One year later.......

[JimBOB]

A hello to everyone,
This is my first post.......... feel like I'm in group therapy "My names JimBOB and I'm a boataholic" anyway to the point.
After a year of gawping at boating mags reading this forum and generally not doing much about it I have finally booked a weeks Day skipper course in April(with the little lady no less) and we have chartered a BMB 330 in August. AAAHHH I feel about 8 years old on Christmas eve. Thing is we've never set foot on a bloody boat (apart from the LBS of course) but I guess the only way to learn is to just do it, can't wait. Thank you all for listening to my child like excitement.

I'll let you all know how it went

JimBOB

 

[Guest]

You won't "let us know how it went" you'll jolly well do as we do and yak on about boaty things that have yet to happen: cos otherwise if it's all awful we may not get to hear of it!

First of er what is a BMB30? And second, where are you going for the course? Third, "One Year On"....from what? A year since you thought bout it or what. Agreed yes all very very exciting and I can't wait for anything at all.

 

[jfm]

Re: no worries.......

BMB = Bavaria motor boat, right?

You'll be fine. I did this few years ago. I had sailed and motored small boats for years but not 30foot plus twin engined stuff. So I booked one to charter in the med (42 feet) one August. Then quickly went and did dayskipper/ICC on a similarish boat the previous April, and all was fine. Of course, when you get home you have to buy one. Good luck.

Where have you chartered, and from which company? Also which firm are you doing the dayskip course on?

 

[DepSol]

How much does it cost, approx if you dont mind me saying?

Dom

 

[jfm]

about £3 to £3.5 k a week, summer, in the med.

 

[david_e]

I feel sure JB, that when the nice weather arrives, if you hint nicely, at least one of the charming MBC regulars will take you out for some experience.

 

[eddieperkins]

Jim'
Hang around here to long and you may well need group therapy....
Happy dreams
Eddie

 

[hlb]

Disaster Story No! Go On How many is it!

Now did I ever tell you about the time me and Tuts went---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------.!!

Haydn

 

[JimBOB]

A year since I took an interest in Motor Boats

We chartered the Bavaria Motor Boat in Corfu, simply because the little lady has property out there so that bits free at least, the cost was 2910 Euros for the week in August with www.Nautic-tours.de . Guess the only thing we need look out for is the dreaded North west winds that pick up late afternoon, causing an awful swell.

We booked the course, which is a 5 day combined Helmsman and Day skipper (we booked both as we have no experience what so ever) thru Medway Cruising School for £625 each, does anyone have any experience of this school? is its very convenient for us as we live about 30mins away.

I have noticed that a lot of emphasis is placed on the Med as apposed to the Ionian, I understand the Med is closer and very beautiful but is there any other reason the Greek waters are not mentioned much? Probably completely obvious but coming from an amateur I guess I'm allowed to ask stupid questions!


JimBOB

 

[Guest]

Re: med v ionian

Of course, the ionian is in the med, but really with regard to boats, "med" usually means western med, in other words (for brits) balearics, spanish mainland med coast, or french mainland med coast.

I've been to both these areas. First of all, the ionain is v small. But mainly, it's a touristic dump with hopeless plumbing, lousy food and (like the aegean) the scenery is samey, in my humble opinion. The food is a bit better in spain. Food and culture etc better by a factor of 15 or so in France. What a snob I am.

 

[ToMo]

Re: Disaster Story No! Go On How many is it!

Does your Wife know about this Tuts person?
TôMö

 

[JimBOB]

Re: med v ionian

I completely agree with you regarding the plumbing, behind the times ETC quite like the food thou and as the missus is Greek tend to get good service.
Think I've made the right decision, Id rather balls up coming along side a small wooden fishing boat than a 50 footer in the south of France. Practice, Practice and over to the med it is. The little lady feels safe over there as its first time and all, get her there next year maybe, or September if it gets hold of me.....

 

[tcm]

Re: Zorbetta the Greek

Oops gorn and put my foot in it again.

Yes, absolutely vital to get the erm coming alongside sorted out. BUT much easier in non-sterndrive boat. Mind youiy, I still mucked it up on shaft drive, but the stern-to mooring bit important to get sorted: in greece, soem (but not all) have "lazy lines, and sometimes you have to anchor. Msotly in E med, they have lazy lines, so much better for umm hiring divers if you accidentally forget and plonk the anchor down

 

[Guest]

Re: One year later. Me too

Hi JimBob I too spent some time oggleing boat mags and walking around Marina brokers, then went and
bought first boat on Thames Sept 2000. Bought second boat in Nov 2000 as first boat lacked accomodation,
put first up for sale.
Decided to bring boat down to Brighton in Jan 2000, but had day skipper/ ICC booked for March, so I hired
a skipper called Phil to help with journey Thames to Brighton. I learnt a great deal from that trip then took the
course in March.. I have enjoyed almost every minute (apart from one trip) of the past year on South Coast,
and have still got the bug big time. Off to Boat show on Sunday for more pondering, with pulsing cheque book.
Good luck with your course. CN P.S. cruised past entrance to Medway on Monday last taking video of wreck.

cneighbour

 

[hlb]

Re: med v ionian

But course Matt talks a load of crap IMHO!! And so do I. So Ionions are briliant and much better than Med cos theres loads of lumps stuck out of water for miles, all easy to visit. Then down to Levcos and inland sea. Then carry on to Greece and Turkey. All easy. Greek foods good too, but just stick to greek salad and bread is best.

Haydn

 

[hlb]

Re: Disaster Story No! Go On How many is it!

ToMo. Read. Tales Of The River Bank. All will become clear.

Haydn

 

[Guest]

Hi Jim,

I did things a bit differently. I drooled over the boats in the magazines and here on the 'boats for sale' data base. I saw one I liked and bought it (a 49 ft center cockpit Hinckley ketch). Having never sailed, I realized that I needed to learn, so I booked two weeks of sailing (with an instructional skipper) on the Ionian side of Greece thru Sunsail.

I keep a photo journal of my trips and you can access the Greek monologue at the below link, then just scroll to the Greek part.

http://www.bryceandpalazzola.com/archtours/arch_tours.htm

anyway, I agree with some of the posts that follow yours. the plumbing is pretty bad ashore, and I found August to be WAY too hot, but it did cool down in the evenings and sleeping was easy. The architecture didn't do much (I'm an Architect) for me and the harbors filled up quickly, so getting in early was a must, but the winds didn't seem to show up until after we were in harbor. Most of the people in our flotillia were Brits and they loved the hot sunny weather. We had one boat of Italians and they managed to find the only Greek Coast Guard boat and rammed it. (wild bunch and the life of our flotillia).

The actual on board, in the water, off shore part was beautiful, as we watched the islands pass by. The on shore part was best because of the Brits, not the food or drinks or architecture.

there are three parts to a trip: the anticipation, the trip itself and the memories. For me the anticipation and memories exceeded the reality.

bob

 

[zefender]

Re: Zorbetta the Greek

Think some of your Y2K posts about the Ionian might dig a bigger hole for you Mr S! Best keep quiet about those.