MBM Cruises?

Honestly, Malaprop. Do you actually have a constructive or positive thing to say about anything?

At all?

Everytime you post its either to complain about something, tell someone they are wrong or just trying to find problems with just about everything that doest directly involve you.

Its boring, its repetitive and frankly I for one would be happy if you just stopped.

For good.
 
Phillip

I have been on 2 of the MBM cruises when Kim ran them.

Like you, I had never been across the channel on my own, or with anyone else for that matter.

First time was with a Sea Ray 27 Sundancer, with twin petrols !, second time a Princess 460, when we had to slow down mid channel to feed the little one !

They are the most rewarding way to achieve many things.

The feeling of confidence built and the meeting of like minded people, some of which I cruise with to this day, are unbeatable.

A most definate GO !


Adrian
 
Nice to here from you again.

New KAD 42's in that boat at the time if I remember correctly!

Haven't seen Tom since 2006.

Hope all is going well with you. PM for a chat sometime. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
there are not many posts on this forum that I find really unacceptable, but sticking IMHO in front of a text doesnt exonerated you from then being offensive.
Yes, there are some experienced boaters who also attend the cruises, but by nature they are especially catering for those boaters who wish to expand their experience in company.
Perhaps you believe that your version of boating is the only one, and for you "the hours of preparation with charts and pilotbooks, the agonies of decision-making at each weather forecast, the tension of preparing for sea, the physical and mental strain of getting out there and doing it unaided" is some cause for personal exhultation. Bully for you.
Plenty of people are in it for some R+R, and arriving somewhere safely isnt some major achievement , its a given.
 
I'm not normally one to spring to the defence of others on this forum, but I would suggest that folks possibly read malaprops post again. I feel that the word cowbow was possibly misinterpreted. I'm not sure that it was used in the way it has been read i.e. to suggest someone who is ready to rip you off, or is unqualified for the task in hand. My feeling is that it was a referal to an outrider or scout, someone who dashes out on their horse to ascertain the lie of the land.

I've read it several times and I'm sure that's how it was meant. I really can't see anything in Malaprops post that was intentionally slighting the qualifications or abilities of those who run the cruises.

As you know Stewart, we have done a couple of cruises in company and enjoyed them both immensley and would recommend them to others.
 
I ll reply, though maybe your comment wasnt directed exclusivley at me.
I dont know how he meant cowboy, but it would seem many took it in the same way.
Perhaps too, its how I read the next part... I dont agree that sweating over charts etc is the only way to boat.... Good luck to anyone who enjoys their boating, however simple or do-daring it is.
Actually, you are perfectly free do go your own route on the cruise. Neale only asks you let him know as he would otherwise assume that should you sink, you would be somehwere on the suggested route. Otherwise, I would suggest the cruise enables you do do your own planning (against a "certified" answer, if you like), or alternatively just trundle along without the interest in all that. And happy sailing to both choices...thats the idea,I believe.
 
We went on the West Country cruise about two years ago. We have a Freeman 32 based in Hythe. Anyway I had been building up to this for years, doing up my boat, runs as far as Pool, but never any further. When it came time to go, it was delayed due to bad weather. Force 7 I recall, anyway we made off the next day and it was very calm in the Solent, but when we got to the Needles all hell let lose. I radioed the lead boat, and asked "are you sure about this" he said it would get better, but it got worse. All right for them in their fancy 40 footer! this was not fun, a couple of boats turned around one with engine problems, some were only doing 4 knots, I did a little more than that. Anyway we took on gallons of water due to a new anchor winch being installed and no outlet cover and no pump in the chain locker.

It took 6 hours to get to Weymouth. Once there, all the cruisers refused to go the next day, needing time to recover. I was so dissapointed in my boat and the cruise I just wanted to leave her in Weymouth and go home. The staff were good and fitted a pump in the chain locker, but I had lost confidence in my boat and the staff. The following day it was glorious sunshine, I left the MBM cruise and sailed to Pool and then Lymington and we had a very nice time. I have since modified the pumps and my confidence has been restored, but I am not sure whether to try again, at the end of the day I should have turned around at the Needles and used my own common sense. My boat did not let me down I thought it did at the time because we had water on board, but this would not have happened if I had not had this new winch installation in the first place. Since then I have looked at many newer boats and they just look like plastic toys and the prices were just too high. So I still have my Freeman and my wife and I were discussing last night whether to apply for the Paris cruise, whether we should risk the 65 miles across the channel or just relax around the Solent. She is a bit scared, I have been told by many Freeman owners they are good for the crossing but I still have some pangs of worry after the last episode. Perhaps I am a fair weather sailor, a soft cowardly desk jockey. But hey I do love the sport and there is nothing better than a day on the Solent! So what I can say to you, if your boat is safe, and you have the time, go for it.
/forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif
 
Can't talk from experience about MBM cruises as I haven't been on one, but the feed back from those who have has been overwhelming positive. I have organised similar cruise events this side of the pond and am aware of the volume of work and planning that goes into these events, and we are at the mercy of the weather at the end of the day.

In principle CIC trips can be great confidence builders, and on this side of the pond I've seen folk build their skills, confidence and experience after a cruise or two and then spread their own wings, which is thrilling to see. It's why re ran them in the first place, to encourage folk and stimulating them into expanding and enjoying wider boating experiences. We also recommend folk invest time in shore based training. Some sit back and follow the leader, others do their own planning and navigation in parallel as part of the training side of such trips - each on to their own path! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
Over a 5 year or so period we did many MBM cruises.

