srp
Well-known member
My nearest (mooring) neighbour arrives at his boat in a rubber dinghy, jumps on board and is off, pausing only to unlock the companionway, start the engine and cast off. Obviously one who worries about nothing.
My next-nearest neighbour will take up to an hour preparing his boat - sail covers off, checking sea-cocks, warming up the engine, checking coolant flow, padlocking dinghy to pontoon, flaking out the sheets, etc. He tells me that this is the only way he can ease his nerves before even a short trip. I can fully understand this, as I do exactly the same! I like to think it is a healthy level of concern.
I can't imagine what state I'd be in if I were to ever set off on a solo transatlantic, so how do all you lot mentally prepare yourselves? Is it a blend of experience, seafaring knowledge, nuts-and-bolts preparation and fatalism? Have you had to overcome your 'nerves', or is it just a constant battle trying not to think too hard about what might happen?
My next-nearest neighbour will take up to an hour preparing his boat - sail covers off, checking sea-cocks, warming up the engine, checking coolant flow, padlocking dinghy to pontoon, flaking out the sheets, etc. He tells me that this is the only way he can ease his nerves before even a short trip. I can fully understand this, as I do exactly the same! I like to think it is a healthy level of concern.
I can't imagine what state I'd be in if I were to ever set off on a solo transatlantic, so how do all you lot mentally prepare yourselves? Is it a blend of experience, seafaring knowledge, nuts-and-bolts preparation and fatalism? Have you had to overcome your 'nerves', or is it just a constant battle trying not to think too hard about what might happen?