boat, motored it to safety and re-anchored while the skipper hid in his bunk and the wife screamed. The others were on ocean passages, mainly first-timers.

Anyone have first-hand experience of such an event? And what, if anything, did the rest of the crew do about it?

 

[catalac08]

Was once having a 3 way conversation in Wales about Caernarvon Bar and problems on it

Me-was bounced about pretty badly the other day and thought the boat was about to break.

2nd sailor- I was onced neaped there for 2 days and lost one bilge keel and the rudder and skeg. The lifeboat tried to tow us off and broke the lifeboat towing line. Eventually floated off and fielded by a passing motor boat. The 3 crew and me were starving as we had only gone out for the day!

3rd sailor-was once so rough on the bar that my mind could not cope and I went below and polished the saloon table and left girlfriend on the helm. Substantiated by wife who was present (was girlfriend) who was not at all impressed with this.

 

[jerrytug]

Yes on an ocean delivery,(only my 2nd on yachts) came in from putting a few reefs in, as the seas had gone up from bungalows to council houses... Was taken aback to see the skipper in the lotus position,totally tranced out with eyes tight shut hummlng 'om manny padmy hum' or somesuch to ask the lord buddha for guidance. And I heard a voice in my head whisper 'guru says hoist the daggerboards my son',lo and behold we made it safe thanks to the power of prayer??

 

[Sailfree]

Fear is an irrational and personal thing. It is also connected with survival.

On reflection I wish I had a more sensible reaction to fear and had been more cautious when I was younger then I would not have so many scars!

On the boat I have had 2 occasions when I think I should have been more fearful but was not because I considered I could deal with the situation (once in a F8-9 with many yachts dragging their anchor and a lee shore!). I stayed up all night on anchor watch to find us only one of two boats still left at anchor - we started with about 50!! As things did not go wrong I will never know whether my confidence was misplaced and I had been stupid!!

On another ocassion SWMBO froze in the F7-8 conditions off Cap La Hogue. As always wind on the nose and motorsailing into it for Cherbourg - lack of progress meant tide had turned against us and we were going backwards! Only had boat 12 months and I was inexperienced = bad passage planning over optimistic on passage speed! Waves were about 30' but about 200' apart more of a massive swell with soaking spray sheeting horizontally. SWMBO refused to move and refused my preferred option of reaching for the UK. Boat was pitching about but basically gave me confidence as it was bobbing about like a cork and there were no breaking waves. Then engine started to miss. Asked SWMBO to check fuel gauge below. Good as gold she did that - 1/3 full as I expected. Obviously fuel was sloshing around and air getting into intake. Really pleased that SWMBO performed once it was necessary (see refused to let me put boat on authelm) but ever since she hate bad weather forcasts. Always more careful regarding forecasts now and always keep tank as full as poss.


On a number of ocassions I have seen crew fearful in windy conditions and boat pitching about in the waves but then I think my (possible misplaced) confidence at least reassured them. I make it clear that once we reef down lifejackets and harnesses are compulsary that way the act of clipping on is automatic and not a forewarning of doom!

I would not call it fear but I went through a period of being really concerned about the debilitating effect of seasickness after one trip where I suffered badly. For last couple of years I seem to control it better and have been getting my confidence back.

 

[HinewaisMan]

Never met anyone who suffered from the screaming ad-dabs – nor thankfully have I.

But I must admit to being a bit scared sometimes – normally about 4am - not so much of death, but that the bad weather will just go on and on and on.

Eileen Quinn in her song “Get me through this night” sums it up nicely..

“I run out of being brave”

 

[jwilson]

I know of several instances where a crew member has retreated to his bunk and refused to do his share of the work because he has freaked out. One instance I heard about but can't verify was the paid skipper of a pay-per-leg RTW race who freaked at the start in the Solent. Another was when several boats dragged in the anchorage at Las Palmas pushing them towards a rocky sea wall. My crew boarded the boat, motored it to safety and re-anchored while the skipper hid in his bunk and the wife screamed. The others were on ocean passages, mainly first-timers.

Anyone have first-hand experience of such an event? And what, if anything, did the rest of the crew do about it?

1 - yes - more than one retreated to bunks
2 - got on with it
3 - not sailed with said persons again

 

[davidej]

Nothing as dramatic as that but

I was part of a 3 man crew caught in a gale in the Meddy. We ran under a hankerchiek sized bit of jenny and steered by hand - autopilot didn't seem up to it.

One crew member decided he couldn't hack it so the two of us has to alternate for 16 hrs or so. No great drama but won't take him again.

 

[doug748]

There was the case of the girl that rowed to America. Her partner threw a wobbler about 3 days out and he was lifted off.

She continued to the finish, remarkable.

 

[Sybarite]

My late bil retreated to the cabin and sat there shaking his head as we crossed the bar to Strangford Lough.