In the early days, as real greenhorns it gave us the confidence we needed in our abilities to get from A to B by sea.

Our first cruise was a triumph - Jersey in an 8 knot boat along with another slow boat to keep us company - first out and last in - how pleased were we to see the MBM guys just off Corbiere waiting to see us in. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

We did many more after that over the years and have forged some enduring friendships.

We always had fun (with just one or two notable exceptions) and knew if we had a problem there would be someone on hand to help just as we were always prepared to assist anyone else.

We have been to places, that, if left to our own devices, we would probably never had the confidence to reach.

We have had some amazing experiences but always felt safe knowing that there were others to call on in case of problems.

Now we have the experience and confidence to go most places on our own or with a couple of boats in company.

The MBM cruises are not without the odd problem - but the guys running them usually manage to get everyone back in one piece.

Try one or two and make up your own mind.

Until you have had the experience of being the last boat of thirty being shepherded into Goes you have never lived.

May
xx
 
Hi Mike,

If I misinterpreted the use of 'cowboy' then I'll apologise. I await Malaprop's reply.

In the meantime, how's tricks? The Benny still treating you well?

Stewart
 
John

There are some inaccuracies in your version of events, but the bottom line is we got caught out in worse conditions than we would have liked, and that were forecast. Unfortunately your boat did not cope with them very well and you found the experience unpleasant. We did all we could for you on the day and the following day to rectify the problems and offer support. There was little more we could do once you decided you did not wish to continue.

Read here for the official blog of the day: MBM Blog
 
Neale

I have not pointed the finger at anyone here but now that you have opened the debate, you made a decision to go in weather that no one would normally choose to go in. The sea needed another day to calm down, it was a bad call on your part. If your read my email you would see I said the staff were good and fitted a pump. The point of these cruises is to build confidence not to take it away, so we miss a port in the schedule, it is not a route march, we are here to enjoy it. What I have reported was the facts.
 
I do not generally get involved with these threads, as being an MBM staffer and organiser of the Cruising Club I may be a bit biased, so I prefer to let previous participants provide feedback. This feedback seems fair and reasonable with regards to the benefits and disadvantages of cruising in company.

What I would say is that, on the whole, those that have been on an MBM cruise speak positively about the experience. Cruising in company is not for everyone but we try and run the cruises in such a way that we accommodate all requirements.

With regards to Malaprop’s comments I would say that every participant is free to do as much preparation, planning, weather checking and decision making as they wish. We don’t insist on participants following our route and they do on occasions leave the cruise for a day or two, and join again later if they would prefer to stay an extra night somewhere or miss out one of our port of calls entirely.

We try to be as flexible as possible within the boundaries of providing a cruise for 25 boats, and we staff them with experienced professional people with the right qualifications.

The aim of the Cruising Club is to provide boating experiences in a safe and controlled environment. They are ideal for newcomers who wish to go a bit further afield but are concerned about taking the leap, and they are equally good for more experienced boaters who just like to cruise in company with others.

I have had some very experienced boaters say to me that they enjoy not having to do the preparation, marina booking and planning for that trip, even though they are very capable. On the other hand, I have had new boaters on a cruise who plan every aspect of every passage and use the experience to further their understanding of cruising.

It’s horses for courses and I am pleased that the team we have are able to cater for just about every requirement.

Thanks to those who have contributed to this thread and hope to see you all out on the water soon.
 
Ultimately, the descision to go or not must lie with each skipper - cruisng company or not.

Though Neil, all i read in Penpals report was mainly praise for how you guys helped him out with repairs etc etc. I dont think he was pointing the finger of blame anywhere.
 
"We're not leaving today" is NOT how you learn"

Having been boating for over 4 decades and having made some impressively bad decisions in the go/no go dept, other folks reluctance to depart would be regarded by me as very useful aid.Would love to go on one these trips at some point because having a rather long in the tooth piece of kit the thought that some of the boats around me would have engines that will probably still be running at the end of the trip,would certainly add to my enjoyment of discovering new places.
Its just being able to get away that is the problem.
 
I do enough planning the rest of the year, so I can see that having some of it pre-potted makes it more of a holiday, although I would still look at the weather myself before each departure.

dv.
 
You set the Freeman off at 05:00 with the rib.

Rest of the fleet goes blasting past after a leisurely breakfast.

dv.
 
No, malaprop was being rude

Hmmm. I wouldn't normally chip in a a discussion on bad behaviour but I've just, in the last hour or so, been on the receiving end of an unsolicited rude PM from malaprop. Ref the thread where jrb1978 is asking about deposits on private boat sales, malaprop PMed me and suggested rudely that I am a boat sales middleman seeking to make money personally from jrb's predicament by handling jrb's boat purchase for a fee. Yep, I'm serious. I told him in reply that I'm not a middleman, and that his PM was rude, and he replied back with more grumpiness but no apology.

So, I suggest he was indeed being rude in calling the MBM cruise folks "cowboy" and meant it derogatorily. Actually i thought that when I first read his "cowboy" post earlier today, but having seen his PMs I'm sure.

He is a grumpy rude profile-less poster and I share the view of others that it would be nice if he cleared off.

Update - he has just PMed me again (depite my asking him not to) asking me (not sure why) to "Ring me if you have the balls". I'm not going to reply or call him - life's too short. I care so little for his views that I don't even mind if he thinks I have no balls. He's wrong on most things anyway :-)
 
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