How many skippers?

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tokenjam

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Just returned from a overnight x channel to Cherbourg. All 5 dazed skippers of varying experience from me, a novice and a channel and night virgin, to others with quite a lot of hours.
We also, of course, had a (bloody good) Yachtmaster instructor who largely gave advice and kept out of the way unless life was in danger of we were making such a cock up it became embarassing:o
When carrying out some tasks, there were many different methods among the crew for carrying out those tasks.
My question is this:
On your boat, who's the skipper;
(S)He who owns the boat, irrespective of experience
(S)He who knows the most, experience etc
(S)He who makes the quickest decision
or anyone who makes any decision at all:eek:
 
tokenjam said:
Just returned from a overnight x channel to Cherbourg. All 5 dazed skippers of varying experience from me, a novice and a channel and night virgin, to others with quite a lot of hours.
We also, of course, had a (bloody good) Yachtmaster instructor who largely gave advice and kept out of the way unless life was in danger of we were making such a cock up it became embarassing:o
When carrying out some tasks, there were many different methods among the crew for carrying out those tasks.
My question is this:
On your boat, who's the skipper;
(S)He who owns the boat, irrespective of experience
(S)He who knows the most, experience etc
(S)He who makes the quickest decision
or anyone who makes any decision at all:eek:
Click to expand...

The owner is the skipper unless he appoints somebody else and makes it clear he has done so, regardless of experience. In the early days, I took very experienced and capable skippers as crew on longer passages, but I was still the skipper.

It has to be very clear who is in charge, and there must be mutual respect. Sensible suggestions and dialogue are great, but two of the least happy situations I have had on a boat were when other people who thought they knew best vehemently argued with the skipper (and owner).
 
I am.

I'm the captain on board my vessel, sole master under God.

But...

SWMBO's the Admiral, whose orders I obey unless they conflict with boat safety, when I have to decide if the perils of obeying outweigh those of obeying :)
 
I'm the skipper, she's the boss

We own the boat together. But I'm the most experienced therefore I'm the skipper, I'm in charge, it's my kahunas on the line when things go wrong. When I ask for things to be done, they get done, she understands if I'm asking her to do something there's a reason and she can ask questions afterwards. when we'll usually chat about why I asked so she can learn.

However we both decide where we're going to go, we both sit down and sort out a route (obviously not in the Solent), we both write up the log, we'll both take her in and out of marinas, up to moorings etc but I'll do the heavy work, anchor lifting, sail winching, most of the maintenance etc
 
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