TonyJones
Well-Known Member
Re: Is it possible/sensible to have \"100% Confidence\" whilst boating?
This couldn't possible be about September's WNS could it? No way: the person concerned is referred to as 'an esteemed contributor'.
However, having used that expression in relation to what has become known as The Indian Rope Trick perhaps I should explain why.
Absolute 100% confidence in anything is, of course, impossible. If the 7th trump sounds shortly after the 6 O’clock news, none of us will make it safely into our beds tonight.
However, given the starting situation I remain confident that I could achieve the desired goal. I am confident I could connect the bowline ‘twixt boat and pontoon because I would chuck the warp downwind from pontoon to boat rather than upwind from the boat to pontoon. foredeck. If necessary I would employ a light heaving line and then pull the main warp across.
Once the boat was secured bow and stern I would be confident that barring a line break, she would be under total control and unable to go walkabout. I would then be methodical and patient, allowing plenty of time to adjust and if necessary re-rig these lines and deploy fenders. But I am confident that using the principle proposed I could bring her up to the pontoon bow first without damaging her on anything else. The reason I wouldn’t try and drag her up stern first is that I would then be faced with forcing the bow up into the wind to get lined up with the berth. Whereas warping round the corner stern first means I only have to stop it blowing off: a much easier job especially if I re-rig the bow line to the next pontoon up to improve the geometry.
Unfortunately, the space available for WNS doesn’t allow every possible permutation to be discussed and dealt with. But yes, I’m 100% confident that – acts of God aside - using the principle proposed and by adapting to changing circumstances I could achieve the goal. Which is the object of the exercise, isn’t it?
My attachment (sorry) to warping originated when I was a little kid watching Thames lightermen warping barges in and out of the most awkward situations imaginable. They often did it by turning the wind and tide that initially appeared to be against them to their favour. Often they would warp in preference to employing a tug until the trot was assembled and ready to go.
On another thread it was suggested that I might have raggie tendencies. Well, I have an unashamedly raggie past: in my teens and twenties I was a pretty decent dinghy racer. Whenever I wasn’t sailing I could be found in the club’s rescue boat recovering capsized dinghies or collecting and returning keel boats to and from their swinging moorings. I learned a lot through that. Later on I tried big boats and didn’t like them. I’m with the man who described ocean racing as ‘Being wet, cold and bored 95% of the time and wet, cold and frightened for the other 5%’.
Now, those who wish to continue battering away at me in the hope that I’ll eventually keel over and admit I was wrong all along are welcome to do so.
Me, I’m moving on to October’s scenario which could turn out to be equally controversial. Bring it on. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
This couldn't possible be about September's WNS could it? No way: the person concerned is referred to as 'an esteemed contributor'.
However, having used that expression in relation to what has become known as The Indian Rope Trick perhaps I should explain why.
Absolute 100% confidence in anything is, of course, impossible. If the 7th trump sounds shortly after the 6 O’clock news, none of us will make it safely into our beds tonight.
However, given the starting situation I remain confident that I could achieve the desired goal. I am confident I could connect the bowline ‘twixt boat and pontoon because I would chuck the warp downwind from pontoon to boat rather than upwind from the boat to pontoon. foredeck. If necessary I would employ a light heaving line and then pull the main warp across.
Once the boat was secured bow and stern I would be confident that barring a line break, she would be under total control and unable to go walkabout. I would then be methodical and patient, allowing plenty of time to adjust and if necessary re-rig these lines and deploy fenders. But I am confident that using the principle proposed I could bring her up to the pontoon bow first without damaging her on anything else. The reason I wouldn’t try and drag her up stern first is that I would then be faced with forcing the bow up into the wind to get lined up with the berth. Whereas warping round the corner stern first means I only have to stop it blowing off: a much easier job especially if I re-rig the bow line to the next pontoon up to improve the geometry.
Unfortunately, the space available for WNS doesn’t allow every possible permutation to be discussed and dealt with. But yes, I’m 100% confident that – acts of God aside - using the principle proposed and by adapting to changing circumstances I could achieve the goal. Which is the object of the exercise, isn’t it?
My attachment (sorry) to warping originated when I was a little kid watching Thames lightermen warping barges in and out of the most awkward situations imaginable. They often did it by turning the wind and tide that initially appeared to be against them to their favour. Often they would warp in preference to employing a tug until the trot was assembled and ready to go.
On another thread it was suggested that I might have raggie tendencies. Well, I have an unashamedly raggie past: in my teens and twenties I was a pretty decent dinghy racer. Whenever I wasn’t sailing I could be found in the club’s rescue boat recovering capsized dinghies or collecting and returning keel boats to and from their swinging moorings. I learned a lot through that. Later on I tried big boats and didn’t like them. I’m with the man who described ocean racing as ‘Being wet, cold and bored 95% of the time and wet, cold and frightened for the other 5%’.
Now, those who wish to continue battering away at me in the hope that I’ll eventually keel over and admit I was wrong all along are welcome to do so.
Me, I’m moving on to October’s scenario which could turn out to be equally controversial. Bring it on. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