 

[johnalison]

The only person who has been truly frightened while sailing with me was my then 10 yr old nephew who curled up in the corner and wouldn't move while we sailed around in the River Orwell. If my other half shows signs of cracking up I get her to fetch a camera and start taking photos. It works every time.

 

[toad_oftoadhall]

I know of several instances where a crew member has retreated to his bunk and refused to do his share of the work because he has freaked out. One instance I heard about but can't verify was the paid skipper of a pay-per-leg RTW race who freaked at the start in the Solent. Another was when several boats dragged in the anchorage at Las Palmas pushing them towards a rocky sea wall. My crew boarded the boat, motored it to safety and re-anchored while the skipper hid in his bunk and the wife screamed. The others were on ocean passages, mainly first-timers.

Anyone have first-hand experience of such an event? And what, if anything, did the rest of the crew do about it?

I was sailing with three school friends when we were kids, well, young men really.

We got caught on a lee shore in a gale. Massive wind, massive sea. None of us could see any hope that we'd claw up into it. We all thought our number was up. One of us utterly gave up - went below and lay in his bunk.

To me he seemed resigned and defeated rather than scared, but we didn't ask him.

There was nothing about him that made me think he was a quitter, I have a feeling that on another night he'd have been fine and someone else might have been the one to give up. [1]

[1] Not me, obviously.

 

[Wansworth]

The skipper of the dredger I worked on always retired to his cabin and left the bridge to the second until the pilot had boarded......

 

[AndrewB]

Once or twice. Never had anyone with hysterics. The usual answer is to tell them to stay in their bunk, let them doze if they can, and we just get on with it. Its usually inexperienced types, you can see the risk when you take them on, but I feel sorry for them as the experience may well destroy their sailing dream.

(PS bearing in mind the experience of 'Satori', on occasion I've cut off the VHF and removed the EPIRB!)

The worst occasion was a guy who absolutely refused to go below, but just stayed hunched up in the companionway where he completely paralysed the boat while he dumped everyone's morale with his negative remarks when they tried to get past. Fortunately we were able to put him ashore after a couple of days.

I've also sailed with gung-ho skippers who have found me 'cautious', so beware casting the first stone!

 

[Talulah]

Many years ago had a elderly chap curl up in a ball in the bottom of the cockpit next to the tiller.
He kept shouting "You've got to turn back. You're going to kill us all."
This went up a level when another boat sailing parallel to us did turn back.
This was on a trip out of Salcombe heading back to Newton Ferrers.

 

[dslittle]

A couple of weeks ago we stupidly tried to beat to Southampton in stronger winds than we usually sail in. The dog is not normally allowed on the berths but does have a sea berth when beating.
He looked less than impressed when I went below and found him quivering on the saloon floor under the cushions that he had previously been on. We turned around and went back. He hasn't jumped ship though (yet).

 

[colhel]

My late bil retreated to the cabin and sat there shaking his head as we crossed the bar to Strangford Lough.

A few of us did that about 3 weeks ago when WE saw you eventually make a trip to the bar

 

[Koeketiene]

I know of several instances where a crew member has retreated to his bunk and refused to do his share of the work because he has freaked out. One instance I heard about but can't verify was the paid skipper of a pay-per-leg RTW race who freaked at the start in the Solent. Another was when several boats dragged in the anchorage at Las Palmas pushing them towards a rocky sea wall. My crew boarded the boat, motored it to safety and re-anchored while the skipper hid in his bunk and the wife screamed. The others were on ocean passages, mainly first-timers.

Anyone have first-hand experience of such an event? And what, if anything, did the rest of the crew do about it?

Several years ago - second year of family sailing (previous boat).
Spinaker up. Broached off Sheerness.
Boat pretty much flat on her ear.
Wife at the helm - hysterically screaming - would not let go of the helm.
Slapped her in the face - several times.
Snapped out of it.
Proceeded to recover kite with the help of Number 1 & 2 child.

 

[Searush]

Several years ago - second year of family sailing (previous boat).
Spinaker up. Broached off Sheerness.
Boat pretty much flat on her ear.
Wife at the helm - hysterically screaming - would not let go of the helm.
Slapped her in the face - several times.
Snapped out of it.
Proceeded to recover kite with the help of Number 1 & 2 child.

I'll bet that did wonders for your relationship!

I prefer boring sailing. But don't always succeed in achieving it.

In general, my weak family crew (usually referred to as "the Passengers") really do come up with the goods if the poo hits the fan. They take the helm while I deal with reefing or chartwork. They man the echosounder below as we approach anchorages & best of all SWMBO goes below to make hot drinks & produce high energy snacks when I couldn't go below without vomiting.

 

[snowleopard]

I prefer boring sailing. But don't always succeed in achieving it

An excellent motto is 'At sea, exciting is bad, boring is good'.

 

[Koeketiene]

I'll bet that did wonders for your relationship!

It was 10 years ago this Summer.
Still married (and sailing together).